Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 2 1 2
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
B
old hand
Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
this area is the "three-second lane" (from the rule that says you can't camp out in there waiting for the ball to come) or just the "lane" or "the paint".

Huh? We always called it "the key". Canadianism, or do USns use it too?


#35850 07/25/01 12:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218
B
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
B
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218
"In the key," in America, usually means the circle surrounding the free-throw line, and most typically, the top of that key being nearest to center court. The lane (or paint) is only the rectangle below the free-throw line and under the basket. The key and the paint share only one-half a circle (the half below the free-throw line).

However, in American usage (at least I've never heard otherwise, and I am a 7-times-a-week basketball player) the key is usually an abbreviation of "the top of the key" and only means the area closest the center court where the three point line and the free-throw circle intersect.


#35851 07/25/01 02:10 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
I guess I always thought of the key as being the combination of the circle and the lane [rectangle], due to its resemblance to a keyhole. but it could well be that it includes only the semicircle that is part of the lane (i.e., the key = the lane) as in this link: http://www.lessontutor.com/bsktbl2.html


Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
B
old hand
Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
the circle surrounding the free-throw line

Hmm...that is interesting...I played basketball in high school (in Canada) and we meant the whole rectangular thing, the whole part that you aren't allowed to be in longer than three seconds. In fact, I don't think that includes the round part, does it? Anyway, that was the name, and (as with most language things) it never occurred to me that others might name it differently!


#35853 07/25/01 05:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218
B
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
B
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218
Thanks for the educational link, tsuwm. I'll gladly recant on my assumption about the key being only the circle. After tsuwm's link and some other googling, I bow my head in shame. Good thing all my basketball buddies aren't also linguaphiles, or they'd shame me both in AWADtalk and on the court.


#35854 07/26/01 02:47 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
I bow my head in shame
Don't you dare, sweet talented Brandon! If that's what you and your group mean by the key, then that's what it is, to you!


#35855 07/26/01 02:30 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
> If that's what you and your group mean by the key, then
that's what it is, to you!

but; this is only sage advice should you remain insular in your b'ball endeavors. should your bb-prowess ever take you, say, to the regional games you could be embarrassed and (worse) distracted enough to throw you off your game (to the point of not being able to finish in the paint!?). which is to say, it never pays to look like a rube when playing games with the guys.


#35856 07/26/01 02:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
it never pays to look like a rube when playing games with the guys.

Didn't see White Men Can't Jump did you, tsuwm?






#35857 07/26/01 03:01 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
saw it; had to keep telling myself: it's only a movie... it's only a movie....


Page 2 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 332 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,713
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,931
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5