Basketball Positions

Traditionally, the five basketball positions normally employed by organized basketball teams were the guards, forwards, and the center. While these position names are still used, most modern teams use a point guard, two wings, and two post players, or use no specific positions at all. In order to make sense of the changes in the positional rules, five separate positions are now described: point guard (PG), shooting guard (SG), small forward (SF), power forward (PF), and center (C). The rules of basketball do not mandate them, and they are sometimes not used. Indeed, it could be said that the designation of positions is done more to satisfy broadcasters and fans than for coaches or players, and many top coaches, including Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski choose to ignore positions altogether.^[1]
Typically, the point guard is the leader of the team when on the court. This position requires substantial ball handling skills and the ability to facilitate the team during a play. The shooting guard, as the name implies, is often the best shooter. They are probably capable of shooting accurately from longer distances. Generally, they also have good ball-handling skills. The small forward often has an aggressive approach to the basket when handling the ball. The power forward is considered to be what is called a post player or a big. A post player typically works around the basket, often with lay-ups or shots near the basket. The center is also considered a big. They work primarily around the basket, mostly shooting layups, and do not dribble the ball often.

Credits:www.wikipedia.org