Descriptionary

box out maneuvering in front of a defender to gain the best position for a rebound.

brick a poor shot, usually an air ball.

bucket a scored basket.

center circle the circle at midcourt used for the cen­ter jump at the start of a game.

charging a personal foul violation given to an offen­sive player who runs into a defender who has estab­lished position (is standing still when hit).

cold of a player having missed several shots in a short period of time.

crashing the boards slang for aggressive rebounding. D popular term for "defense."

double dribble a violation in which a player with the ball starts a dribble, stops and holds the ball, then starts a dribble again and moves his feet.

double team two defensive players guarding one offensive player.

downtown long-range shot.

draw a foul a player deliberately positioning him­self to be fouled in order to be awarded a free throw.

dribble to stand, walk, or run while bouncing the ball on the floor.

driving the lane driving quickly through the free- throw lane for a closeup shot.

dunk a shot made by jumping high in the air and throwing the ball through the hoop from above. Also known as a slam dunk, stuff, or a jam. Also to make a dunk.

fallaway a shot taken while falling or fading back away from a defender to get a clear path to the basket.

fast break getting downcourt at a dead run to score a basket before defenders can get back to cover.

feed passing the ball to a player in shooting position.

field goal percentage ratio of shots taken to shots scored.

forced shot a shot taken in a rush, when in poor position or when off balance.

forwards the two players who usually cover the corner areas on either side of the basket.

foul out to commit more fouls than are allowed and be forced to leave the game.

free throw a free shot taken at the free-throw line, awarded to a player who has been fouled.

free-throw lane 19-foot by 16-foot painted lane running from the free-throw line to the end line. Also known as the three-second area.

free-throw line the line where a fouled player takes a free shot, 15 feet in front of the basket.

free-throw percentage ratio of free throws taken by a player to free throws made or scored.

frontcourt the area closest to the basket of the offensive team.

frontcourt players the two forwards and center.

full-court press close and aggressive guarding by the defense all over the court from the time the ball is inbounded.

goaltending the act of a defensive player blocking a shot near the basket as the ball in flight is descending, a violation in which a basket is automatically scored to the offensive team.

guards the positions played by smaller players skilled in ballhandling and dribbling; they generally cover the perimeter of the offensive and defensive zones.

hacking hitting an opponent's arm with the hand, a foul violation.

Hail Mary a shot that requires a prayer and the guidance of God to go in the basket. Making this shot is known as "throwing up a prayer."

hang time the time a player making a jump shot "hangs" in the air, related to leaping ability.

hook shot a one-handed, over-the-head arc shot. Also called skyhook.

hot hand a player on a hot shooting streak.

intentional foul a foul committed intentionally in order to stop the game clock, usually in the closing seconds of a game.

jump ball at the start of a game or when two oppos­ing players wrestle over the ball, a procedure that determines possession: tossing the ball up and having the opposing players jump for it and tap it to a team­mate.

jump shot a shot taken while jumping.

layup the closest and easiest shot, made by a player who has moved under the rim.

offensive foul a foul committed by a member of the team with the ball.

one-and-one in amateur ball, a bonus shot given if the first free throw goes in. In the NBA, the second shot is always taken.

outlet pass a long, downcourt pass.

palming turning the ball over in the palm while dribbling, a violation giving possession to the other team.

penalty situation a situation in which free throws will be awarded to a fouled player because a team has used up its allowable fouls for the quarter.

penetration penetrating through defenders to the basket.

percentage shot a shot, usually at close range, that has a high probability of going in.

personal foul illegal physical contact, including hacking, charging, holding, and fighting.

pick a screen created when an offensive player stands still and intentionally blocks the path of a defender so a teammate can get open for a pass or a shot.