Basketball Terminology and Concepts

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining team specific basketball concepts, locations, footwork, screen actions, drive spacing, off-ball screens, post moves, transition defense, and rebounding principles.

MONSTER

A Playmaking forward who can trigger actions

PMG

Playmaking guard - can come off BS’s, Push in Phoenix

WINGS

Connectors - players who play off of PMG”s and Triggers

MIDLINE

The exact middle of the floor, from baseline to baseline

SLOTS

A step outside of Lane extended on each side of 3pt ln

HOUSE

The 8 foot arc around the rim

NAIL

The exact center of the free throw line

LOGO

The soft spot in the middle of the lane

WINDOW

An open area to receive a pass (generally Short) between defenders

“The C”

The area front of the rim on the Charge Arc

4 Point Line

Imaginary spacing line at NBA 3 point line High and Wide

FLOW

Flow is the Play after the Play - without stopping

DOMINOES

Moment Offense has an advantage over the Def, to Drive/kick

WALDO

A mismatch we hunt - Where’s Waldo?

BUTTER

End of Shot clock, last :08 seconds

PDP

Player Development Plan

“SELL OPPOSITE”

Misdirection - show the opposite of what you plan to do

“PLAY LOW”

Play lower than your opponent - Shoulder to Hip

ANCHOR / PIVOT

We use the term anchor; 70% of body weight on pivot

J STEP

A quick Jab into a Cross Step

SPLITS

Your feet split and land at same time (ie Split Cross, Split Rip)

STAMPEDE

A compliment to Split (part of Split series) - run thru a pass to drive

PATRICK STOP

1-2 stop with inside foot first

VEER STOP

1-2 stop with the outside foot landing first

BRUNSON

After a Stick or Patrick, a reverse pivot into a shot

KOBE REVERSE

After a shady, a reverse pivot to spin back off the defender

BAM STEP

A step with live dribble like a jab but other foot is picked up

HANG and HOLD

Dwayne Wade finish, get up in the air and hold / double clutch to finish

HAMMER

A physical ball screen where the screener gets set

SPRINT

A ball screen where little or no contact is made, into a Dive - Front pivot

SPREAD (BS)

Ballscreen in Slots - One player in ball side corner - 4/1 Ballscreen in Slot

EMPTY (BS)

Ballscreen on Wing - No player in ballside corner

SHAKE

Dribble Pitch, usually from F to guard, turning into a screen

ZOOM

A Downscreen into a Shake

STING

Sting the switch - basically a later bingo, to drive the gap where you just came from

LATVIA / SPAIN

A back screen on the defender of the ball screener (the Bear) - Spain action

GONZAGA

Euro ball screen continuous - empty and lift

BADGER

Defender guarding the ball in a ball screen

BEAR

Defender guarding the screener in a ball screen

BLUE

Switch: Bear=Switch up; Badger=Switch under - No spy - Pounce and Cover

GREEN

Bully Thru + Drop by Bear, where Badger gets thru under or over - Bully/ PHYSICAL

BLACK

Hard Hedge: Bear=hard hedge; Badger=Over - Spy from a specific player, the “Spy”

WHITE

ICE - Spy from opposite low man, with Stunt/Recover

SCRAM

The guard who switched onto the Big Roll is Peel bumped out, while Spy takes

ATC Spacing

All time cutter spacing and cutting principles in our system

STRETCH

A player one pass away moves away from drive (or any stretch to corner)

ZIP CUT

A cut from 45 but toward the baseline CC angle (used on middle drive)

NFG

No fuc*ing gap

DEEP

A deep cut down the gut and ballside used in Philly action

SHALLOW

A rub cut used in Philly action

PEEL

Once Disconnected, leaving your man through nail or Rim, to get back neutral

KERR

Closeout - Pure shooter, must not let get a shot off

WADE

Closeout - Driver first. Can make a 3, but play the drive

RONDO

Closeout - Non-shooter. But the drive can really hurt us

KYRIE

Closeout - High volume scorer that Shoots and Drives equally

JET

A double Quick, Reverse to the corner, both players Shallow

SPACE CUT

A cut to either Corner - our main spacing to open up middle

SWAY

A screen Away

UP SCREEN

A screen at Nail for shooter coming up, usually after STS/America

TWIN

Stagger, Charlie the first, Replace using the second screen

7

Screener Slips a Sway to the basket - a Special off the ball

AMERICA or STS

A cross screen into an Up screen - screen the screener

FLOPPY

A player has an option to use a Pindown on either side

ROVER

A player has screens on both Blocks, and runs baseline

IVERSON

A cut across the FT line off of two screens

Marriage Rule

Must make eye contact and sure your teammate received the information

LOCK AND CHASE

When guarding a cutter, locking into your man and chasing over screen

SHOOT THE GAP

When guarding a cutter, releasing from man and shooting under screen

GET MIDLINE

Slow methodical dribble to Midline looking over inside shoulder

DREAM SPIN

Immediate baseline spin on Punch catch. Baseline foot anchor

LAKER CUT

Follow cut to punch ABOVE the Punch

CLIPPER CUT

Follow cut to punch BELOW the Punch

HAWAII / Hawaii Cut

Hi Lo action, Cut from corner to Nail for Hi-Lo action

DENVER

A Punch at the elbows or nail

DEAD

Solo in the post, and no gap off the ball - Hold each player, prevent pass

PHOENIX

Our term for Fastbreak - push the ball hard!

FLORIDA

Spacing with one forward at Rim, and one Trailing alley

DIAMOND

URGENCY - we are NOT matched up in Transition D - House, Ball, Ballside Wing, X5

LEVEL OF THE BALL

Off ball positioning on the same horizontal level as the ball (not behind the ball)

BUDDY RUN

Jogging with “your man” rather than Level of the Ball - NEVER do this

OPPOSITE 45

Best angle for Rebounds, offside - 70% of Rebs offside

“No Baseline Rebounding”

Never rebound position below the block / on baseline - puts you behind the ball

WEDGING

On offside reb, the action of using your body to wedge blockout under rim or baseline

W.A.R.

We ALL Rebound - Gang rebound mentality

TIP SIDELINE

RARE (!!!) but if you absolutely cannot get DRB, then tip to sideline (NEVER TOP)