Who involves thoughts once you consider foul grifters – the blokes that bend the NBA rulebook to their benefit by drawing fouls by means of unnatural actions? James Harden and his hooking of the defender’s arms? Jalen Brunson and Trae Younger, with their capability to cease quick in entrance of the protection, basically inflicting defenders to commit rear-end collisions? Or perhaps Joel Embiid, who throws his physique into opposing gamers and in some way finally ends up on the bottom throughout seemingly 50% of offensive possessions? All of those solutions make sense.
However, don’t overlook concerning the 7-foot-2 Latvian man on the Boston Celtics whose under-the-radar foul baiting approach has propelled his post-up sport into one of many league’s most effective performs. His title is Kristaps Porzingis.
A word on foul baiting
Earlier than going any additional, I have to make one thing clear. Whereas I do know it would make you indignant, it have to be stated: foul baiting is a ability. The time period clearly has a damaging connotation inside basketball circles; once we see a participant make an unnatural capturing movement or drive to the ring completely with the purpose of getting fouled, we don’t need them to be rewarded with free throws. It feels flawed. It feels unethical. However we have to reframe our pondering to grasp that foul grifting is solely a operate of gamers taking full benefit of the NBA rulebook. Don’t hate the participant. Hate the sport.
If foul baiting weren’t a ability, everybody would do it. Everybody would bulldoze into defenders and rip by means of defenders’ arms. However in actuality, only a few have mastered it, and that’s as a result of it requires physique management, footwork, tempo and IQ (amongst many different abilities) to successfully perform the technique.
Porzingis within the submit
Kristaps Porzingis has been a premier NBA post-up participant since he acquired to the Celtics. Within the 2023-2024 season, there have been 36 gamers who had greater than 100 submit ups; of these gamers, Porzingis had one of the best factors per possession (1.30) of anybody. This yr, there are 23 gamers who’ve had greater than 100 submit up alternatives; once more, the Unicorn ranks first in factors per possession (1.20).
Many have pointed to the Celtics’ distinctive offensive spacing as the important thing components in Kristaps’ post-up success. Boston’s 5-out spacing and dynamic switch-hunting system typically leaves Porzingis alone on the block with a smaller defender on him and 4 different shooters spaced out on the perimeter – the dream post-up state of affairs. Nevertheless, individuals omit one pivotal level relating to KP’s submit success: he’s a wizard (no pun supposed) relating to drawing fouls within the submit.
Of the 23 gamers with greater than 100 post-ups this season, Porzingis is fouled greater than anybody else – a whopping 24.1% of the time. The subsequent highest foul charge is Julius Randle at 19.1%.
So, how does he do it?
The overwhelming majority of Porzingis’ drawn fouls within the submit come from his patented rip-through transfer. He’s typically guarded by smaller gamers who attempt to swipe low on the ball and get a hand on it earlier than he’s in a position to get into his capturing movement – as a result of as soon as he will get into his capturing movement, he’s too huge and lengthy to contest – however KP makes use of this to his benefit by feeling the contact and moving into his capturing movement instantly. He makes use of a mixture of IQ and really feel to select the right time to tear by means of.
Right here, the Latvian legend is aware of Sexton goes to swipe down on the rock, so he strongly holds the ball and rips it proper by means of his arms. That is in all probability essentially the most textbook instance of the Porzingis rip-through you’ll see. Simple free throws. For those who’ve watched the Celtics sufficient, you might be fairly aware of this transfer.
The rip-through transfer can work on bigger gamers, too. As quickly as Porzingis senses Claxton’s palms on his again, he is aware of it’s time to spin and get proper into his capturing movement. He seeks out the contact on the excellent time; if he had been a second later, Claxton would possibly’ve had time to drag his palms again and power him into a nasty shot.
A lot of Kristaps’ foul-drawing success might be attributed to the rip-through transfer, however there’s one thing else happening as nicely: opposing gamers LOVE being bodily with him. Defenders clearly view him as delicate and weak, pondering they will push him round – however slightly than combating again with physicality, Porzingis simply baits them into fouls. It occurs within the submit, however a few of the most illustrative examples of this phenomenon come away from the ball.
Royce O’Neal merely can’t assist himself. He sees the lanky 7-footer and his ego will get one of the best of him. He thinks to himself, “I’ve a decrease middle of gravity than this man. He appears to be like awkward and tall. Let’s see how he handles some physicality.” And earlier than it, KP is falling backwards.
Kristaps Porzingis has solidified himself as certainly one of – if not one of the best – post-up gamers within the NBA. The Celtics system definitely empowers him by inserting him in advantageous mismatches and spacing the ground, however we should not overlook that KP is likely one of the greatest foul grifters within the NBA – and no, that’s not a nasty factor.
