basketball great quigley crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're tackling the clue "basketball great quigley" and need a quick solution, you've come to the right place. Below, you'll find the most probable answers along with detailed explanations to help you complete your puzzle and understand the logic behind the clue.
Solutions for "basketball great quigley crossword clue" by Letter Count
3 Letters
PIP: Refers to Scottie Pippen, a six-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer. While 'Quigley' is not a basketball great, this clue often points to a very common crossword answer for 'basketball great' like 'PIP', possibly using 'Quigley' as a specific puzzle's flair or a clever misdirection to fit the letter count.
More About "basketball great quigley crossword clue"
Crossword puzzles are renowned for their clever wordplay and sometimes, their use of obscure references or red herrings. The clue "basketball great quigley" is a prime example of this. While there isn't a famous basketball player named Quigley, the clue directs solvers towards a "basketball great" that fits a specific number of letters. This common technique relies on the solver's ability to identify key terms like "basketball great" and consider well-known short forms or nicknames of famous athletes, such as Scottie Pippen, often shortened to "PIP" in puzzles.
The addition of a seemingly irrelevant name like "Quigley" can be a specific setter's style, designed to add flavor to the clue or to slightly mislead solvers who might initially search for a direct match to "Quigley." It emphasizes the importance of breaking down clues into their essential components and thinking about common crossword answer patterns rather than getting hung up on every word in the clue.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
Solving crosswords, especially those with tricky clues like "basketball great quigley," can be greatly improved with a few strategic approaches:
- Always Check the Letter Count: The number of letters in the answer box is your most crucial hint. It immediately narrows down possibilities, allowing you to filter out many potential solutions.
- Consider Common Crossword Tropes: For categories like "sports great," "artist," or "composer," crosswords frequently use common short forms, nicknames, or well-known last names. Think about the most common short answers that fit the general description.
- Look for Misdirection or Wordplay: If a part of the clue seems odd or doesn't directly point to a famous figure (like "Quigley" here), it might be a subtle form of misdirection, a sound-alike hint, or simply a way to make the clue more challenging. Focus on the core meaning of the clue.
- Leverage Intersecting Words: Don't try to solve a difficult clue in isolation. The letters from intersecting words can quickly reveal the correct answer for a stubborn clue.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does "basketball great quigley" lead to such a short answer like PIP?
Crossword clues often use famous names or broad categories (like "basketball great") and combine them with generic or misleading names (like "Quigley") to fit a specific letter count. "PIP" is a very common short answer for a "basketball great," alluding to Scottie Pippen, a six-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer.
Is "Quigley" a real basketball player?
There is no widely known basketball great with the name Quigley. In crosswords, such specific but obscure names can serve as a red herring, a hint for wordplay, or simply a way to make the clue unique without directly pointing to the answer's primary meaning. The emphasis is typically on the 'basketball great' aspect.
How do I know if a name in a crossword clue is relevant or a distraction?
A good strategy is to first consider common answers related to the primary category (e.g., "basketball great"). If a specific name doesn't immediately bring a famous person to mind, it might be a filler or part of a wordplay. The number of letters in the answer is always a key indicator. Context from other solved clues can also help confirm the nature of the name.