Basketball Terms Tips
Read these 30 Basketball Terms Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Basketball tips and hundreds of other topics.
Cherry Pick
To stay on your side of the court when the other team has the ball. You basically don't play defense, so that if the other team misses, you are all by yourself for an easy lay-up. Needles to say, you won't make many friends if cherry picking is a part of your arsenal.
Triple-Double
The term "triple double" means that you achieve double digit stats in three different categories. For example: 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists would be a triple-double. If you achieve double digit stats in two categories it's considered a "double double". If you achieve this goal in four categories, it's the ultra-rare "quadruple double." The statistical categories evaluated for this achievement are points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks.
Strongside and Weakside
The strong side of the court is the one on the side of the ball. The weakside is the side of the floor away from the ball.(also called helpside)
Origins of Basketball
Dr. James Naismith was the Athletic Director for McGill University in Montreal. He invented the game of basketball around 1891 when he was working at a Massachusetts YMCA. He developed the game so athletes could play a sport indoors during the long New England winters. The first game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets as the goals. Basketball's terminology has been growing and evolving ever since those humble beginnings.
Posterized
A slang term meaning "to get dunked on". Usually the dunk is made in such a manner that if a snapshot of the dunk could be blown up and put on a kid's wall, it would make a great poster. Ex: "You just got posterized by that guy".
Power Dribble
A dribble used in the low post involving a two handed, short dribble, usually in line with the middle of your body. A wide base is made with the feet, then a two handed "power dribble" is used.
Push The Ball
To dribble up the court quickly, usually because the offense has an advantage on the fast break.
High Post, Mid Post and Low Post
High Post: The free throw area at "elbow" is called the high post. Mid Post: The area between the low and high post is the mid-post. Low Post: The low post is on the block at the edge of the key, even with the front of the rim.
Filling The Lane
On a fast break there are three lanes: middle, left wing, and right wing. All these lanes should be filled to create proper spacing on the break.
Backscreen
An off the ball screen, usually done while the defender has his back to the screener.
Explosion Point
This is where a player gets his "explosion" or quickness for a move. It is the point on the floor where the foot pushes off, creating the change in direction needed to get by an opponent. The "explosion" is done in the opposite direction of where the player wants to go. If you want to go left, then your explosion point would be your right foot, and you would push off to the left. If you want to explode forward, your explosion point would be your back foot, and you would explode forward.
Pick-n-Pop
Just like a pick and roll, instead there is no roll. The screener instead "pops" outside for a quick jump shot.
Chickenwing
Slang term for when a player hooks an opponent, usually to gain some kind of positional advantage on the court. Ex: "He caught me with a chickenwing”
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