The game
On the professional and amateur leagues level, games are either played to
four quarters of twelve minutes each, or two halves of twenty minutes.
Usually, if a player makes an illegal physical contact with an opposing team's
member, this is called a personal foul, in which case the game clock
stops. The clock must also be stopped every time the ball goes out of bounds
or for several other reasons such as a jump ball or three-second
violation. In practice, this makes the games last much longer than just
the 40 or 48 minutes on the game clock.
In informal
street (also known as pickup) games, a maximum of points (frequently
fifteen) is set instead of a time limit. Typically, free throws are not used,
and fouls are called by the fouled player only when it prevents a score. Often
only one basket is used. In these halfcourt games, the rule is often
that the scoring team gets the ball again, so that a defensive team must
prevent a score in order to get a chance to score themselves. This
"make-it-take-it" rule contrasts with the standard for full court games (both
formal and pickup) in which the team scored upon gets the ball. Because free
throws are not used, in the years before three-point lines, the universal
convention was that a basket counted one point. Now the rules vary. Some times
all shots still count one point, other times inside shots are two, and "three
pointers" are really three points (in which case the game would be to 30
rather than 15), and still other times inside shots are a point and outside
shots two.
The goal of each team is to throw the ball through their basket, whilst
preventing their opponents from doing so. Teams score two points for putting
the ball in the basket, three points for long-range shots, and one point for
foul
shots.
Naturally, it's easier to score a basket when close to the basket than when
farther away; however, offensive players in basketball may not tuck the ball
under their arm and run with it. Instead, they must constantly bounce
("dribble") the ball as they advance to the basket; every dribble represents a
chance for the ball to be mishandled or stolen.
Defensive players may not tackle an offensive player, and those who push,
shove or impede their opponents risk getting called for a foul. Players who
are fouled get either the ball or -- if they're in the act of shooting --
"free throw" shots from a line 15 feet from the basket for one point each.
This was important to Dr. Naismith, who disliked the brutal blocking and
tackling of American football. He wanted his game to be good clean exercise.
If a player commits five fouls in one game (six in some professional
leagues, including the NBA) he is disqualified from the rest of the game, and
a reserve player must take his place. It is also called fouling out.
Arguing with a referee, fighting with another player, or interfering with a
ball after it falls through the basket are grounds for a technical foul. Any
player or coach with two technical fouls is disqualified from the game. Savvy
defensive players use a wide array of legal and extra-legal techniques to
hamper and frustrate the players they guard.
Each player occupies one of three positions: a team typically has two
guards, two forwards, and one center. More specifically, the positions are:
-
Point guard
-
Shooting guard
-
Small forward
-
Power forward
-
Center
On occasion teams will choose to use a Three Guard Offense,
replacing one of the forwards or center with a third guard.
Any number of player substitutions are allowed during the game, though subs
can only come onto the floor after a stoppage of play.
Male players wear shorts and a sleeveless top, and high-top sneakers that
provide extra support to the ankles. Female players have worn shirts and
skirts in the past, but most female players now wear uniforms identical to
those worn by men. Some professional women's teams have switched to
lycra
bodysuits.
Being tall is a clear advantage in basketball. Very few male professional
players stand less than six feet (1.83 m); few women in professional leagues
are shorter than 5'6" (1.68 m). In men's professional leagues, guards tend to
be the smallest players, though they can occasionally be taller, such as
Magic Johnson (6'9"/2.06 m) and
Toni
Kukoc (6'11"/2.11 m). Forwards in the men's professional leagues are
almost all 6'6" (1.98 m) or taller; the smallest centers are about 6'9" (2.06
m). Many centers, and a few forwards, are over 7 feet (2.13 m). The tallest
players ever in the NBA,
Manute
Bol and
Gheorghe Muresan, are 7'7" (2.31 m). Currently, the tallest NBA players
are
Shawn Bradley and
Yao Ming,
both listed at 7'6" (2.29 m).
Similar games
Spin-offs from basketball seem to be
korfball,
netball,
slamball
and
ringboll.
Street basketball is another very popular game.
See also
