[NYT] For Some N.B.A. Players, There’s No Such Thing as a Slam Dunk

There's nothing weak-willed about a dunk being more intimidating than a layup or a floater. I guarantee you plenty of extremely good players have been dunked on and were embarrassed by it. It's simply human nature.

 

Dunks are overrated. Mostly by people who learn about NBA players from youtube videos. To me, a dunk's value is when a defender is between you and the rim and you want to make damn sure you get the basket OR create enough contact to force the ref to give you free throws. If you're a smart player you can finish the play and/or get the foul without dunking but dunking makes it less complicated.

All the psychological "value" of a dunk is crap. I didn't see Dwight Howard dunk the Lakers into submission in last year's playoffs just like I've never seen Duncan's layups ever stop him from winning ring after ring after ring.

Is Kobe less devastating psychologically to other teams now because he can't dunk as often or get as high on his dunks. Did the 41 he dropped on the Rockets the other night leave you unimpressed because it was all jumpers and post moves?

 

The Slam Dunk is a unique feature of our game that exemplifies the grace and artistry of the athletes that play it.

If you take dunking out of our game, Basketball loses a lot of it's magic.

 

Dunk > Layup

How many times have you complained about a player not dunking the ball after missing a layup?

 

Werd.

You GOTTA DUNK THAT *****

 

I agree dunks are more valuable than lay ups. Dunks are more likely to swing the momentum of the game and crowd

 

i also agree that a dunk is greater than a layup, a dunk can get a player fired up, and also ignites the crowd and players feed off of that. So most likely you will get a better outcome by dunking the ball than laying it up!

 

Ther is no way dwight howard finds it easier to do a lay up under the basket than just jump a few inches and dunk

 

Anyone who thinks dunking is overrated has never played any form of competitive basketball. Dunking is one of the best weapons a player has. The intimidation factor of dunking on someone or getting dunked on should not be underestimated at all.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvob54LwQGY

So, would he have "sucked the gravity out of the building" and effectively ended shawn bradley's career if he just laid it up over him?

 

Whatever you say big guy.

Oh wait, I forgot all the times Magic and Bird dunked their way to Championships.

Intimidation doesn't come from dunking either. Ask Ron Artest.

 

How did that series end? What were McGrady's numbers in the decisive game 7? Or is there a finite period of time where the dunk has this mystical psychological effect you're telling us about?

 

Thank God sanity has come to this thread. The anti-dunking crowd was starting to make it look like a WNBA advertisment.

 

Short-haired bearded Scola > long hair Scola.

Dude looked straight mean and badass with the short hair. Cut that hair Luis!

 

Who cares what you define a "dunk" to be. A dunk is a dunk. A slam of the ball into the hoop. Period.

By your logic then, Howard's dunks submitted the other teams they beat in the playoffs? His ability to dunk allows him to jump over double teams.

You are missing the point. Dunks cause the fans to get hyped and loud. If you give up a dunk, that's demoralizing. No one is saying dunks win games/championships. It is just one factor that can build/kill momentum. When I see a Rockets player dunk the ball, it gets me excited (*giggles) and from what I can see from the reactions of the other Rockets, it gets them excited. Some people look at athletic players and see that they can only dunk and have no skills. Well, not everyone can be Kobe or a Lebron. They got to score by dunking if they cannot shoot.

Indeed, dunking is just 2 points but because it takes that much more effort than a layup, it is very demoralizing in that sense. I'd hate to see an opponent throw one down like there's no d.

 

Kelvin Cato, for one, is glad the dunk exists.

 

Yes because today's game is the same as in the 80s right? Dunking doesnt automatically equal intimidation and championships, big guy, but it sure as hell is more effective than a layup. How much better would chuck hayes be if he could finish above the rim? If you are able to dunk and finish above the rim you will go to the basket with more force and more frequently.

 

You're an idiot. Why would one dunk influence an entire series? Does one layup do that unless its a decisive end of game basket? No. There is no mystical psychological effect, its pretty simple. You jump as high as you can, as does your defender, and you slam it in their face, is that not intimidation? Did you see dwade make varajao look like a little b*tch and then varajao was upset the entire game got a tech, got into it with the other heat players, it has an effect.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weYG3rS1PWU

Im sure a layup wouldve been as effective