Yao's Reluctance to Dunk...

I've actually noticed this as well. There are times when Yao is directly under the basket and opts to put up a layup that is subsequently blocked, where throwing it down would have resulted in two points. It doesn't happen that often and isn't that big of an issue, but it does occur.

 

The reason Yao doesnt dunk much now is because
his two fingers are banged together, and
dunking isnt gonna help curing them.

 

He's never really been a dunker to begin with.... , it's kinda odd, but I don't think anything is really wrong with it.

 

You mean a player won't get blocked and got embarrassed if he layed it up? Or what are you exactly talking about?

 

Dunking requires more energy, which is precious to Yao. It is not he doesn't want to, it is he almost can't when he is running on fumes.

 

Uh, you're about 3 years late on this comment. Yao dunks plenty these days. I think with the energy it takes a little more for him to gather himself and so his dunks are temporarily down. Give him a few more games to get his sea legs back.

 

game 7 in the NBA Finals I bet he would throw down some nice dunks

 

I think we should feel lucky that we have an awesome offensive center and not be too concerned about his 'lack' of dunks.

Case in point: Compare Yao's stats with one of the best dunkers in the league, Dwight Howard.

Personally, even though I understand the point trying to be made in this thread, I'd rather have the center with the best post moves in the league (ala Hollinger's article) then some super dunker with little else to shout about.

 

Some of you guys are taking the OP way too seriously. I know this topic has been rehashed over and over again, but OP still has a valid point. He is not talking about post-injury Yao, but taking a look at his career in general.

Some of you are acting like he is suggesting that he should only dunk. No. He is talking about when Yao is literally inches away from the basket, but decides to lay it in instead of dunking it. He does not need to jump 3 feet to dunk. We all know Yao gets hacked while in the lane, but many opportunities for three point plays are lost because Yao goes up for a layup rather than a dunk. Yes, it's only two points, but it is a higher percantage shot than a layup. And we know how great a free throw shooter Yao is if he gets fouled on a potential three point play.

Literally, Yao would get a three point play every single time if he would dunk it (noooo he's not a thug player!!, noooo he'll be like Dwight Howard....nooo even maybe Stromile!! blah blah blah ).

Yes he has a dislocated finger. Yes he is coming off knee surgery. But OP isn't just looking at the last two weeks of play. And all of you guys concerned about Yao losing energy by dunking: he doesn't have more stamina because he isn't dunking, it's because he isn't going to the high post every single play setting a useless screen and coming back in to get position.

You guys need to chill out whenever someone makes a thread "criticizing" Yao. I rarely post in the GARM, but some of you guys just go way overboard whenever someone posts anything that could be a 'flaw' in Yao's game.

 

Throw it down big man.. Throw it down..

 

I am not worried, Tim Duncan does not dunk that much either. He has won 3 rings.

 

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Simply as it is, he has almost NO verticle AND he rules ON THE GROUND.

 

Yao Ming is recovering from a injury, and is fighting another one.
And one thing to remember is he doesnt have a great leaping speed. He usually dunks when he caught a good pass when moving or 2 steps away from the basket and having a good view at it. When he grab some offensive rebounds right under the basket, he doesnt tend to dunk it, because he is just not that fast jumping wise, and he might get blocked from behind, or stripped. His layups are better considering he usually use his body and arm to protect the ball, and sometimes draw stupid fouls from the opponents.

 

i think yao has dramatically increased his dunking and am surprised so many people have forgotten. he was throwing it down consistently from the second half of last season to right before his injury this season.

the ONLY reason i think he's hesitant now is because he's still working his way back and he's got the taped finger. a couple of the layups he's had since coming back would have been dunks a few months back. like his stamina, expect this to be a non-issue come playoff time.

 

extra strain on his knee to dunk? geez, all he has to do is tiptoe and he can throw that sucker down. i agree that yao should go for more dunks, simply because its a higher percentage shot than a layup. also, one would think that a 7'6 center who plays pretty much at least 10 feet around the rim ALL THE TIME would have more dunks than vince carter, who's 6'6 and plays around the perimeter. yao, throw that sucker down.

 

Perception: You know what your talking about

Reality: VC shots selection is nowhere near Yaos, fact still remains there are plenty of times Yao should dunk but instead lays it in, anytime VC has the chance to dunk he stuffs it. The same cannot be said for Yao

 

Now thats a comparison, Yao dunks enough to please me.