Block (basketball)

Last updated
Cliff Alexander blocks a shot during the 2013 IHSA playoffs. 20130307 Cliff Alexander blocks Paul White cropped.JPG
Cliff Alexander blocks a shot during the 2013 IHSA playoffs.

In basketball, a block or blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player to prevent a score. The defender is not allowed to make contact with the offensive player's hand (unless the defender is also in contact with the ball) or a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot is traveling upward or at its apex. A deflected field goal that is made does not count as a blocked shot and simply counts as a successful field goal attempt for shooter plus the points awarded to the shooting team. For the shooter, a blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt. Also, on a shooting foul, a blocked shot cannot be awarded or counted, even if the player who deflected the field goal attempt is different from the player who committed the foul. If the ball is heading downward when the defender hits it, it is ruled as goaltending and counts as a made basket. Goaltending is also called if the block is made after the ball bounces on the backboard (NFHS excepted; the NCAA also used this rule until the 2009–10 season).

Contents

Nicknames for blocked shots include "rejections", "stuffs", "bushed", "spoinked", "fudged", or notably "double-fudged" (two-handed blocks), "facials", "swats", "denials", and "packs". Blocked shots were first officially recorded in the NBA during the 1973–74 season.

Largely due to their height and position near the basket, centers and power forwards tend to record the most blocks, but shorter players with good jumping ability can also be blockers, an example being Dwyane Wade, the shortest player, at 6'4", to record 100 blocked shots in a single season. [1] A player with the ability to block shots can be a positive asset to a team's defense, as they can make it difficult for opposing players to shoot near the basket and, when keeping the basketball in play, as opposed to swatting it out of bounds, a blocked shot can lead to a fast break, a skill Bill Russell was notable for. [2] [3] To be a good shot-blocker, a player needs great court sense and timing, and good height or jumping ability. One tactic is that a shot-blocker can intimidate opponents to alter their shots, resulting in a miss.

Chase-down block

Mirza Begic blocks Dusko Savanovic at the EuroBasket 2011. Serbia against Slovenia 2.jpg
Mirza Begić blocks Duško Savanović at the EuroBasket 2011.

A chase-down block occurs when a player pursues an opposing player who had run ahead of the defense (as in a fast break), and then blocks their shot attempt. Often, the block involves hitting the ball into the backboard as the opponent tries to complete a lay-up. One of the most recognized chase-down blocks was then-Detroit Pistons' Tayshaun Prince's game-saving block on Reggie Miller in Game 2 of the 2004 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. [4] [5] Pistons announcer Fred McLeod, who first witnessed this style of blocks from Prince, created the chase-down term later with the Cleveland Cavaliers. [4] [5] During the 2008–09 NBA season, the Cavaliers began tracking chase-down blocks, crediting LeBron James with 23 that season and 20 the following season. [4] [5] [6] Another landmark chase-down block occurred in the 2016 NBA Finals when LeBron James, in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter delivered what became known as "The Block" on a lay-up attempt by Andre Iguodala with the score tied at 89 and 01:50 remaining in the game. [7] [8]

Shot-blocking records in the NBA

Shot-blocking records in NCAA Division I

Men

Shawn James Shawn James.jpg
Shawn James

Women

See also

Footnotes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slam dunk</span> Basketball technique

A slam dunk, also simply known as dunk, is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air, controls the ball above the horizontal plane of the rim, and scores by shoving the ball directly through the basket with one or both hands. It is a type of field goal that is worth two points. Such a shot was known as a "dunk shot" until the term "slam dunk" was coined by former Los Angeles Lakers announcer Chick Hearn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBA Finals</span> Championship series of the National Basketball Association

The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven-game series to determine the league champion. The team that wins the series is awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which replaced the original Walter A. Brown Trophy in 1976–77, though under the same name until 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damon Jones</span> American basketball player and coach

Damon Darron Jones is a former American professional basketball player who played most of his career for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Gibson</span> American former profession basketball player

Daniel Hiram Gibson is an American former professional basketball player who is an assistant coach and scout for the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft and played seven seasons for them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season</span> NBA professional basketball team season

The 2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 37th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. Led by 22-year old forward LeBron James, the Cavaliers finished the season with a 50–32 record, finishing second-place in the Central Division, winning their first Eastern Conference championship, and earning the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals. During the season, the Cavaliers had the fourth best team defensive rating in the NBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brittney Griner</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Brittney Yvette Griner is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's national basketball team and a six-time WNBA All-Star. She was additionally named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tristan Thompson</span> Canadian basketball player (born 1991)

Tristan Trevor James Thompson is a Canadian-American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He won an NBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2016 and has also played for the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers.

The following are the basketball events of the year 2012 throughout the world.

The 2015 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2014–15 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs played from June 4 to 16, 2015. It was contested by the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors and the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 2015 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2014–15 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeating the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season</span> NBA professional basketball team season (won championship)

The 2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 46th season of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA championship, the first NBA championship in franchise history. During the regular season, the Cavaliers had the third best team offensive rating and were tenth in team defensive rating in the NBA. During the playoffs, the Cavaliers had the best team offensive rating and were eighth in team defensive rating in the NBA.

The 2016 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2015–16 season and conclusion of the 2016 playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the defending NBA champion and Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors four games to three in a rematch of the previous year's Finals. It was the 14th rematch of the previous NBA Finals in history, and the second straight rematch in back-to-back years, as the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs played each other in 2013 and 2014. The series was played from June 2 to 19.

The 2016 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2015–16 season. The tournament ended with the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers defeating the defending NBA champion and Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors 4 games to 3 after the Warriors led the series 3 games to 1. In the NBA Finals, LeBron James was named NBA Finals MVP.

The 2016–17 NBA season was the 71st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 25, 2016, with the 2016 NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers hosting a game against the New York Knicks. The 2017 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 19, 2017, with the West defeating the East 192–182. Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans was named the All Star Game MVP after breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record by scoring 52 points in the All Star Game. The original host of the game, Charlotte's Spectrum Center, was removed as the host on July 21, 2016, due to the league's opposition against North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act. The regular season ended on April 12, 2017, and the playoffs began on April 15, 2017, and ended on June 12, 2017, with the Golden State Warriors going 16–1 in the playoffs and beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games during their third consecutive matchup in the NBA Finals. This was the last season for the NBA to use Adidas jerseys. Starting with the 2017-18 NBA season, the jerseys were from Nike. Additionally, Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors, and Dwyane Wade with the Chicago Bulls, after playing their entire careers until then with one team.

The 2017 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2016–17 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeated the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers four games to one. This Finals was the first time in NBA history the same two teams had met for a third consecutive year. The Cavaliers sought to repeat as champions after winning the championship in 2016, while the Warriors won their first meeting in 2015. For the third straight year, Golden State earned home court advantage against Cleveland with a league-best record of 67–15. The Warriors entered the 2017 Finals after becoming the first team in NBA playoff history to start 12–0, while the Cavaliers entered the 2017 Finals with a 12–1 record during the first three rounds of the postseason. The Warriors' 15–0 start in the playoffs is the most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history and their 16–1 record is the best winning percentage (.941) in NBA playoff history. Golden State's Kevin Durant was named the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Durant won the Finals MVP award unanimously, receiving all 11 Finals MVP votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Block (basketball)</span> Play in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals

The Block was a defensive basketball play that occurred in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, played between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors on June 19, 2016, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. With less than two minutes remaining in the deciding game of the championship series, Cavaliers forward LeBron James chased down Warriors forward Andre Iguodala and blocked his layup attempt, ensuring the game remained tied. It is considered to be one of James's greatest clutch moments, and his performance across the series—the only time in which a single player has led both teams in points, assists, steals, and blocks—is considered to be one of the best in NBA Finals history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarrett Allen</span> American basketball player (born 1998)

Jarrett Allen is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns and was selected 22nd overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2017 NBA draft. In January 2021, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of the four-team blockbuster James Harden trade. In February 2022, Allen was named to his first NBA All-Star Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry</span> National Basketball Association rivalry

The Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. The rivalry became prominent in the mid-to-late 2010s, with both teams appearing in four consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2018. The four Finals saw the Warriors emerge victorious in three and the Cavaliers in one.

References

  1. ↑ "The Legacy of Dwyane Wade: Is He The Last Elite Shooting Guard?". dish2swish.com. 10 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Bill Simmons (2010). The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy. Random House Publishing Group. pp. 69, 404. ISBN   978-0-345-52010-4.
  3. ↑ Gregory, Sean; Wolff, Alexander. Richard O’Brien (ed.). "The Game that Saved March Madness". Sports Illustrated. Mourning: "I would tell you this. Coach Thompson brought Bill Russell in to speak to me and Dikembe. And he's like, Listen, if you block a shot into the stands, the opposing team does nothing but get the ball back. And he said if you have the ability to block shots, why not keep it inbounds? He said don't swing at it. Direct it. I've never forgotten that."
  4. 1 2 3 The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James making the 'chase-down' block a signature move Archived 2016-05-09 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved April 24, 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 Abrams, Jonathan (5 May 2010). "On Defense, James Is Closer Than He Appears". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  6. ↑ The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James finishes second in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting Archived 2016-04-14 at the Wayback Machine , accessed April 22, 2009.
  7. ↑ "13 Greatest Game 7 Performances In NBA Finals History". 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  8. ↑ Greenberg, Chris (June 20, 2016). "LeBron James gave Cleveland an iconic sports moment it wants to remember: 'The Block'". Boston.com . Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2016. Cleveland, no matter how hard it may have tried, couldn't forget 'The Drive' or 'The Fumble' or 'The Shot.' But now, thanks to LeBron James, it has a sports moment requiring the definite article that it will want to remember forever: The Block.
  9. ↑ "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Blocks Per Game - Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com.
  10. 1 2 Hawkins, Stephen (September 6, 2013). "Griner still chasing AIAW shot-block record of 801". Waco Tribune. Associated Press . Retrieved February 27, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.