Basketball: Explainer
Browse SportsMonkie's explainer about basketball, organized in one crawlable topic hub.
45 articles in this topic.
Double Dribble Rule in Basketball, Explained
The double dribble rule bans dribbling with two hands or dribbling again after you stop. Learn the two ways it happens, the penalty, and carry vs. double dribble.
1-3-1 Zone Defense in Basketball: Alignment, Roles & How to Attack It
The 1-3-1 zone defense explained: player alignment, roles, traps, strengths, weaknesses, and how offenses beat it. A full coaching breakdown.
2-3 Zone Defense in Basketball: Alignment, Roles, and How to Attack It
The 2-3 zone defense lines up two guards up top and three defenders low, guarding areas instead of players. Here's how it works and how to beat it.
2-3 Zone vs Man-to-Man Defense: Full Basketball Comparison
2-3 zone vs man to man defense compared: coverage, pick-and-roll, 3-point defense, rebounding, and when coaches at every level pick each.
3-2 Zone Defense in Basketball: Alignment, Roles, and How to Attack It
The 3-2 zone defense explained: alignment, player roles, strengths, weaknesses, and how offenses attack this high-pressure zone.
Backdoor Cut in Basketball: Definition, When to Use It, and How to Run It
What a backdoor cut is in basketball, when players use it against overplaying defenders, and how to execute and defend it correctly.
Bank Shot in Basketball: Technique, Geometry, and Why It Works
A bank shot in basketball is a shot deliberately banked off the backboard into the hoop. Learn the aim points, angles, and players who mastered it.
Basketball Defenses and Offenses Explained: Zone, Man-to-Man, and More
Basketball defenses and offenses explained: man-to-man, zone defense in basketball, presses, and the plays teams run to attack each one.
Basketball Positions by Number (1-5): The Complete Guide
Basketball positions by number: 1 is point guard, 2 shooting guard, 3 small forward, 4 power forward, 5 center. Learn the system and how coaches use it.
Basketball Positions Explained: All 5 Roles, Numbers & Duties
Basketball positions explained: point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center — roles, the 1-5 numbering, and positionless basketball.
Basketball Referee Signals: The Complete Guide to Every Hand Signal
Basketball referee signals explained: scoring, traveling, double dribble, blocking, charging, holding, shot-clock violations, and technical fouls.
Box Out in Basketball: The Complete Rebounding Technique Guide
Learn how to box out in basketball with a step-by-step technique, common mistakes, and drills that turn positioning into extra rebounds.
Center Position in Basketball: Role, Skills & Famous Centers
The center position in basketball is the interior anchor who protects the rim, rebounds, screens, and finishes near the basket. Here's the full breakdown.
Euro Step in Basketball: Rules, Footwork, and How to Do It
The euro step in basketball is a legal two-step move where a driver picks up the dribble and steps one way, then the other, to dodge a defender.
What Is a Fadeaway in Basketball? Technique, History & Best Shooters
A fadeaway in basketball is a jump shot taken while leaping backward, away from the defender, to create space. How it works, technique, and top shooters.
Finger Roll in Basketball: Technique, History & How to Shoot One
A finger roll in basketball is a one-handed layup released off the fingertips with soft backspin so it arcs high over defenders. Full technique guide.
Floater in Basketball: What It Is and How to Shoot One
A floater in basketball is a high, soft one-handed shot lofted over a taller defender before the rim. Learn the technique, when to use it, and the NBA masters.
Full Court Press in Basketball: Types, Alignment, and How to Break It
A full court press pressures the ball the entire length of the court. Learn how a full court press works, its formations (2-2-1, 1-2-1-1, 1-3-1), and counters.
What Is a Give and Go in Basketball? How It Works
A give and go in basketball is a pass, cut, and return-pass play between two players. See how it works, why it's so hard to stop, and how to defend it.
Help Defense in Basketball: How It Works, Positioning, and Key Rules
Help defense is when off-ball defenders shift toward the ball to stop dribble penetration. Learn positioning, rotations, stunts, tags, and closeouts.
Hook Shot in Basketball: Technique, Skyhook, and Why It's Unblockable
The hook shot in basketball is a one-handed shot released in a sweeping arc with the shooter's body shielding the ball from the defender.
Man-to-Man Defense in Basketball: Rules, Roles, and How It Works
Man to man defense explained: on-ball, denial, and help roles, stance, closeouts, and how it differs from zone. Full breakdown with drills and FAQs.
Motion Offense in Basketball Explained: Rules, Alignment & Keys
What is a motion offense in basketball? Learn the rules, spacing, formations (5-out, 4-out 1-in), player roles, strengths, weaknesses, and how to run it.
Off-Ball Screens in Basketball: Types, Alignment & How to Use Them
A basketball screen set away from the ball is an off-ball screen. Learn the down, back, flare, cross, and elevator screens with alignment, roles, and counters.
What Is a Post Up in Basketball? Post Moves and How to Defend It
A post up in basketball is when a player backs their defender down near the basket to score. Learn how to post up, key post moves, and how to defend it.
Step-Back Jumper in Basketball: Footwork, Travel Rule, and Famous Users
A step-back jumper is a move where a ball-handler dribbles at a defender, then pushes backward to create space for a jump shot. Here's the footwork and rules.
Triangle Offense Explained: Formation, Roles, and How It Works
The triangle offense uses a three-player sideline triangle plus a two-man weak side to read defenses. Full breakdown of alignment, roles, and strategy.
Types of Basketball Shots: Every Shot Explained
The main types of basketball shots are the layup, jump shot, three-pointer, dunk, floater, hook shot, bank shot, fadeaway, step-back, and euro-step.
What Is a Layup in Basketball? Footwork, Types & Why It Scores
What is a layup in basketball? A close-range shot laid or banked off the glass after a drive. Learn the footwork, overhand vs. underhand, and variations.
What Is a Point Guard in Basketball? Role, Skills & Famous PGs
A point guard is basketball's floor general — the primary ball-handler who runs the offense. Learn the role, key skills, and famous PGs.
What Is a Power Forward in Basketball? The 4 Position Explained
A power forward (the '4') is basketball's versatile big man — rebounding, defending, scoring in the post, and increasingly shooting threes.
What Is a Shooting Guard in Basketball? Role, Skills & Examples
A shooting guard is basketball's primary perimeter scorer — the '2' who shoots off the catch and dribble, hits threes, and guards the wing.
What Is a Small Forward in Basketball? Role, Skills & Best Players
A small forward is basketball's most versatile position (the '3'), scoring inside and out, defending multiple spots, and rebounding on the wing.
What Is an Alley-Oop in Basketball? Definition, Technique & Famous Duos
What is an alley oop? A lob pass caught above the rim and finished with a dunk or layup in one motion. Learn the technique, timing, and top NBA/WNBA duos.
Box and One Defense: How It Works, When to Use It, and How to Beat It
The box and one defense mixes zone and man-to-man: four defenders form a box while one shadows the opponent's top scorer. Setup, uses, and counters.
Pick and Roll in Basketball: How It Works, Types, and How to Defend It
The pick and roll explained: how the screen-and-roll works, its variations, and the defensive coverages teams use to stop it.
WNBA Salary Cap Explained: Max Salaries & Supermax
The WNBA uses a hard-style salary cap with a team spending limit and capped individual max salaries far below the NBA. A new CBA is set to raise both sharply.
What Is a 10-Day Contract in the NBA?
A 10-day contract is a short NBA deal covering up to 10 days or three games. How the pay works, the two-contract limit and why teams use them, explained.
Bird Rights in the NBA, Explained
Bird rights let an NBA team re-sign its own free agent even while over the salary cap. How the Larry Bird exception works, the 3-year rule and trades.
How Long Are WNBA Games?
A WNBA game is 40 minutes of play: four 10-minute quarters, versus the NBA's 48. In real time, about two hours. Format, overtime and clock explained.
The Restricted Area in Basketball
The restricted area is a 4-foot arc under the basket where a defender can't draw a charge. What the semicircle means and how the no-charge rule works.
What Is a Two-Way Contract in the NBA?
An NBA two-way contract lets a player split time between the NBA and the G League. Games limit, salary, roster rules and how it differs, explained.
What Is an And-One in Basketball?
An and-one is when a player is fouled while making a basket and earns one free throw for a possible three-point play. How it works, explained.
WNBA Ball Size vs the NBA
A WNBA ball is 28.5 inches in circumference (a size 6), one inch smaller than the NBA's 29.5-inch size 7. What that means and why the leagues differ.
WNBA Salaries Explained: The 2026 CBA, Supermax and Pay Gap
WNBA salaries in 2026: a $7m cap, a $1.4m supermax and a $270k minimum under the new CBA. How the numbers are set and why they trail NBA pay.