In basketball, a “dead ball” refers to a situation where the ball is no longer in play and cannot be actively used by either team. This occurs during specific moments in the game, such as:
1. After a whistle: When the referee blows the whistle to stop the game, the ball becomes dead. This can happen for various reasons, such as fouls, violations, or out-of-bounds calls.
2. During a timeout: When a team calls for a timeout, the ball is considered dead until play resumes.
3. After a made basket: Once a basket is made and the ball goes through the hoop, the ball is dead until the opposing team takes possession and is ready to inbound the ball.
4. When the ball goes out of bounds: If the ball is thrown or bounces outside the playing area, it is considered dead, and the game is stopped while the ball is brought back in bounds.
5. Free throw situations: When a player is about to take a free throw, the ball is dead until the shot is taken and either goes in the basket or rebounds.
In these cases, the ball is not in active play, and the game cannot proceed until the situation is resolved and the ball is “live” again.
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