Basketball Terms and Expressions

• Airball = missing the rim completely
• And 1 = getting fouled AND making the shot for a 3 point opportunity, and "1" free throw
• Automatic = when a player shoots and he or she knows its going in

• bank shot = a shot off the backboard/glass
• Basketball terms = the name of this section, made you look =P
• Bench warmer = a player who hardly ever plays, sits on the bench
• Brick = a missed shot, usually a jumpshot
• Board = rebound
• Box out = sealing off the other player with the body in order to gain better position for a rebound
• Bucket = the basketball hoop or a made shot

• Charity stripe = free throw line
• Cherry picking = a defensive player running to his/her basket soon as a missed shot goes up; the ball is thrown down court for an easy score
• Clank = refers to a missed shot, the sound it makes when the ball hits off the rim
• Crossover = dribbling the ball quickly from one hand to the other, change of direction
• Crunch time = the end of a close game

• a dagger = a made shot in a pivotal part of the game, a shot that silences the a rowdy crowd or puts the team ahead in the closing moments of a game
• a dime = an assist
• a double double = getting double figures in two different categories example: 20 points, 10 assists
• to drive = dribbling towards the hoop, past the defender

• fast break = when the ball is pushed down the court very quickly off a missed shot or steal and when the offensive players running down outnumber the defensive players
• field goal = a 2 point or a 3 point basket
• fadeaway = a shot where the shooter is fading away/falling away from the defender
• finger roll = a shot attempt at the basket where the ball rolls smoothly off the fingertips with rotation

• to hack = to foul

• jumper = jump shot

• Kicks = shoes

• Lay up = a shot right at or underneath the basket
• line drive = a flat shot with no arc

• Man in the middle = the center
• Mid-range jumpshot = a jumpshot taken in between the 3 point line and the painted area

• the paint or the painted area = the area in front and underneath the basket
• passing lane = the path/trajectory of the pass between the passer and recipient
• Post up = offensive player playing with his back to the basket
• pick = a screen
• a prayer = a shot that has an extremely low chance of going in, usually a full court or halfcourt shot
• pull up jumpshot = pulling up for a jumpshot off a quick drive and step
• the paint = the painted area underneath and around the basket
• pickup game = a casual basketball game, usually played in public courts
• pump fake = faking the shot by raising the ball as if to shoot and pulling back

• rock = basketball

• sixth man = first player to come off the bench in a game to relieve one of the starters
• starter = a player who starts the game in the starting lineup, one of the starting 5

• 3 on 2 = 3 offensive players running against 2 defensive players on a fast break
• 3 point specialist = an outstanding 3 point shooter whose main purpose is to shoot 3 point shots, often referring to a one dimensional player whose key strength is mainly 3 point shooting
• turnover = turning the ball over to the opposing team
• teardrop = an extremely high arcing shot near the basket, released quickly to avoid a shot blocker
• trey = a 3 point shot
• triple threat position = position where offensive player has the ball and hasn’t taken a dribble yet, he/she has a ‘live dribble’.. meaning in this position the player can shoot, pass, or drive (giving this player the advantage over the defender)
• triple double = getting double figures in 3 different stat categories, most often points, rebounds, and assists …example: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists
• trailer = an offensive player who ‘trails’ the fast break, can receive the pass for a better shot or follow the shot

• weak side = the side of the court(halfcourt) that the ball is not on

• "cut to the basket" = running or streaking towards the basket looking to receive a pass for an easy scoring opportunity
• “got him in the air” = faking a shot and getting the defender to leave his/her feet
• “breaking someone’s ankles” = when a player does any combination of dribbling, crossovers, or fakes that causes to defender to stumble and/or fall
• “got stuffed” or “got swatted” = got the shot blocked
• “got picked” = got the ball stolen
• “we got next” = “we’re next to play in the game” when waiting to get into the pickup game
• “he/she has handles” = he/she is a good dribbler, can handle the ball well
• “going to the glass” = getting the rebound
• “off the window” or “off the glass” = a shot off the backboard, a bank shot
• “shooting from long distance” = shooting a 3 point shot
• “crossed him up” = that player did a crossover on the defender and faked him out
• “the bank is open” = when the bank shot is going in
• “feed the post” = passing the ball into the low post player

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