I know I will be in the minority here with this thread but I cannot express to you in words how unimpressed I am with a certain NBA play. It's a play where ESPN is constantly drooling over. It's a play that I think takes almost zero skill. It's the dunk. I just do not understand all this hootin and hollerin over someone who can drop the ball through a circular iron while , are you ready for this, from a distance that is two inches from going in. No wonder we get our tails handed to us by the Olympic champions. No wonder shooting from 15 to 20 feet out is a lost art in America. I'm much more impressed with someone who can consistently nail it from 22 feet out than a guy who can drop it from two inches above the hole. Sorry ESPN. I'm not buying it. It's way way overhyped. Any 7 foot moron who has the athletic skills of my grandmother can hold the ball above the rim and drop it in. Any six foot moron that can jump two feet can hold his arms up and drop it in. Way overhyped and way overrated. Just my opinion.

I'll go one step further. At the moment, I cannot think of one play in ANY sport that is more overhyped and more overrated than this play.

You have a valid point.

However, keep in mind that it does take a good deal of basketball acumen and physical skill to get into position to be able to successfully catch and dunk the ball in a half court set, especially off of an alley oop pass against a team that has a good interior defense.

There are not a lot of players in the NBA who can do what Bynum does, because most can not read defenses as well as him to be able to get into the proper position to receive the pass and then hold on to it while getting banged around and successfully finish the play with a dunk with near as high a success rate as he has.

:hoops:

However, keep in mind that it does take a good deal of basketball acumen and physical skill to get into position to be able to successfully catch and dunk the ball in a half court set, especially off of an alley oop pass against a team that has a good interior defense.
:hoops:
Right.

I don't necessarily enjoy watching players dunk. But I can appreciate the rate at which dunks successfully go into the basket. In other words, at risk of stating the obvious, dunks are very high percentage shots.

I don't think there's much doubt that the media, and particularly the ESPN idiots, have done more to ruin the game by constantly harping on dunks than practically anything else you could name. And that a basic lack of fundamental basketball skills in the U.S. is a big reason why the U.S. doesn't play very well in the international game.

But, sometimes they are pretty cool - dunks on the break, dunks after several passes that open someone up under the rim, dunks after back screens, etc. What I hate is the clear out a side and let somebody just get up a head of steam and take off stuff.

I don't think there's much doubt that the media, and particularly the ESPN idiots, have done more to ruin the game by constantly harping on dunks than practically anything else you could name. And that a basic lack of fundamental basketball skills in the U.S. is a big reason why the U.S. doesn't play very well in the international game.

But, sometimes they are pretty cool - dunks on the break, dunks after several passes that open someone up under the rim, dunks after back screens, etc. What I hate is the clear out a side and let somebody just get up a head of steam and take off stuff.
You mean you don't like Dwight Howard's offensive game? :sssh:

i'm a (near) 6 foot moron who wishes he could dunk :)

Dwight is o.k. He's posting, fighting for position, getting out and running, etc. What I hate is LBJ or Wade holding the ball at half court until seven seconds left on the shot clock and then racing to the basket while everyone else stands and watches.

Dwight is o.k. He's posting, fighting for position, getting out and running, etc. What I hate is LBJ or Wade holding the ball at half court until seven seconds left on the shot clock and then racing to the basket while everyone else stands and watches.
Pistons are guilty of that as well, except instead of going to the basket they launch a contested jump-shot from 20+ feet. But that's what superstars do. One of the Cleveland's bread and butter offensive plays is LBJ dribbling outside the 3-point line and then launching a long jumper. For 20 seconds everyone just stands and watches, on both teams.

I only wish some Piston players other than JMAX would dunk more instead of shooting out of their range on tired legs...... WE NEED MORE PAINT ACTION!!!:MusicBigGrin:

I can dunk a golf ball!

Could do a volleyball in highschool, but never got a real dunk off with a bball. Was tantalizingly close before my athleticism started to wane.

Now, my game resembles a poor man's Jud Bushler.

In my youth I could dunk donuts, but now that age is catching up with me I don't do donuts.

:hoops:

i'm a (near) 6 foot moron who wishes he could dunk :)

That perfectly describes me. Wow, were like the same person.

I know I will be in the minority here with this thread but I cannot express to you in words how unimpressed I am with a certain NBA play. It's a play where ESPN is constantly drooling over. It's a play that I think takes almost zero skill. It's the dunk. I just do not understand all this hootin and hollerin over someone who can drop the ball through a circular iron while , are you ready for this, from a distance that is two inches from going in. No wonder we get our tails handed to us by the Olympic champions. No wonder shooting from 15 to 20 feet out is a lost art in America. I'm much more impressed with someone who can consistently nail it from 22 feet out than a guy who can drop it from two inches above the hole. Sorry ESPN. I'm not buying it. It's way way overhyped. Any 7 foot moron who has the athletic skills of my grandmother can hold the ball above the rim and drop it in. Any six foot moron that can jump two feet can hold his arms up and drop it in. Way overhyped and way overrated. Just my opinion.

I'll go one step further. At the moment, I cannot think of one play in ANY sport that is more overhyped and more overrated than this play.

IMO, the dunk is one of the most spectacular plays in any sport. First there is the sheer athleticism to achieve said maneuver. Anyone can toss a ball in a basket...just the percentage varies. However, no matter how many times the majority of the population tries, the chances of dunking remain at zero.
2nd there is the incredibly high success rate when someone is able to accomplish the dunk.

What other play is so far out of reach for most people yet so accessible in slow motion in the comfort of their own homes?

Dunking or over-dunking is not the cause of the decline of basketball skill...its just a symptom of a system that values raw athleticism over skill and experience...just look at this years draft picks.

I've had a similar thought with the homerun in baseball being used as the big highlight for a game.

The feat itself is pretty impressive, but when you see highlights of a game and they show the homerun, they sort of all look the same.

Great fielding plays are much more exciting to see... at least for me.


I guess the dunk is similar. The only ones that are really amazing now are the ones where they dunk over somebody or catch a difficult ally oop.

Amazing assists are the coolest highlights IMO.

I've had a similar thought with the homerun in baseball being used as the big highlight for a game.

The feat itself is pretty impressive, but when you see highlights of a game and they show the homerun, they sort of all look the same.

Great fielding plays are much more exciting to see... at least for me.


I guess the dunk is similar. The only ones that are really amazing now are the ones where they dunk over somebody or catch a difficult ally oop.

Amazing assists are the coolest highlights IMO.

I never get bored watching replays of Tigers home runs. I am looking forward to hundreds of replays this year of Miggy going long, longer and longest.

:hoops:

You have a valid point.

However, keep in mind that it does take a good deal of basketball acumen and physical skill to get into position to be able to successfully catch and dunk the ball in a half court set, especially off of an alley oop pass against a team that has a good interior defense.

There are not a lot of players in the NBA who can do what Bynum does, because most can not read defenses as well as him to be able to get into the proper position to receive the pass and then hold on to it while getting banged around and successfully finish the play with a dunk with near as high a success rate as he has.

:hoops:

Good point. I do appreciate the alley oop cause it requires so much skill (timing) for it to work.

I only wish some Piston players other than JMAX would dunk more instead of shooting out of their range on tired legs...... WE NEED MORE PAINT ACTION!!!:MusicBigGrin:

I totally agree. I'm not against the dunk. It's the highest percentage shot out there. So I like my team to dunk. I just don't leap out of my chair when it happens. So I'm not against the shot. Just the drooling by ESPN.

That perfectly describes me. Wow, were like the same person.


Same here...

In order to escape a block, dunking is the safest way to complete a lay-up.

In order to escape a block, dunking is the safest way to complete a lay-up.

Are you sure?

It seems to me that the most important things to do to prevent your layup from being blocked are.

1. Timing of your shot
2. Sealing off the defender

Both of these if properly executed allow you to take your shot without it being blocked. Dunks can and are blocked if one or both of the above are not successfully executed by the shooter.

:hoops:

I enjoy a well executed pass play much more than the dunk. The kind of pass play that leaves the opposing players picking up their shorts before they continue. Dunking is overrated, unless its a doughnut into a good cup of coffee............

its a lost art for the most part but the crazy passes that magic use to make? you were left scratching your head... Kidd when he was still in college was a joy to watch, not as flashy as the years have passed but still a joy to watch...

its a lost art for the most part but the crazy passes that magic use to make? you were left scratching your head... Kidd when he was still in college was a joy to watch, not as flashy as the years have passed but still a joy to watch...

Keep an eye on the guard we didn't take, no not Conley or Law, but Crittenton. He is going to be one exciting NBA baller once he starts to get into the regular rotation with the Lakers. I have already seen him make some Magic like passes in the limited time he has played to date for the Lakers.

:hoops:

Are you sure?

It seems to me that the most important things to do to prevent your layup from being blocked are.

1. Timing of your shot
2. Sealing off the defender

Both of these if properly executed allow you to take your shot without it being blocked. Dunks can and are blocked if one or both of the above are not successfully executed by the shooter.

:hoops:

You're right. But what had made me scratched was some very rare cases, e.g. 2004 ECF game 2, if RM dunked the rock instead of trying a layup . . .

You're right. But what had made me scratched was some very rare cases, e.g. 2004 ECF game 2, if RM dunked the rock instead of trying a layup . . .

I still maintain, and I am not the only one, that his sister was a better baller. She is in the top row,center.

http://i24.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/b0/c9/a09e_1.JPG


Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers, May 24, 2004 - Basketball-Reference.com (http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/IND20040524.html)

:hoops:

Awesome defensive plays are what get me going the most, especially when they are done by the Pistons and are followed up by a score, like an exciting fastbreak dunk or something. But give me an athletic block any day over a dunk when it comes to Sportscenter highlights.

From a purely analytical and objecive standpoint Yes the dunk is overrated. But I have to admit that my favorite Piston play is a Jason Maxiel Monster Throw-Down, man something about his rim rattlers are just off the charts!!!!

Although I truely love watching AA's Below-The-Rim skill set, he's going to play in this league for a long time because he's NOT a dunker.

You Have a valid point but it takes a lil more than you described a lot lbj's dunks and kobes dunk take skill ill admit doofahs like joakim Noah don't deserve recognition for their dunks. He just had two in the top 10 play wich is dumb...he sucks...he always will. but neways for some guys i think it's very skilled though

You Have a valid point but it takes a lil more than you described a lot lbj's dunks and kobes dunk take skill ill admit doofahs like joakim Noah don't deserve recognition for their dunks. He just had two in the top 10 play wich is dumb...he sucks...he always will. but neways for some guys i think it's very skilled though

J. Noah is a media darling. A lot of that is due to his father. For those who watch ESPN sports center you are probably going to be stuck with watching his dunks for the next few years or so depending on how much playing time he eventually gets.

He actually belongs on TMZ. I wonder if the paparazzi follow him around like they did his father.

:hoops:

Amir Johnson's first career point in the NBA. I could watch this all day:

YouTube - Amir Johnson DUNK! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmQMAp6azNQ)

I would say the timeout is the most overrated play. As well as the inbounds pass. :nerd2:

I would say the timeout is the most overrated play. As well as the inbounds pass. :nerd2:

not to disagree.... but the 87 pistons would disagree