Today’s quote: “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

Lane / paint: the rectangular area of the court that extends from underneath the goal to the free throw line. This area is sometimes painted a different color than the rest of the court, which is how it earned the name “paint.”

Overtime (OT): if the score is tied at the end of the game, there will be extra minutes which the players can play to determine a winner and loser

Pivot / pivot foot: when a player has the ball but isn’t dribbling, they are allowed to move one foot. The foot that remains on the ground is called the pivot foot. The act of moving the other foot is called pivoting.

Pick / screen: an offensive player can set a pick or screen by standing still and facing an opponent. The purpose of a pick / screen is to allow your teammate to easily get around their defender.

Pick and roll: This is an offensive maneuver. When an offensive player stops in front of a defender to block them so that another offensive player with possession of the ball can go around them. When the player who set the pick then cuts to the goal in preparation of receiving a pass, this is a pick and roll.

To cut: when an offensive player “cuts” or “makes a cut,” they run to an open space on the court to be able to receive a pass from their teammate

(to throw up a) prayer: to take a shot with little chance of success. This might occur in a tight / stressful / intense / highly pressured situation. For example, if the score is tied with 1 second left on the clock, a player might throw up a prayer and hope to God that the ball goes in the hoop.

Pump fake: when you have the ball and pretend to shoot it, this is called a pump fake and the purpose is to get your defender off balance or out of the way of your path to the goal.

Rainbow shot: when you shoot with proper form, the ball’s path will arc through the sky in the same trajectory as the shape of a rainbow

Rejected! : If you block someone’s shot, you can say, “Rejected!” because you rejected their attempt to score.

Rim: the circular, metallic part of the goal through which the ball must pass in order to score points. A standard rim has a diameter that is approximately 2 times the diameter of a men’s basketball

Triple threat position: when you receive the ball and hold it with both hands near your hip. This position is considered a “triple threat” because you can do three things with the ball: you can shoot, dribble, or pass, and your defender doesn’t know which you will do.

Rock: another term for a basketball

Shot clock: the shot clock starts when a team gains possession of the ball. They will have 25 seconds (usually) to make an attempt to score. If a team doesn’t release a shot attempt within 25 seconds of possession, they will lose possession of the ball due to a shot clock violation.

Splash / swish / nothin’ but net: when the ball passes through the rim / hoop without touching it. When the ball touches only the net when it goes through the goal, it makes a “swish” sound.

Steal: when a defensive player obtains possession of the ball by taking it from the offensive team

Swat / block: when a defensive player extends their arm(s) to prevent the offensive player from scoring. The person on defense stops the ball while or immediately after the person on offense shoots or attempts to shoot the ball.

Travel / up and down / walk: these are different terms and types of a violation resulting from moving your feet while you hold the ball. In other words, if you have possession of the ball, you are not allowed to walk.

Double dribble: if you dribble the ball and pick it up, you are not allowed to dribble again. If you dribble for more than one period of time, this is a double dribble violation which results in loss of possession.

Jump ball: When two or more players from opposing teams try to obtain possession of the ball at the same time for more than a couple of seconds, the referee will blow the whistle for a jump ball. A jump ball results in the referee tossing the basketball up into the air directly between one player from each team. Whoever jumps highest at the right timing can tip the ball to one of their teammates. The jump ball that begins each basketball game is called the “tip off.”

Wing: the area of the court along the three-point line between the middle of the three-point arc and the corners. There are two wing areas, just like the wings of a bird.

Zone / Man(-to-man): Zone is a type of defense in which each player guards / protects certain areas of the court. One example of a zone defense is 2-3. Man (or man-to-man) defense is a type of defensive strategy in which each player guards one player from the other team.

Full-court pressure: when the team on defense applies pressure on the offensive team from one end of the court to the other. For example, a team may immediately switch to defense after they score. They will stay on their side of the court and guard the offensive team with enthusiasm in hopes of stealing the ball and scoring again in rapid succession.

D (as in “defense”): A coach may say, “We need to improve our D.” This is an acronym for “defense.”

Fans in the stadium might bring a homemade sign that has the letter D followed by the picture of a fence. This is a play on words with the word “defense.”

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Brain teaser:

Take the given words, and by moving a single letter from one word to the other (can be from the left word to the right word or vice versa), make a pair of synonyms, or near-synonyms.

For example: Given “Hip – Boast,” move the “s” from “Boast” to “Hip,” which creates “Ship – Boat.” 

1. Open – Cop
2. Cave – Curt
3. Cares – Pest
4. Salve – Savage
5. Whiled – Spurn

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