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Joined: Jan 2001
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old hand
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old hand
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?
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218
enthusiast
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enthusiast
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.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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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
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156 |
the circle surrounding the free-throw lineHmm...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! 
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218
enthusiast
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enthusiast
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. 
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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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!
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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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.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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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?
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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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.... 
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