MARCH MADNESS GLOSSARY
AB - CD - EF - GHIJKL - MNO - PQR - S - TUVWZ
center circle:
the circular area at midcourt from which jump are taken.
charging:
an offensive foul which occurs when an offensive player runs into a defender who has established position.
clear out:
see one-on-one showdown.
Commissioner:
the president of the NBA.
court:
the 94' x 50' area bounded by 2 sidelines and 2 end lines containing a basket at each end, on which a basketball game is played.
court vision:
a player's ability to see everything on the court during play — such as where his teammates and defenders are set up — which enables him to make better choices in passing; the best point guards possess this.
crossover dribble:
when a ball handler dribbles the ball across his body from one hand to the other.
cylinder:
the imaginary area directly above the basket where goaltending or basket interference can occur.
dead ball:
any ball that is not live; occurs after each successful field goal or free-throw attempt, after any official's whistle or if the ball leaves the court; it stops play which is then resumed by a jump , throw-in or free-throw.
defense:
the act of preventing the offense from scoring; the team without the ball.
defensive rebound:
a rebound of an opponent's missed shot.
double team:
when two teammates join efforts in guarding a single opponent.
downcourt or down the court:
the direction a team on offense moves, from its backcourt into its frontcourt and towards its own basket.
draft:
the method by which NBA teams annually select college or foreign players to their teams, designed to promote balanced competition in the NBA.
Dream Team:
the name given by the media to the U.S. basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; it was the first time non-amateurs were permitted to represent the country; the members of this team were Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson and John Stockton. In the 1996 Olympics, the U.S. team was called Dream Team II and in 2000, Dream Team III.
dribble or dribbling:
when a player repeatedly pushes, pats, taps or bats the ball toward the floor with one hand to cause the ball to bounce back up to either of his hands; used to advance the ball or keep control of it.
dribble series:
a number of consecutive dribbles which end when a player allows the ball to rest in one or both hands; a player is only permitted one dribble series before he must pass or shoot.
drive to the basket:
to move rapidly toward the basket with the ball.
dunk:
when a player close to the basket jumps and strongly throws the ball down into it; an athletic, creative shot used to intimidate opponents.