Coach’s Glossary

A cut toward the basket behind a defender who is denying the pass. The classic punishment for overplaying.

The shortest three-pointer, about 22 feet. One of the most valuable shots in basketball, which is why offenses fight to create it.

Attack the basket, draw a helping defender, then pass out to the shooter that defender just left.

Running a quick action in the first seconds of the shot clock, before the defense is organized.

Passing up a good shot to give a teammate a great one. Good offenses make defenses rotate one more time than they can handle.

All five offensive players start outside the three-point line, emptying the paint for drives and cuts.

A player runs up as if to set a screen, then pops out to the three-point line without touching anyone. Defenders who over-help get caught looking.

The ball handler hands the ball to a teammate running past, and their bodies form a screen at the same time. Often called a DHO (dribble handoff).

The offense clears one side of the floor so one player can attack his defender one-on-one.

A high pass near the rim for a teammate to catch and finish above the defense, usually off a pick-and-roll or a cut.

Getting the ball into the lane, by dribble or pass. The defense has to collapse, which opens shots everywhere else.

Like a pick-and-roll, except the screener steps out for a jump shot instead of rolling to the rim. Deadly when the screener can shoot threes.

One player sets a screen for the ball handler, then rolls toward the basket. The most common action in the NBA, and the root of most of the terms on this page.

A bounce pass to the rolling screener, slipped between the two defenders guarding the pick-and-roll.

Catching the ball with your back to the basket near the paint, usually to use a size or strength advantage.

The ball handler goes away from a screen instead of using it, usually because the defense has loaded up on the screen side.

Moving to a new open spot right after passing, so your defender loses track of you.

The screener catches the ball around the free-throw line after the defense traps the ball handler, then makes a play with four attackers against three defenders.

The screener cuts to the basket before actually making contact on the screen, usually because the defense is about to switch or trap.

After using a screen, the ball handler dribbles back toward the side the screen came from, keeping the defender stuck behind him.

Where offensive players stand so that any defender who helps leaves a shooter open. Good spacing makes driving lanes appear.

Moving the ball quickly from one side of the floor to the other so the defense has to shift and rotate.

Attacking before the defense is set, usually right after a rebound, steal or block.

Short for “after timeout”: a play the coach draws up during a timeout. Often the best look at a coach’s creativity.

A screen set behind a defender so the cutter can run toward the basket while the defender is blindsided.

Baseline out-of-bounds play: a set run when the ball is inbounded from under the opponent’s basket.

A down screen that flows straight into a handoff, so the shooter comes off two actions in a row.

An offense run through a big man at the top of the key, who passes and hands off to cutters around him.

A screen set facing the baseline to free a teammate coming up toward the ball. Also called a pin-down.

Two players stand side by side, let a shooter run between them, then close the gap like elevator doors on the chasing defender.

A screen that pushes a shooter away from the ball, toward the wing or corner, where there is room to catch and shoot.

A cut along the baseline off a screen, followed by a down screen for the screener. Old school, still everywhere.

A shooter starts under the basket and chooses a side, running off screens set by teammates on both sides of the lane.

A baseline screen that frees a shooter in the far corner while the ball handler drives.

Two bigs at the elbows and shooters in the corners. The starting point for dozens of set plays.

A cut across the top of the floor from wing to wing, using screens at both elbows.

Early offense where the guard and the wing on one side run a quick handoff or pick-and-roll as the ball comes up the floor.

Sideline out-of-bounds play: a set run when the ball is inbounded from the sideline, often late in games.

A normal pick-and-roll plus a back screen on the roller’s defender. Two screens, one confused defense.

Two screens set one after the other for the same cutter, usually to free a shooter.

A player cuts straight up from near the basket to the top of the key to catch the ball.

A zone with two defenders up top and three across the bottom, protecting the paint and inviting outside shots.

Both defenders jump the ball handler at the screen to force the ball out of his hands. Also called a trap.

Getting your body between your opponent and the basket before a rebound, so he can’t get to the ball.

Four defenders play a zone shaped like a box while one chases the opponent’s best player everywhere.

An offensive foul called when a defender has already set his feet in the path of a driving player before contact.

Running at a shooter after helping, under control with hands high, to contest the shot without fouling or getting driven past.

Guarding a player away from the ball so he can’t catch a pass where he wants it.

The big man sits back near the paint instead of stepping up to the ball handler. It protects the rim but gives up pull-up jumpers.

The defender goes under the screen instead of over it, giving up space and daring the ball handler to shoot.

The screener’s defender jumps out to slow the ball handler for a moment, then recovers back to his own man.

Leaving your own man to stop a drive or a roll, trusting a teammate to cover for you.

Forcing a side pick-and-roll toward the sideline so the ball handler can’t use the screen.

The weak-side defender closest to the basket, responsible for stopping drivers and rollers at the rim.

The spot in the middle of the free-throw line. A defender at the nail can help on drives from either side.

The chain of moves defenders make after one of them helps, so the open player gets covered.

Defenders sag toward the paint to clog driving lanes, daring the offense to shoot over them.

The side of the floor where the ball is.

Two defenders trade assignments when a screen is set, instead of chasing their own man around it.

A weak-side defender briefly bumps the rolling big to stop a lob or layup, then recovers to his own man.

Sprinting back after a miss or turnover to stop easy baskets before your defense is set.

A defender may jump straight up with arms raised without fouling, even if the shooter runs into him.

The side of the floor away from the ball. Most help defense comes from here.

Defenders guard areas instead of players. Rare in the NBA, which is why it works when it does.

A role player whose job is to make open three-pointers and defend the other team’s best perimeter scorer.

A player who keeps the offense moving with quick decisions, passes and screens instead of scoring a lot himself.

The player who usually brings the ball up and runs the offense. In today’s game, any player can play this role.

Lineups built on skills instead of the five traditional positions, where players can switch, handle and shoot.

A big man whose shot blocking and positioning keep opponents from scoring near the basket.

The first player off the bench, often a scorer who leads the second unit.

Playing a lineup without a traditional center, trading size for speed, shooting and switching.

A center or power forward who can shoot threes, pulling a defender away from the basket.

A player who plays on the sides of the floor, usually a shooting guard or small forward who can shoot, drive and defend.

Assists divided by turnovers. It shows how well a player creates for others without giving the ball away.

Points allowed per 100 possessions. Lower is better.

Ten or more in two stat categories in one game, for example points and rebounds.

Field-goal percentage adjusted so a made three counts one and a half times as much as a made two.

Offensive rating minus defensive rating. A strong sign of how good a team (or lineup) really is.

Points scored per 100 possessions. It compares offenses fairly no matter how fast they play.

How many possessions a team uses in 48 minutes. A high pace means a faster game.

How many points a team outscored (or was outscored by) its opponent while a player was on the floor.

Ten or more in three stat categories in one game, usually points, rebounds and assists.

A shooting percentage that counts the extra value of threes and free throws, so it shows how efficiently a player scores.

The share of a team’s plays that end with a player shooting, getting to the free-throw line or turning it over while he is on the floor.

A made basket while being fouled. The basket counts and the shooter gets one free throw.

A team has eight seconds to get the ball past half-court, and once there it can’t take the ball back across.

After a team commits its fifth foul in a quarter, every foul sends the opponent to the free-throw line. Also called the penalty.

A foul on a player with nothing between him and the basket on a fast break. Two free throws and the ball.

A coach can ask the referees to review certain calls on video. If the challenge is wrong, the team loses a timeout.

A defender can’t stay in the lane for more than three seconds unless he is closely guarding someone. The penalty is a technical free throw.

An unnecessary or excessive foul. It brings free throws, possession and, for the worst ones, an ejection.

Touching a shot on its way down toward the basket, or while it is above the rim. The basket counts.

Seeds 7 to 10 in each conference play for the last two playoff spots: 7 vs 8, 9 vs 10, then the loser of the first game hosts the winner of the…

A deliberate foul to stop a fast break. Since 2022, the other team gets a free throw and keeps the ball.