It seems like every time he's wide open for an easy dunk he just lays it in (minus the time he posterized Turiaf). If I remember correctly Gary Payton purposely didn't dunk when he was younger. I miss Franchise's sick dunks, so I'm desperate to see Luther start to throw it down. <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WnXiua66KbE&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WnXiua66KbE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U0Vy0n8STXo&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U0Vy0n8STXo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uV4nCRrUp94&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uV4nCRrUp94&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
I didn't know Gary didn't dunk the ball on purpose. thats interesting. I don't know, maybe he just doesn't want to get hurt?
Maybe he rather follows the actual play and not tries to get himself on Sportcenter, it doesn't matter he proved he CAN dunk.
interesting, seeing all the dunking he's doing is the above footage. I've wondered the same thing about chuck hayes. He was in the college dunk contest, and now the chuck wagon doesn't even think of dunking.....
Dunking puts more strain on your wrist compared to just laying it in. He's a shooter so he'd rather save his wrist for that event.
You know the Rockets are doing well when there's 2 threads of why we dont see more dunks from particular players. Chuck Hayes can dunk but its hard for some guys to jump in traffic when they dont have elite ups.
Those were pretty nasty dunks. Luther is able to dunk it, I remember his dunk against Lakers Last season - it was phenomenal. But he is a great shooter so let him shoot if he makes it.
wonder the same thing..no big deal though, maybe at this stage of his career..he is still more worried about just making the shot instead of being flashy...
My old HS basketball coach said that dunking somehow messes up shooting. I forgot why but thats the reason why he prohibited us from dunking too much.. donno if thats true though but i wouldn't be surprised if he was just BS-ing us
good point..for most yes, but if he, for some reason is havin trouble gettin up there a lay-up is more guaranteed for some crazy reason i get the feeling just because a thread was created about Luther not dunking..he will get a few tonight or in the lakers game, maybe seeing Turiaf will remind him haha..
He can't cup the ball as easily as guys like Dwyane Wade. If watch the second video and the dunk on Turiaf, the ball almost slips from his hands. He had to cradle the ball in his hand.
I agree, when i dunk a lot during practice, my shot gets a little of. so i prefer not to dunk as much, especially power dunks.
who cares.... luther doesnt like to dunk chuck doesnt like to dunk scola doenst like to dunk battier doesnt like to dunk yao doesnt really like to dunk never saw rafer dunk but we will win...
HE DOESNT DUNK FOR THE SAME REOSON AI DONT ANYMORE YOU DONT KNOW HOW LONG YOUR GOING TO BE PLAYING WHY USE ALL YOUR ENERGY ON DUNKING WHEN YOU GET THE SAME RESULT BY LAYING IT UP.
As a fairly short guy by basketball standards (5'9") who can dunk a basketball, I can tell you exactly why he doesn't dunk in games. Luther is only 6'1" or 6'2" which is already small for a dunker. Add to that the fact that he's a two-foot jumper, which takes more time and space to complete a dunk, and it becomes more difficult. Furthermore, he can't palm the ball, which causes even more problems with getting a dunk off, especially in traffic. All of those factors are true to me as well, so I know first hand. Trust me, Luther would dunk if he got the opportunity and felt he could actually complete it. It's not a matter of not wanting to.
worded to perfection He is at alot of disadvantages, most of the time it is alot safer for him to lay the ball in. In the game when he dunked on Turiaf it was actually a better 'shot' than a layup. If he tried to lay it in Turiaf may have blocked it or just got in his way to deter it, he also knew Turiaf isn't a smart defender (he plays hard but often fouls unnecesarily, and not because he is overmatched like Chuck). I wish our bigs thought like this all the time. Dunking is not just to be flashy it is actually a very effective 'shot' in certain instances but not always.