NBA Basketball Glossary
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Fast break: A play in which a team gains possession and then pushes the ball downcourt quickly, hoping to get a good shot off before the other team has a chance to get back and set up on defense.
Field goal: A basket, worth either two or three points, depending on whether it was taken from inside or outside the three-point line (set at 22 feet from the basket).
Flagrant foul: Unnecessary and/or excessive contact committed against an opponent.
Foul: A violation. Usually, illegal contact between two players.
Foul trouble: When a player is nearing the limit for personal fouls before he is ejected from the game, or a team is nearing the limit in each period after which all fouls become shooting fouls.
Free agent: A player not under contract to any NBA team because his contract has expired or was terminated by his team in accordance with NBA waiver procedures, or because he was eligible for an NBA Draft and was never signed to an NBA contract.
Free throw: An uncontested shot from 15 feet, worth one point. A player who is fouled while in the act of shooting receives two free throws. Also: foul shot.
Frontcourt: A team's offensive half of the court. As it refers to players, a team's center and forwards.
Give-and-go: A fundamental play in which one player passes to a teammate, then cuts to the basket to receive a return pass for an open layup or dunk.
Goaltending: A violation in which a player interferes with a shot while the ball is on its downward arc, pins it against the backboard or touches it while it is in an imaginary cylinder above the basket; may be committed by either an offensive or defensive player.
Gunner: A frequent shooter.
Hand-checking: A violation in which a defender uses his hand to impede a player's progress.
Hang time: The amount of time a player can stay in the air while attempting a shot.
High post: The area around the free throw circle.
Hook shot: A shot taken with a sweeping, hooking motion. May be taken stationary or while running.
Hoop: Basket or rim. Also slang for playing basketball.
J: jump shot.
Jump ball: When players from opposing teams gain simultaneous possession of the ball, the referee stops play. After the teams are realigned, he tosses the ball up between those two players, who attempt to tap it to a teammate.
Jump hook: A hook shot taken while jumping, popular among big men because it is difficult to block.
Jump shot: A shot taken after a player jumps in the air.
ABCD - FGHJ - LNOPQ - RSTVWZ
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