h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just one question...if you have to remain 3 feet from the shooter, how on earth can you expect to block it?

That's why it's in the defenders' best interests to be very tall and preferably with long gangly arms.

Actually, the secret lies in the timing. Because as soon as the shooter has released the ball, the defender no longer has to be three feet from the shooter (because she is no longer in possession). This means the defender can jump and attempt to block the shot. And the fact that the shooter has only three seconds in which to dispose of the ball, means that the defender has a reasonable idea of when the shooter is actually going to shoot, and therefore knows when to jump.

Having said that, blocked shots are really quite rare unless the defenders are particularly athletic or the shooters are particularly short.

Well, I guess if you can tell where the shot is coming from, it would make it a bit easier. Still, even in the NBA, where short people drive the lane against 7 foot behemoths, blocked shots are still pretty rare...a talented center might average as many as 3 per game.

So if blocks are incredibly rare, what exactly is the purpose of having a player dedicated to blocking shots?

Because the ball has to get to the shooters first. The defenders work pretty hard to intercept the ball on its way to the shooters. And a good defender can sometimes cause a shooter to hold the ball for more than three seconds (and thus incur a penalty) or put her off her shot (although she can't do this deliberately eg. waving a hand in the shooter's face is not on) and then collect the rebound. Defenders can also force errors, or force the shooter to shoot from further out in the circle - this equals a much tougher shot (especially with no backboard) and there's more chance of a rebound. Ohh, there's SO much for the defenders to do!