Terms O - Q

O Execution Lapse. Where a player forgets what to do in a set offense (O= Offense). Also called an OEL.
Odd Front Alignment. Expression used to describe how many defenders are at the perimeter in a defensive set. Coaches and teams should have a responsive offensive set to counter.
Off Guard. Shooting guard or Number 2 player.

Offensive Rebound. Getting a rebound from a missed shot that you or a fellow team mate took.

Offensive Set.  The way the coach decides to position the team when on offense.
Offensive Transition. Where a team will attempt to move the ball quickly up the court after they've acquired the ball -often from a defensive rebound.

Off-Ball.   The position of defenders who are guarding players who don’t have the ball or action

Off Guard.  The non-point guard or shooting guard.

Off the Dribble. Not pausing to adjust for a pass or shot while dribbling to throw off a defender’s timing.

On-Ball.  Defending the player who has the ball.

On Fire.  When a player makes most or all their shots.

On-the-Line (OTL). See U.T.L.

One On !  Yelled as a warning to alert a player on a fast break, dribbling, and can’t see a defender catching up and attempting a back-poke.

One-and-One. The foul status of a team where a team has acquired a certain amount of collective (team) fouls whereupon a fouled player is granted a shot that if made a second shot is granted. When this status is achieved the team is said to be Over the limit.
Open Stance. The defensive stance taken by a player with their back to the basket and the ball is two passes away.

OT.   Overtime. 

Outlet Pass.   A pass to a guard after a defensive rebound. The pass should be on the side the rebound was made – never a cross-traffic pass (through the paint).
Outside Pivot Foot.  Foot closest to the sideline.

Over-and-Back. Once your team has brought the ball across the half-court line you can’t bring it back across intentionally.

Overhead pass.  An effective pass for speed and distance.  Also known as a baseball pass.

Overplay.  Where a defender will focus on the strong side of an opponent to take away their dribble or shot.

Over-the-Back Foul. When you are behind someone and jump over them to get the ball but make contact with them (had you not made contact it would have been legal).This is a foul against you.
Overtime.  Extra period played to break a tie score.

Packing the D.  When faced with a fast, penetrating offense a defending team may compress themselves into an area closer to the paint. Defending perimeter players should be a minimum of 3’ away from the 3-point line.

Paint.   The area under the basket, defined by foul lines and so called because it is often highlighted by being painted.
Paint Points. Shots made in the paint. If there a lot of these made against a defense then there is likely a problem with the defense.

Palming.  When your hand goes below the equator of the ball (or toward the bottom side of it) and your palm faces the sky while your dribbling. This is a violation and the ball goes to the other team.
Pass-and-Cut. Where a player passes to a team mate and cuts to the basket expecting a quick return pass. Aka. Give-and-Go (Thanks Coach Haynes-Basketball Australia).

Passing Lanes. Areas or gaps around and very tight to the body of the defender that a pass can get through. There are four typical lanes; either side of the head and either side of the chest. The pass always follows a fake.

Penetration Dribble. Where a player will attack the seams (gaps) between defenders usually into the paint.
Percentage Shots. Describes the likelihood of certain shots to be successful. Subdivided into High Percentage Shots and Low Percentage Shots.
Peripheral Vision. The ability to perceive activity that is outside of a player's direct field of vision.
Pick. A screen set by a team mate to rid you of your defender.

Pick a Pocket. See Backpoke or Backstrip.

Pick-and-Roll. A screen play where the screener rolls off the screen toward the basket and gets a pass for a score.

Pick-and-Pop. Where a screener pops out to the perimeter after a screen for a shot.

Piece!.   Yelled by a defender who is attempting to block a shot and only deflected it a bit. This way, fellow defenders will know that the ball will fall short. Short for “I got a piece of the ball…”

Pill.   The ball. Aka Rock, Pumpkin.

Pin-and-Spin.  A low-post offensive move usually where a forward will suddenly face their defender, plant their high-side foot (closest to the free-throw line) between the defender’s feet and spinning in order to receive a pass and then shoot.

Pin Hand.  Hand used as a bar when pinning a defender.  The other hand is used to create a target for a pass. 

Pivot.   To change direction while keeping one foot on the floor at all times. It is really important to establish (nail down) your pivot foot whenever you get the ball. It’ll help if you always try to make your pivot foot the one that you naturally favor. See Reverse Pivot and Forward Pivot.

Piston Action. The double pump, vertically done when shooting.

Playmaker.  A player, usually the point guard, who looks to feed their team mates passes, challenge a defense, or score.
Plyometrics. An exercise methodology used to increase jumping heights.
Point Guard. The player who most often handles the ball. Aka. No 1.
Point Your Pistols. A coaching phrase used to help a defensive player remember that they must be able to see the ball and the player they are defending and if they can point to them (their "pistols" are their index fingers) then they've accomplished the task. Their backs are usually to the basket. See OTL and UTL.
Possession Arrow. A device located at the scorer's table and shown on the scoreboard that tracks the alternation of possessions.

Post.   An area on the court that is defined by the foul lines and is sub-divided into the high and low post (low being near the baseline). Aka the Paint. Post players are usually forwards situated at the low post.   

Post up.   To get a good offensive position near the basket. Commonly used to refer to the low post player’s positioning on offense where they face the ball as it is brought up the court.

Posterized.  When a player dunks over another –the one dunked over was the one posterized. It's assumed that if there were a camera commemorating the event- it would become a poster.
Pound It To The Middle. When it is determined that a defense is outmatched or simply is defensively week in the paint the attacking team will relentlessly pass into, or dibble into this weak area. Middle = Paint.
Power Dribble. A hard, two-handed, single dribble used just before a power lay-up used to get just enough distance to get around a defender. It's aggressiveness is used to intimidate the defense.

Power Up. When, due to good defense, an attacking player who is in the low post lays the ball with authority, usually with two hands on the ball and jumping up hard off two feet. Aka Power Lay-up or Going up Hard.
PPG. A statistic. Points per game. 

Press.    When a defensive set is used against a team right after a made basket in order to put pressure on the in-bounding team to use up their five seconds. Variants are full-court, half-court, and quarter-court presses.

Press-breaker.  A play or set used by the in-bounding team to get past a press being used against them.
Prevent. When used as a noun (the prevent) it refers to the last player able to make a defensive play when their team is in an offensive transition set- such as a press breaker.

Primary Transition. The pattern of proceeding up the court preferred by the coach when a defensive rebound is made and out-letted.
Proprioception. An intuitive awareness of one's body relative to it's parts and it's environment. It is believed that this awareness can be developed through exercises.

Pull-back (retreat) Dribble. Where you dribble back toward your body while stepping backwards in order to get out of defensive traffic.
Punk with the Dunk. A player who goes in for a dunk.

Puppy-Dogging. When a defender, sometimes after having been screened or because they are slower than the player they are guarding, continues to chase the player they were guarding.
Push ! Yelled to encourage a fast break. See Wheels !

Pushing Pumpkins. Playing basketball.
Put a Body On. To play agressive defense by applying a lot of physical contact.

Put-Back.  An offensive rebound and score without putting the ball down for a dribble. A.k.a. Stick-back.

Quadruple Double.  Achieving double figures in four statistical categories.
Quick Release. When a player with the ball shoots with a faster than normal set-release tempo usually to throw off a defender or get the shot over a taller defender.