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Basketball Terminology | D - E - F

D

Dead ball

A ball becomes dead when a play is over and becomes live as soon as it is snapped for the next play.

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.

E

Elbowing

It is a violation if a player vigorously or excessively swings his elbows, even if there is no contact; it is a foul if contact is made, and an automatic ejection if that contact is above shoulder level.

End line

The boundary line behind each basket; also called the baseline.

Established position

When a defensive player has both feet firmly planted on the floor before an offensive player's head and shoulder get past him; the offensive player who runs into such a defender is charging.

F

Fake or feint

A deceptive move to throw a defender off balance and allow an offensive player to shoot or receive a pass; players use their eyes, head or any other part of the body to trick an opponent.

Fast break

Also called the run-and-shoot offense, it begins with a defensive rebound by a player who immediately sends an outlet pass toward midcourt to his waiting teammates; these teammates can sprint to their basket and quickly shoot before enough opponents catch up to stop them.

Field goal

When the ball enters the basket from above during play; worth 2 points, or 3 points if the shooter was standing behind the 3-point line.

Finals, NBA

The annual championship series of the NBA's post-season.

Final Four

The 4 regional champions (West, East, Midwest and Southeast) remaining from the 64 college teams that compete in the annual NCAA Tournament; they play one another to determine the national champion.

Flagrant foul

Unnecessary or excessive contact against an opponent.

Floor

The area of the court within the end lines and sidelines.

Floor violation

A player's action that violates the rules but does not prevent an opponent's movement or cause him harm; penalized by a change in possession.

Forwards

The 2 players on the court for a team who are usually smaller than the center and bigger than the guards; often a team's highest scorers.

Foul

Actions by players which break the rules but are not floor violations; penalized by a change in possession or free-throw opportunities; see personal foul or technical foul.

Foul lane

The painted area 19' x 16' (12' in college) bordered by the end line and the foul line, outside which players must stand during a free-throw; also the area an offensive player cannot spend more than 3-seconds at a time in.

Foul line

The line 15' from the backboard and parallel to the end line from which players shoot free-throws.

Foul shot

See free-throw.

4-point play

A 3-point shot followed by a successful free-throw.

Franchise

A professional team.

Franchise player

A star player around which a franchise is built.

Free agent, restricted

An NBA player whose contract has expired and who has received a "qualifying offer" from his current club which provides a salary level predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement. While this player is free to negotiate an offer from a new team, his current team has a right of first refusal to match that offer, thereby obligating him to remain with his current team.

Free agent, unrestricted

A player who has completed his 3rd NBA season (or 4th season, if his current team exercised its "option" to have him play for a 4th year) and is free to negotiate a contract with other NBA teams without his current team having a right of first refusal.

Free-throw

An unguarded shot taken from the foul line by a player whose opponent committed a personal or technical foul; it is worth 1 point.

Free-throw line

See foul line.

Free-throw line extended

An imaginary line drawn from the free-throw line to the sideline to determine the location for certain throw-ins.

Frontcourt

The area between the midcourt line and the end line closest to the offense's basket.

Full-court press

When defenders start guarding the offense in the backcourt.