Basketball Talk

Basketball Talk

A few years ago the only thing vaguely like sports that I would be found watching was ice-skating, gymnastics or sumo. Then my husband turned me into a Lakers fan. I realized that one of the reasons I never liked or followed the game before was that, like all sports and other cabals, it has its’ own language. Once I learned the lingo, I started to understand what was going on and found that basketball is an amazing, fast paced, largely unchoreographed dance. This is part two of my B-ball blogs.

Bigs – a) players who consistently score over 25 points a game b) players who play Center or Power Forward positions and tend to be the largest player on the team c) Players with large feet i.e. “He tripped over his own bigs.” c) the biggest stars or superstars that bring in the crowds

Boards- a) the wooden floor of the court b) the seats, because they were pine benches when the game started c) rebounds d) disinterested spouses or friends who have been dragged along to the game

Brick – a) a shot ball that misses b) a ball that scores; one brick in the wall of the score c) a run of ten or more points for a single team d) each million dollars in a player’s contract.

Charity Stripe – a) where the players who are not dressed to play because of injury or other issues sit on the bench b) when players donate money or time to charity c) the stripe down the side of a player’s jersey d) the free throw line

Chippy – a) A Laker Girl b) when players tease, or call each other out on the court c) when the ball flies into the crowd d) when the officials disagree about a call

Chirpy – a) a player under six feet b) the sounds that the player’s shoes make on the court c) when players complain about the calls of the refs d) basketball groupies

Cleans it up – a) shoot the winning basket b) stops a non scoring run c) stops swearing at the ref d) gets the rebound

Easy Deuce a) uncontested or very easy two point score b) an easy two game win c) a two year contract d) two endorsement deals

Flat Footed – a) a player who can’t jump after an injury b) standing around, not really reacting or playing i.e. “caught flat footed” c) literally a player with flat feet – a fairly common condition in people over six and half feet tall d) seats where the feet are actually on the wood of the court – “front row” or “flat footed seats.”

Free Throw Line – a) the line at the top of the key where shots cannot be contested because the other team has committed a foul against the player or team doing the shooting b) the line that divided the court in half- once crossed a player is free to shoot the ball c) the line which non-players are not allowed to cross – audience members will be thrown out if they cross the free throw line d) none of thee above

Good Look – a) a spiffy uniform b) seats with a good view of the game c) how players communicate with eyes and facial expressions so that the other team won’t know the game plan d) a good or open shot

Mr. Mo – a) what they call Spike Lee because he likes “Mo Better Basketball” b) the momentum of the game c) money, the main motivating factor d) the player who gives that extra effort

One and done – a) the last game in a series b) one shot with a score and no reliance on the rebound c) the last shot of the game when missed is “one and done.” d) a player who’s career is cut off by a single injury

Open Shot – a) uncontested, no player from the other team is playing defense on the shooter. b) a shot from the foul line c) a player who’s contract is open to sign to a new team d) a shot made in the air

Shooter – a) player attempting to make the basket b) the press on the floor c) a single shot from the bar c) all of thee above

Stops – a) a time out b) keeping the other team from scoring c) the bell to signal the end of a quarter d) the apparatus that the basketball and backboard are attached to

Strip – a) what many fans wish the Laker girls would do b) to run the floor and get to the basket without any defenders c) to steal the ball from an opposing player when it is their possession d) the half court line that determines who’s end of the court you are on

Stripe – a) the free throw line b) any of the lines on the floor c) the style of play of any given player d) the security guards

Triple Double – a) two three point shots on a row b) three two point shots in a row c) two shots in a row with a foul that allows for a third point attempt d) when a player gets three or more stats over two digits in any game

Walk – a) the way the players strut out when introduced b) to be asked to leave the court c) to carry the ball without dribbling for more than a single step d) the long route to the parking lot after the game.

BONUS QUESTION: Which of these phrases were coined by the beloved Lakers announcer Chick Hearn?