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Basketball Terminology | S - T - U

S

Salary cap

An annual dollar limit that a single team may pay all its players.

Scoring opportunity

When a player gets open for a shot that is likely to score.

Screen or screener

The offensive player who stands between a teammate and a defender to gives his teammate the chance to take an open shot.

Shot clock

A clock that limits the time a team with the ball has to shoot it; 24 seconds in the NBA; in college, 35 seconds for men, 30 seconds for women.

Shooter

A player who takes a shot at the basket.

Shooter's roll

The ability to get even an inaccurate shot to bounce lightly off the rim and into the basket

Shooting range

The distance from which a player is likely to make his shots.

Sidelines

2 boundary lines that run the length of the court.

Sixth man

The best substitute on a team; usually the first player to come off the bench to replace a starter.

Squaring up

When a player's shoulders are facing the basket as he releases the ball for a shot; considered good shooting position.

Starting lineup

The 5 starters who begin a game; usually a team's best players.

Substitute

A player who comes into the game to replace a player on the court.

Swing man

A player who can play both the guard and forward positions.

T

Team fouls

Each personal foul committed by a player is also counted against his team; when a team goes over the limit, its opponent is awarded free-throw opportunities.

Technical fouls or Ts

Procedural violations and misconduct that officials believe are detrimental to the game; penalized by a single free-throw opportunity to the non-offending team (2 free-throws and possession in college).

3-on-3

A game played with only 3 players on the court for each team.

3-point play

A 2-point field goal followed by a successful free-throw.

3-point shot

A field goal worth 3 points because the shooter had both feet on the floor behind the 3-point line when he released the ball; also counts if one foot is behind the line while the other is in the air.

Throw-in

The method by which a team with possession inbounds the ball.

Timeout

When play is temporarily suspended by an official or at the request of a team to respond to an injured player or discuss strategy; there are full timeouts (100 or 60 seconds in NBA, 120 seconds in WNBA, 75 or 60 seconds in college) and 20-second timeouts (30 seconds in college).

Tip-off

The initial jump ball that starts the game.

Transition

The shift from offense to defense.

Traveling

A floor violation when the ball handler takes too many steps without dribbling; also called walking.

Triple double

When a player scores double-digits in 3 categories during one game (points, assists and rebounds are most common, but it can also be blocks or steals); a sign of great versatility.

Turnover

When the offense loses possession through its own fault by passing the ball out of bounds or committing a floor violation.

U

Upset

When a higher-seeded (better) team loses to a lower-seeded (inferior) one.