The counterattack – Basketball glossary

The block is the ultimate defensive move that thrills the crowds. When a defender jumps up to stop an opponent’s shot, the adrenaline rushes and the crowd goes wild.

What exactly is a counter in basketball?🧐

A block is when you intercept the ball in mid-air as your opponent attempts a shot. In practical terms, this involves placing your hand (or fingers) on the ball without touching the shooter, in order to block or deflect their shot. Beyond a simple defensive move, a good block can change the dynamic of a game, boosting the morale of the team that makes it and dampening the enthusiasm of the attackers.

A block is risky for the defender, who can commit a foul if they touch the opponent and give away two free throws. But it can also end in a “poster.” The best blockers are often the ones who take the most dunks to the head. Blocking means putting yourself on the line and not shying away from it.

What place does defense have in basketball culture? 🤷

The counterattack is all about defense. Often much more subtle and less accessible to novices (basketball fans), good defense is less easily appreciated than a good attack. But everyone understands what a counterattack is instantly: NOT IN MY HOUSE. In basketball culture, the spectacular often takes precedence: that moment when an attacker thinks they’re going to score but is abruptly denied, what a thrill when you’re on the right side. Just like a dunk, a block can lift you out of your seat and make you scream with joy, or cry. Poor Warriors fans.

The 5 greatest blockers in history 🌟

1. Hakeem Olajuwon: Nicknamed “The Dream,” his remarkable offensive style helped the Rockets win two consecutive championships in the mid-90s. But there was one thing Hakeem did very well, perhaps better than anyone else: blocking shots. With over 3,800 blocks in his career, he is quite simply the best shot blocker in history.
2. Dikembe Mutombo: Known for his famous “finger wag,” he terrorized attackers with his blocks and defended his basket like a rampart. He is one of the players who immediately comes to mind when you think of blocking, as Dikembe is a true defensive player and ranks second all-time in blocks with 3,289 to his credit.
3. Tim Duncan: Nicknamed “The Big Fundamental.” A very complete player, he excelled in the art of blocking without fouling and often controlled the ball to immediately restart the attack.
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Like Hakeem, KAJ was not only one of the best offensive weapons in NBA history, he is also the third best shot blocker in history with… four fewer seasons.
5. Mark Eaton: The only non-Hall of Famer in our selection, this Utah Jazz giant (2.24 m) made blocking his specialty. Over 11 seasons in the big league, he racked up 3,064 blocks, which is huge, and the best average per season in history with 3.5 blocks per game.
   

A legendary counterattack 🎬

It’s impossible not to mention LeBron James’ monumental block on Andre Iguodala during the 2016 NBA Finals. With less than two minutes left in a nail-biting Game 7, neither team had scored for over two minutes. Iguodala went on the counterattack, but LeBron James sprinted back and slammed down a game-changing block on the backboard. The score was 89-89, the Cavs were still tied, no one was pulling away, and then… Kyrie Irving shot a 3-pointer over Stephen Curry’s head and it went in, 92-89. This allowed Cleveland to finally prevail and win a historic title.
This play will go down in history as the very definition of a clutch block, capable of turning the tide of a game and lifting an entire city. It’s further proof that, in basketball, a defensive move can be just as spectacular and decisive as a powerful dunk.

But personally, the one that made me jump off my couch (and run around my living room) was Nicolas Batum’s block against Slovenia in the Tokyo Olympics semi-finals. 90-89, ball to Doncic… with just seconds left, Doncic passes the ball, the Slovenian number 7 moves up to the hoop and Batman appears out of nowhere, blocking the shot explosively against the backboard. Game over, France is in the final.