Basketball Game Terms Part 3

These basketball game terms and jargon are part of sport gamerisms, Define Your Game!
Basketball part 3 completes basketball gamerisms provided for basketball players and fans who fantasize about playing pro hoops.

Basketball Game Terms: P

• Paint: the free throw lane. 
• Palming: act of securing the ball in the palm of a hand resulting in a violation if performed during dribbling.
• Passing Lane: refers to passing area between defenders in order to move the ball to a teammate.
• Period: portion of playing time to complete a game, example=NBA rules allow for four 12 minute periods.
• Perimeter & Perimeter Shot: term for location behind free throw circle in the forecourt used to put outside shots in play.
• Personal Foul: when there is physical contact between challengers, a foul is sure to follow.
• Pick and Roll: jargon for this player movement=set screen, pivot, move towards basket to receive pass.
• Picked Off: term for a successful screen that prohibited a defender from reaching the opposing player in control of the ball.
• Pick-up Games: basketball game terms for 'let's play' among a group of amateur players.
• Pivot Foot: refers to either the right or left foot that is stationary on the floor when a player has ball possession. When 'doing the pivot dance', be sure the pivot foot remains stationary while 'step dancing' with the other foot. If a player moves the pivot foot, then he/she is considered to be traveling and a foul called that results in lost ball possession.
• Pivot Man: basketball game terms that refer to the team's center. Can also be Pivot Woman, yes?
  
• Playmaker: jargon for player who is a huge asset to the team in that he/she sets up and plans the strategic moves of the team.
• Point: refers to either the point guard playing position or points scored. Foul shots put 1 point on the scoreboard; field goals inside the three-point line=2 points and outside the three point boundary=3 points.
• Point Guard: player whose duties are moving the ball up the court and running offense.
• Post: term for location either near the basket or foul line, but outside the free throw lane.
• Power Forward: skillful player who can ably score and grab rebounds.
• Press: the pressure is on the ball carrier by the opposing defense team.
  

Basketball Game Terms: R

• Rebound: attaining the ball after a shot on offense or defense.
• Referee: game official who monitors and calls all violations, field goals, fouls and issues penalties.
• Reject: basketball game terms for motion to block a shot.
• Release: term for exact time that the ball is released from the shooter's hands.
• Restraining Circle: term for area where no other player can enter while a free throw attempt is being made until the ball strikes the backboard, rim or net. The same rules applies when a player from each team are going for a jump ball.
• Reverse Dunk: a backward dunk, over the shooter's head.
• Reverse Lay Up: let's do another lay up as the first one was blocked. See lay up.
• Rim: term for 18-inch ring that holds the net and is attached to the backboard.
• Roll: a rapid strategic move by the challenger that avoids a defender and rolls on down to the basket. 
• Rookie: jargon for a 'green player' in his/her first pro season.
• Roster: view of the team players.
• Runner: this player is on the run and taking a shot.
• Running Jumper: and this player is still running, but taking a jump shot.
  

Basketball Game Terms: S

• Scoop Shot: underhand shot made by a scooping motion advancing to the basket.
• Scorer: game official who monitors and records points, field goals, free throws and all fouls for every player and team. The scorer also updates the referees about changes.
• Screen: refers to a blocking move by an offensive player either by standing beside or behind a defender in order to free up a teammate to shoot, receive a pass, or drive in to score.
• Shooter's Roll: skillful move that bounces softly off the rim and in to score.
• Shooting Guard: term for a skillful shooter who often scores 3-pointers.
• Shooting Range: the point or distance that a player makes his/her shots.
• Shot Clock: this clock counts down from the 24 seconds in NBA play as to when a team must shoot and hit the intended rim or basket.
• Sidelines: boundary lines running from baseline to baseline.
• Sixth Man: basketball game terms for the best sub that a team plays.
• Sky Hook: jargon for a shot that is released from above the level of the rim.
• Small Forward: term for an agile, shorter player who can make awesome jump shots.
• Square Up: stare that basket, line up the ball and shoot.
• Starting Lineup: the best of the team, these 5 players start the game.
• Steal: term for getting the ball from an opposing player. Now watcha going to do?
• Strong Side: this is the area where the ball and the action takes place.
• Substitute: a player is out and the sub is in to play.
• Swing Man: jargon for versatile player who can play 2 positions.
• Swish: jargon for a shot that scores without the ball hitting the rim or backboard—a thing of beauty!
• Switch: term for exchanging defensive assignments with a teammate.
  

Basketball Game Terms: T - Z

• T: abbreviation for time out or technical foul.
• Team Foul: is called on the player and the team. If the team goes over the limit of these fouls, the opposing team wins free throw(s).
• Technical Foul: term for a foul called that is not physical in nature, but rather called because of verbal abuse or cursing usually towards officials--just plain bad mouthing. Opposing team is given a free throw or throw-in. Anyone who has watched basketball knows that a coach or other team member along with players have and can receive this type of foul.
• Ten-second Line: refers to the center line when the 10-second rule is ongoing.
• Ten-second Rule: refers to rule where the team in possession of the ball must take it to the centerline in 10 seconds or take the foul.
• Three-point Line: semi-circle marking out from the basket center.
• Three-point Play: term for the 2-step success of a two point field score then a free throw.
• Three Pointer: a field goal shot behind the three-point line, worth three points.
• Three-second rule: 3 seconds is all you get within the free throw lane and that includes your feet, or you suffer a three-second violation.
• Throw-in: 5 seconds is all you get to move the ball inbound. Throw-ins result after a ball lands out-of-bounds or a personal foul has been called not requiring free throw(s).
• Timeline: the line that divides the two halves of the court.
• Tip in: tap that rebound and tip it in.
• Tip-off: refers to jump ball that starts the game action.
• Top of the Key: location near the free throw circle just behind the free throw line.
• Trail Official: game official who monitors the ball as it moves up court after a possession turnover.
• Trailer: this player scoots behind his/her teammates on a fast break.
• Transition: term for strategic move to focus on offense rather than defense when team has ball possession in their backcourt.
• Trap: basketball game terms for rapid double-teaming of the ball carrier.
• Traveling: occurs when a player illegally moves his/her feet while in possession of the ball. Examples are moving 3 steps without a dribble, lifting the pivot foot before dribbling/jumping and landing without releasing the ball. The penalty for traveling is loss of possession.
• Triple Double: occurs when any player achieves double digit statistics in a single game in three statistical categories (i.e. 10 points and 10 rebounds and 10 assists). Well done!
• Triple Threat: positioning that will allow a player to pass, shoot or pivot.
• Turnaround Jumper: quick move by a player whose back is to the basket. This 3-step 'dance' is pivot, jump and shoot.
• Turnover: basketball game terms for loss of possession.
• Two-shot Foul: opposing team wins 2 free throws after this foul is called.
• Upset: the bigger, better team just lost to a supposedly second-rate team or underdog.
• Weak Side: the area of the court where the ball is not; therefore, not much action here.
• Zone: defense where players are assigned an area to guard as opposed to a single opposing player.
  

From Basketball Game Terms, you can go to Golf Game Terms
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