The players

A team consists of up to ten players, only five of whom can be on court at once. A team's first-choice players are referred to as the "starting five", the other players as "the bench". The more high-quality players a team has, the "deeper" the bench. Bench players are often able to play in more than one position and the average Bud League team "rotates" seven or eight players with the specialist starters getting most court time. Substitutions are frequent as bench players come on to spell the starters or for tactical reasons. The team on court normally consists of two guards, two forwards and a centre, although nowadays numbers 1 through 5 are more commonly used inside the game to describe the positions. The two guards, two forwards and a centre setup isn't used by all teams (Mike Burton's 96/97 Jets, for example, consisted of a point guard - Russ Saunders, two "swing" players on the outside - Nigel Palmer and Hilliary Scott - and a couple of big guys in the centre - Ric Leonard and Billy Singleton), but here's a quick rundown on the "classic" positions (pictures are all NBA - it's tough getting hold of good Bud League photos):

Point Guard (or 1)
The guards are usually the smallest players in the team (small is a relative term in basketball..) and play most of their game away from the basket - on the outside - in both offensive and defensive situations. Having said that, an important part of a guard's game is to be able to attack the basket directly on a fast "drive". The point guard will be an excellent ball-handler and passer with a good "basketball brain" and will run most of a team's offensive plays, hence the common use of "playmaker" to describe this position. Examples:

NBA - Gary Payton (Sonics, pictured), John Stockton (Jazz)

Off Guard ( 2).
This player will be a skilled long-range shooter - a three-point specialist - and is commonly called the shooting guard. He shares outside duties in offence and defence with the point guard but can also play in tandem with the "small forward" (see below) in a wide offensive role. As with the point guard, the 2 man should also have the ability to drive into the key for a pass or lay-up. Examples:

NBA - Kobe Bryant (Lakers), Ray Allen (Bucks - pictured proving that off guards don't just shoot as he goes to the basket against Houston).

Small Forward (3)
There's that word "small" again. The 3 player will be around the 6' 7" mark and is usually the more agile of the two forwards, who play either side of the basket. A vital skill in this position is the ability to score with the "jumper" or medium-range shot but the small forward will also be expected to mix it under the basket and get his share of rebounds. He will also drop away from the basket and play opposite the off-guard;- one of the appeals of basketball against other team sports is that you get to do something of everything and this is especially true of the 3 position. Examples:

NBA - Grant Hill (Pistons, pictured), Scottie Pippen (Bulls)

Power Forward (4)
The larger of the two forwards, this guy will play on the wing like the small forward but will tend to move in towards the basket to support the centre, rather than away from it to play opposite the off guard. The 4 player will be skilled at both medium-range and close-in shots ("lay-ups"), claiming rebounded balls in offence and defence, "screening" a team-mate as he attacks the basket and sweeping the ticket stubs up after the game (well, maybe not the last bit). Examples:

NBA - Karl Malone (Jazz, pictured), Shawn Kemp (Cavs)

Centre (5)
The big guy. This player will be 6' 7" 240lbs minimum and his hunting ground is under the hoop. During an offence the centre will commonly take a position under the basket and with his back to it, in order to receive the pass or protect a team-mate in possession. The other players tend to revolve around the centre in these situations and the 5 is also called the "pivot" for this reason. In defence, the centre will take on shot blocking and rebound duties. Examples:

NBA - Shaquille O'Neal (Jazz), Alonzo Mourning (Heat, pictured in defence against Michael Jordan)

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