Basketball Dictionary
Every action, read, screen, and concept in the game — defined and connected.
164 entries
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B
A sharp cut behind a defender who is overplaying or denying the ball, going directly toward the basket.
A screen set on a player's blind side — behind them — to free a cutter toward the basket.
A screen set on the ball handler's defender to create an advantage off the dribble.
A hard cut directly toward the basket from the perimeter, looking for a pass and layup.
The screen defender and on-ball defender both aggressively trap the ball handler at the point of the screen.
Both the on-ball and screen defender aggressively trap the ball handler at the point of the screen, sending two…
A pass that hits the floor once before reaching the receiver, typically delivered low and through traffic.
C
A shot taken immediately upon receiving a pass with minimal dribbling, feet set or nearly set before the ball arrives.
Any dribble move that shifts the ball handler's path from one direction to another to create separation or exploit a…
A two-handed pass thrown from the chest directly to a teammate, the most fundamental and accurate passing technique.
Defensive approach to a shooter: sprint then chop steps arriving to maintain balance while contesting.
A defender sprints from help position to contest a shooter who has just received a pass on the perimeter, closing the…
A lateral sliding dribble where the ball handler moves sideways without committing forward or backward, maintaining a…
A screen set across the lane, typically post to post, to create post-up or cutting opportunities.
The cutter wraps tightly around the screen toward the basket or elbow, reading that the defender is trailing.
A cut wrapping tightly around a screen in a curving path toward the basket, looking for a pass in the lane or shot at…
Move without the ball from one spot to another, typically toward the basket or to get open.
D
A cut that goes through or below the lane, taking the player deep below the free-throw line before emerging on the…
A perimeter defender digs down into the post to double-team or disrupt a player who has caught the ball in the paint or…
Hard explosive cut to the basket from an off-ball screening position.
A screen set moving toward the baseline to free a teammate cutting toward the perimeter.
A ball screen set in transition where the screener trails and screens in the open floor.
Move with the ball from one spot on the court to another.
An aggressive dribble attack toward the rim where the ball handler looks to score or create an advantage by collapsing…
When a player slowly moves along the perimeter to an open area, staying ready for a pass while the ball handler attacks.
The screen defender drops back toward the paint, protecting the rim and taking away layups and lobs while conceding the…
A short pass from a driver to a teammate trailing or positioned near the basket, often a big man or cutter.
When a player on the weak side quickly dives to the low block and seals their defender behind them, taking advantage of…
A shot where the player jumps and throws the ball directly through the basket with one or both hands while above the…
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The cutter fades away from the basket toward the perimeter for a catch-and-shoot three off the screen.
A cut using a screen but fading away from the basket toward the perimeter for a catch-and-shoot opportunity.
The on-ball defender navigates over the top of the screen, fighting through contact to stay attached on the ball-side.
When a player moves to occupy an empty spot vacated by a teammate who cut, drove, or screened, maintaining proper…
A cut where the player moves away from the ball toward the perimeter, typically off a flare screen, for a…
A screen set away from the ball to free a shooter moving toward the perimeter or corner.
Quick cut from weak side to high post to receive and become a decision-maker.
When a player cuts from the low post, wing, or weak side to the free-throw line or elbow area to receive a pass and…
A screen set along the baseline, typically in the corner or short corner area.
A cut across the lane along the baseline, using a screen on the low block to get open for a layup or short shot near…
A screen set on the baseline for a cutter crossing from one side of the lane to the other.
A high-arcing shot released early in the driving lane, designed to go over a shot-blocking big before reaching the…
Specific foot movements that enable positioning, balance, and execution of basketball actions.
The on-ball defender positions their body to steer the ball handler in a specific direction — typically toward the…
G
A screen sold with body language but never making contact — the screener fakes and immediately reacts (rolls, pops,…
The cutter's defender navigates over the top of the off-ball screen, staying on the ball-side to take away the curl.
The on-ball defender goes under the screen (between screener and basket), conceding space but staying in front.
The cutter's defender goes under the screen between the screener and basket, conceding the perimeter shot but staying…
The cutter's defender goes under the off-ball screen (between screener and basket), conceding the perimeter shot but…
Defend the player with the ball — force direction, fight through screens, recover after helping.
Defend an off-ball player — navigate screens, deny catches, or switch assignments.
Defend the ball screen — drop back, hedge, switch, or blitz to take away the ball handler's advantage.
H
A hand-to-hand exchange of the ball between two players, functioning like a screen and a pass combined.
The cutter's defender plays full denial, face-guarding the cutter and preventing them from catching the ball anywhere…
The screen defender jumps out aggressively well above the screen to force the ball handler to retreat or change…
The screen defender steps out above the screen to momentarily impede the ball handler, buying time for recovery, then…
The screen defender steps out above the screen to momentarily slow the ball handler, then recovers back to the…
Provide help defense — rotate, tag, stunt, dig, or close out to cover breakdowns.
A stuttered step that momentarily slows momentum to freeze the defender before exploding past.
After setting the screen, the screener maintains position to extend the ball handler's advantage.
After setting the screen, the screener maintains position for an extended period before making their next move.
A one-handed shot released over the head in a sweeping arc, using the body to shield the ball, typically in the post…
Two players at each elbow (free-throw line extended) with the ball handler at the top and two players in the corners.…
I
The on-ball defender forces the ball handler away from the screen toward the sideline/baseline, while the screen…
The screen defender positions themselves on the ball-side of the screener to prevent the ball handler from using the…
A pivot on the inside foot (closest to basket) to turn and face or protect the ball.
A cut across the free-throw line area between two screeners at both elbows, allowing the cutter to choose which side…
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A cut that travels along the lane line then makes a sharp 90-degree turn toward the wing, creating an L-shaped path.
A close-range shot taken while driving to the basket, typically banked off the backboard or laid softly over the rim.
When a player doesn't crash the offensive glass and instead starts running toward the other end early, looking for a…
When a player moves from a lower position (corner or low wing) up toward the wing or slot area as the ball handler…
A high, arcing pass thrown over the top of the defense to a teammate cutting to the basket or with a height/positioning…
The cutter's defender locks onto the cutter's hip and trails extremely close behind them through the screen, staying…
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Deliver the ball from one player to another.
A screen set to free a player cutting up from the block or low post toward the perimeter.
A short pass backward to a trailing teammate behind the ball handler, typically following a drive or in transition.
A quick, low bounce pass threaded into the 'pocket' — the space between two converging defenders — to hit the roll man…
After the screen, the screener steps back to the perimeter for a catch-and-shoot.
After the screen, the screener steps back to the perimeter for a catch-and-shoot opportunity.
A shot from mid-post or low-post where the shooter fades away from the defender, typically a turnaround jumper.
When an offensive player establishes deep position with their back to the basket, seeking to receive a pass and score…
The ball handler uses the screen to create space and pulls up for a jump shot from mid-range or three.
A jump shot taken off the dribble where the ball handler stops to elevate and shoot, typically from mid-range or the…
A speed dribble where the player pushes the ball out in front and covers ground quickly, typically to advance up court…
R
A screen set on the screener's defender — a screen for the screener — to give them a better position.
When a screener sets a second screen immediately after the first one is navigated, catching the defender who just…
The ball handler's ability to read how deep or high the screen defender is playing and make the correct offensive…
The cutter's ability to read how their defender navigates the screen and choose the correct cut based on the defender's…
After being screened, the on-ball defender sprints to get back in front of the ball handler and re-establish position.
The cutter refuses the screen and back-cuts to the basket, reading the defender is top-locking.
When the ball handler refuses the screen and drives in the opposite direction, attacking the space the screen defender…
When the cutter refuses the off-ball screen and cuts in the opposite direction, typically back-cutting to the basket…
When a player moves from one perimeter spot to a new, more advantageous position, deliberately finding gaps in the…
When a player moves to fill the exact spot another teammate just vacated, maintaining floor balance.
After the screen, the screener moves to the ball handler's vacated perimeter spot.
After setting a screen, the screener moves to the spot the ball handler just vacated, maintaining floor spacing.
A backward dribble where the ball handler moves away from pressure to create space and find a better passing angle or…
A pivot on the outside foot (furthest from basket) to swing away from the defender and create space.
When a big man sprints the floor in transition, running directly to the basket to be first at the rim for a pass or…
After the screen, the screener turns toward the basket and rolls hard to the rim, showing a target hand for a pass.
After setting the screen, the screener turns and rolls hard to the basket showing a target hand.
Help defenders shift positions in a chain reaction to cover teammates who have left their assignments to help on the…
S
Set a screen to create an advantage for a teammate by blocking their defender's path.
The direction and orientation the screener positions their body, which determines the direction the ball handler or…
The moment the screener makes legal contact with the defender, establishing a firm, stationary position that the…
The location on the floor where the screen is set, measured by how high (near half court) or low (near baseline) the…
When an offensive player uses their body to create and maintain position between a defender and the basket, preventing…
The screener uses feet and body to establish position between defender and basket after rolling.
The cutter deliberately walks their defender in the opposite direction of where the screen is set before cutting hard…
The ball handler deliberately walks or dribbles their defender into the screen, positioning them so they cannot avoid…
A cut across the top of the key or above the free-throw line, moving from one side to the other through or near the…
After the screen, the screener stops at the free-throw line as a decision-maker.
After the screen, the screener rolls to the free-throw line area instead of the rim, becoming a passer in the middle.
Attempt to score by shooting the ball at the basket.
The screen defender briefly shows above the screen level to slow the ball handler for one beat, then immediately…
A long, cross-court pass that travels over or past multiple defenders to reach a teammate on the opposite side of the…
Lateral defensive movement in a low stance without crossing feet, staying in front.
The screener fakes the screen and cuts hard to the basket before contact.
Instead of making contact, the screener fakes the screen and cuts hard to the basket before the defender reacts.
The ball handler wraps around the screener in an S-shaped path, switching hands to get back to the middle with body…
A dribble technique where the ball handler wraps around the screener in an S-shaped path, switching hands to keep the…
The ball handler drives between the screen defender and screener, splitting through the middle of the action.
When the ball handler drives between the screen defender and the screener, splitting through the middle of the screen…
The ball handler and screener operate in a two-man game while the other three players spread to the corners and…
A full sprint to close distance followed by choppy deceleration to re-establish defensive stance.
The screener sprints from position to screening location, arriving with urgency for a timely screen.
Two screens set in sequence along the same path for a single cutter.
When a player dribbles the ball in place without advancing, maintaining position on the floor.
A dribble move where the ball handler pushes off the front foot and steps backward to create space for a shot or…
A ball screen set by a player stepping up from the post or short corner area.
The cutter runs straight through the screen without curling or fading, popping out at the same level.
A cut in a direct straight line off a screen, neither curling nor fading, popping out at the same level.
A help defender fakes or shows help toward the ball handler or driver without fully committing, then recovers to their…
The screen defender takes the ball handler and the on-ball defender takes the screener, swapping assignments at the…
The cutter's defender and screener's defender swap assignments at the screen point, each taking the other's man.
The on-ball defender and screen defender swap assignments at the screen point.
The cutter's defender and the screener's defender swap assignments at the off-ball screen, just like an on-ball switch.
T
A help defender leaves their assignment momentarily to bump or impede the roll man diving to the basket, then recovers…
A help defender leaves their assignment to 'tag' or bump the roll man as they dive to the basket, disrupting the pass…
The cutter runs as close to the screener as possible, brushing the screener's body to prevent the defender from…
The ball handler dribbles as close to the screener as possible, brushing shoulder-to-shoulder to prevent the defender…
The cutter's defender positions above the cutter (between cutter and ball) to deny the screen entirely, preventing the…
A pass made almost immediately upon receiving the ball — catch and release in one fluid motion without gathering.
The cutter's defender follows behind the cutter as they come off the screen, trailing their path through the screen.
When a player runs behind the ball handler in transition, positioning for a pitch-back pass and open shot at the top of…
The cutter's defender follows behind the cutter as they come off the screen, trailing their path and arriving slightly…
Both the on-ball and screen defender aggressively converge on the ball handler, trapping with two defenders.
The ball handler uses the screen and attacks downhill toward the basket, turning the corner past the screen defender.
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A two-step cut where the player steps toward the basket then quickly changes direction back toward the ball to get open.
The screen defender opens their hips and sprints back toward the basket to stay connected to the rolling screener,…
The screen defender opens hips and sprints back toward the basket at the screen point, retreating deeper than a…