Helena Frye
Basketball is a high-scoring sport, but it can take dozens of attempts to score. The primary objective of the game is to outscore the opposing team by putting the basketball through the opponent’s basket as many times as possible while preventing them from doing the same. There are three ways to score points in basketball: field goals, three-point field goals, and free throws. Field goals are shots taken from the court during the game and are worth two points. Three-point field goals are shots taken from behind the three-point line and are worth three points. Free throws are unguarded shots taken from the free-throw line after a foul has been committed by the opposing team and are worth one point. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
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What You'll Learn
Two-point field goals
To win a basketball game, your team must accumulate more points than the opposing team. One way to score points is by making field goals, which can be worth two or three points. A two-point field goal is scored when a player makes a field goal from inside the three-point line. This can be achieved through various techniques such as layups, jump shots, and dunk shots.
Layups are running shots taken when the player gets close to the basket. Jump shots, on the other hand, are taken from a greater distance away from the basket. Dunk shots, also known as slam dunks, involve the player slamming the ball into the basket from directly under the hoop. Two-point field goals are a specialty of active players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Jimmy Butler. Past field goal specialists include the legendary Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Larry Bird.
The distinction between a two-point and a three-point field goal is crucial. A three-pointer is scored when a player shoots from behind the three-point line, also known as the arc, without touching the line with their foot. Since the 2008-09 season, referees have been reviewing situations where there is uncertainty about whether a field goal should be scored as a two-pointer or a three-pointer. These reviews are triggered to ensure the correct number of points is awarded for each field goal.
It is worth noting that if a player is fouled by the opposing team while attempting a two-point field goal, they may be awarded free throws. Each successful free throw is worth one point. The number of free throws awarded depends on the severity of the foul and the league's rules. For example, in the NBA, a team typically receives bonus free throw attempts after the opposing team commits four fouls per half. Understanding the rules and techniques for two-point field goals is essential for players and referees to ensure fair and accurate scoring in a basketball game.
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Three-point field goals
The three-point line is typically marked at a distance of 23 feet 9 inches from the basket in international basketball and the WNBA. In the NBA, the distance is 22 feet from the basket, and in the NCAA, it is 20 feet 9 inches.
Some notable active players who are known for their three-point shooting abilities include Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.
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Free throws
A referee awards a free throw to a player after they are fouled by a defender on the opposing team. The player who was fouled can get one or more free throw attempts, depending on the severity of the foul. If the fouled player misses the basket, the rebounding players can capture the rebound and take possession of the ball.
In addition to being awarded for fouls, free throws are also given in other situations, including technical fouls, and when the fouling team has entered the bonus/penalty situation. In the NBA, this typically occurs after a team commits four fouls per half. In most NCAA Division I games, it is usually seven fouls per half.
There are four types of fouls that generate free throws: personal, technical, team, and flagrant. Personal fouls involve blocking or striking a player while shooting, while team fouls occur when a basketball team exceeds its allotted number of fouls per game. A technical foul can include fighting or verbal abuse from players or coaches, and results in one or two free throw attempts, depending on whether it is deemed Class A or Class B. A flagrant foul is an aggressive foul that can potentially harm an opposing player. The fouled player receives two free throws, and their team gains possession of the ball.
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Layups, jump shots and dunk shots
Layups, jump shots, and dunk shots are all types of field goals in basketball. Field goals are shots taken from the court during the game. There are two ways to score a field goal: from inside the three-point line or from beyond the three-point line. If a player makes a field goal from inside the three-point line, they score two points. If they make a field goal from beyond the three-point line, they score three points.
A layup is a close-range shot that players take near the basket while moving toward the hoop. It is considered the most basic shot in basketball. Players often use one hand to bounce the ball off the backboard and into the basket. The other type of layup is the overhand shot, similar to a jump shot but from a much closer range. Overhand layups almost always involve the use of the backboard. The reverse layup is a type of layup often used to evade a block. The ball is tossed backward, with the shooter facing away from the basket.
To create room for a layup, players can use the two steps allowed before the layup attempt. The most common form of this strategy is the Euro-Step, which involves dribbling, taking one step in one direction, and then quickly taking a step in the other direction to avoid the defender.
A jump shot is when a player releases the ball toward the basket while jumping, usually at the highest point of the jump. One hand guides the ball while the other pushes it. Jump shots can be taken anywhere on the court, from near the hoop to three-point range. They are often used after getting a pass in a good shooting spot or after dribbling past a defender.
A dunk shot, or slam dunk, is when a player jumps and scores by putting the ball in the hoop. They can use one or both hands, and their hands often touch the rim. Dunk shots are taken when the player is directly under the basket.
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Bonus free throw attempts
Once a team enters the bonus situation, the opposing team is awarded bonus free throw attempts for each subsequent foul committed. The number of free throws awarded depends on the specific rules of the league. In the NBA and FIBA, a technical foul results in one free-throw attempt for the non-offending team, while in NCAA, technical fouls are classified as Class A or Class B, with Class A resulting in two free throws and Class B in one.
In NCAA men's basketball, the bonus rules are slightly different. Starting with the seventh foul of the half, one free throw is awarded, and if the player makes it, they get to shoot another one. This is called a "one-and-one". From the tenth foul onwards, two free throws are awarded. It's important to note that overtime is considered an extension of the second half when it comes to accumulated team fouls.
Women's college basketball previously followed the men's bonus rules but switched to FIBA bonus rules starting with the 2015-16 season. The FIBA rules include four fouls per period, with two free throws awarded for each team foul after the fourth. Overtime periods are also considered extensions of the fourth period.
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