The Dunk ?

[wbbfan1]

Is the dunk good for womens basketball or are we seeing the game become like the boys where athleticism rules over fundamentals?

Sure a dunk adds exceitement to a game because today it rarely happens, but I have to wonder if it's good for the game.

4/5 years ago it seemed most D! players shot 75-80% at the free throw line, now I bet that % is down to 65% or less. I see less passing of the ball to create open shots and now see more individual play relying on athleticism to create shots. It seemed the womens game always had great shooters and now even shooting seems to becoming a lost art.

The USA National team lost to Russia because of free throw shooting, outside shooting and team play and relying on individual skills instead of Team play. Yes, the USA team had the superior individual players, the Russians played better team basketball. Just like what has happened to the USA mens National team over the last 5 years.

What are your thoughts?

[ifyousayso]

I think that is a tough one... I dont believe, based upon womens anatomy and center of gravity that the dunk will become a focal point of the girls game anytime soon.

Although the one one one athletic play is one that is most likely on the near horizon. What if anything can be done to keep the girls game a game of team play, I do not know.

We seem to be applauding and supporting those that have the very attributes that can take over a game. I suppose it is up to the coaches and supporters of this game to keep that type of play in check

[Tiger81]

Athletic play does not have to equal poor fundamentals. Poor free throw shooting does not correlate to being a good or bad athlete. You can have both ( All Dean Smith coached teams)

[connboy]

I've always believed that the dunk is a very dangerous act which could prematurely end a very promising career. I would not want to see a player getting hurt trying to dunk, just because it was exciting. If I were a coach I would not allow any of my players to attempt to dunk the ball, even in practice.

[scoutnwhoops]

Any time a player jumps in the air and makes an acrobatic play, whether dunking the basketball or not, they are risking injury more so that just passing and shooting set shots. I don't think the "dunk" itself is a higher risk but the more athleticism in the game, the higher the chance of injury. It is unavoidable.

I think size more than anything will limit the "dunk" becoming a staple of women's hoops. Six foot six in WBB makes you a post, 6-6 in mens hoops makes you a guard. You don't have 6-10 players that could run track or do well in the high jump in the women's game.

As for its place... The WBB community is basically a niche market with those of us that love it and are passionate about it and there is an ignorant contingent out there that because of their pathetic view on life consider the women to be inferior athletes or not athletes at all. (Case in point I posted a link to a WBB story on the InsideCarolina board and a poster responded with I forgot what WBB meant, I realized it meant 'boring'). So the poster is a jack@$$. We all know that. What I like about the "dunk" is the attention it brings to the game. If 6-1 Maya Moore flies down the court at UConn and flushes one with two hands in transition it would bring so much to buzz and attention to the game that it deserves. The naysayers would start with, "What is she 6-7? Lisa Leslie better be able to dunk at that height." Of course those of us that pay attention would respond, no she's barely over six-feet and I'm pretty sure she'd outjump you any day of the week.

I just think these young ladies deserve any and all praise for their amazing ability and their hard work that often goes unappreciated outside our little community!

[sim111]

Well said.

[jonnyss]

well, as long as you're talking dunk, i'm thinking about brittney griner, she who dunks at will in the youtube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuDfRzY2Vqw

i don't know if she's "good for the game of basketball," but she sure is thrilling to watch. anyone know how good an overall player she is? class of 2009, i believe, from houston.

[WOLFSCOUT]

If 6-1 Maya Moore flies down the court at UConn and flushes one with two hands in transition it would bring so much to buzz and attention to the game that it deserves. The naysayers would start with, "What is she 6-7? Lisa Leslie better be able to dunk at that height." Of course those of us that pay attention would respond, no she's barely over six-feet and I'm pretty sure she'd outjump you any day of the week.


Depends on how stupid the other guys are on the board. i posted a story about Maya's dunks on the Packpride. i got. "there are 61,000,000 boys who can dunk", "just because she can dunk does'nt mean she can play the game".and it turned into, "wolfscout said a girl is better then the boys". IM a man, men are clowns when it comes to giving women props in basketball, hold up, Men that never could play themselves, are clowns when it comes giving props to womens basketball. anyman that played is amazed waaaaayyyyyy beyond seeing a 5'7 spud webb dunk when he sees Maya dunk, its like its its unnatural


For the record though Brittney Griners clip got no response, i guess she scared them all away when she blocked the reporters hook shot. haha

[BrooklynSaints]

I've always believed that the dunk is a very dangerous act which could prematurely end a very promising career. I would not want to see a player getting hurt trying to dunk, just because it was exciting. If I were a coach I would not allow any of my players to attempt to dunk the ball, even in practice.

Can you name any players who had a career ending injury trying to dunk?

[intelligenthoodlum]

1. If one is athletic ENOUGH and has the physiology, the dunk is the highest-percentage shot in the game of basketball; it is THE shot taken closest to the rim.
2. Because it is an individual act, dunking, LIKE SHOOTING A JUMP SHOT, in and of itself has NOTHING to do with team basketball.
3. Basketball IS a team sport; the success of a team is 100% about a coach devising and implementing a viable game plan, and then a team of players understanding and executing it in an efficient manner to win a game.
4. There are four ways to score points in a basketball game: a layup (of which a dunk is a category of); a free throw (which is a category of set-shot); a set-shot; and a jump-shot.
5. The fundamental strategy for winning a basketball game is: as a coach, how can I most efficiently get my team of players points, and do it more often than our opposition?
6. The most efficient way to move the ball AS A TEAM is to pass the ball. HOWEVER, it is only THE BEST way to move the ball based on THE GAME SITUATION.
7. If you can't pass the ball--a skill--and you have limited basketball IQ, there's no place for you in winning team basketball; if you can't dribble the ball--a skill--and you have limited basketball IQ, there's no place for you in winning one-on-one basketball.
8. In the game of basketball, the best post players--those closest to the basket--shoot anywhere from 60-70% from the field (and as a rule, the more of those attempts that are dunks, the higher the percentage). The best mid-range-shooting players--those who shoot from about 7-8 feet to about 17-18 feet away from the basket--shoot anywhere from 45-55% from the field, depending on their ability to: a) play without the ball and then receive PASSES from teammates to shoot; and/or to b) create shots for themselves through creative and efficient one-on-one play. The best outside shooters--those who shoot from about 19 feet, on out, with most of their shot attempts from whichever's 3-point distance--shoot anywhere from 30-40% from the field, depending on how easily they can get the shot off under some form of one-on-one defensive pressure.
9. So, whatever is going on with the dunk shot and with GIRLS AND WOMEN"S BASKETBALL, the central question becomes: what is the coach's philosophy and style of play; what type of players does the coach HAVE; and, what type of players does the coach WANT?
Just some random, early-morning thoughts from the IH, before his Mimosa--chilled, not iced...

[ifyousayso]

1. If one is athletic ENOUGH and has the physiology, the dunk is the highest-percentage shot in the game of basketball; it is THE shot taken closest to the rim.
2. Because it is an individual act, dunking, LIKE SHOOTING A JUMP SHOT, in and of itself has NOTHING to do with team basketball.
3. Basketball IS a team sport; the success of a team is 100% about a coach devising and implementing a viable game plan, and then a team of players understanding and executing it in an efficient manner to win a game.
4. There are four ways to score points in a basketball game: a layup (of which a dunk is a category of); a free throw (which is a category of set-shot); a set-shot; and a jump-shot.
5. The fundamental strategy for winning a basketball game is: as a coach, how can I most efficiently get my team of players points, and do it more often than our opposition?
6. The most efficient way to move the ball AS A TEAM is to pass the ball. HOWEVER, it is only THE BEST way to move the ball based on THE GAME SITUATION.
7. If you can't pass the ball--a skill--and you have limited basketball IQ, there's no place for you in winning team basketball; if you can't dribble the ball--a skill--and you have limited basketball IQ, there's no place for you in winning one-on-one basketball.
8. In the game of basketball, the best post players--those closest to the basket--shoot anywhere from 60-70% from the field (and as a rule, the more of those attempts that are dunks, the higher the percentage). The best mid-range-shooting players--those who shoot from about 7-8 feet to about 17-18 feet away from the basket--shoot anywhere from 45-55% from the field, depending on their ability to: a) play without the ball and then receive PASSES from teammates to shoot; and/or to b) create shots for themselves through creative and efficient one-on-one play. The best outside shooters--those who shoot from about 19 feet, on out, with most of their shot attempts from whichever's 3-point distance--shoot anywhere from 30-40% from the field, depending on how easily they can get the shot off under some form of one-on-one defensive pressure.
9. So, whatever is going on with the dunk shot and with GIRLS AND WOMEN"S BASKETBALL, the central question becomes: what is the coach's philosophy and style of play; what type of players does the coach HAVE; and, what type of players does the coach WANT?
Just some random, early-morning thoughts from the IH, before his Mimosa--chilled, not iced...


Chilled, not iced...sounds like "the IH"

[joemontes]

We may have differing opinions about the impact of the DUNK in women's basketball, but I am pretty sure that the WNBA can't wait for Candace PARKER and her DUNKS starting next year....I have a feeling that it could translate to a few thousand more spectators per WNBA arena, at least for next season!

[ClayKallam]

In boys' high school basketball in the suburban area where I work, dunks are few and far between -- but they are highlights and crowd-pleasers. I would love to see women's basketball get to the point that a dunk is a legitimate possibility at any game, though still unlikely. I think that's possible, but it's coming slower than I expected.

Perhaps it will be like the four-minute mile, which was a real rarity for a long time, and then slowly became more and more common.

And though I saw Baron Davis injure his knee dunking in a college game, for the most part the dunk is a high-percentage shot that is painful primarily in the hands, wrists and forearms (or so I've been told).

[Tiger81]

Mostly the wrist. But that was "back when the world was flat". The youngsters may be hurting something else now!:) :)

[hoopfan24]

Any time a player jumps in the air and makes an acrobatic play, whether dunking the basketball or not, they are risking injury more so that just passing and shooting set shots. I don't think the "dunk" itself is a higher risk but the more athleticism in the game, the higher the chance of injury. It is unavoidable.

I think size more than anything will limit the "dunk" becoming a staple of women's hoops. Six foot six in WBB makes you a post, 6-6 in mens hoops makes you a guard. You don't have 6-10 players that could run track or do well in the high jump in the women's game.

As for its place... The WBB community is basically a niche market with those of us that love it and are passionate about it and there is an ignorant contingent out there that because of their pathetic view on life consider the women to be inferior athletes or not athletes at all. (Case in point I posted a link to a WBB story on the InsideCarolina board and a poster responded with I forgot what WBB meant, I realized it meant 'boring'). So the poster is a jack@$$. We all know that. What I like about the "dunk" is the attention it brings to the game. If 6-1 Maya Moore flies down the court at UConn and flushes one with two hands in transition it would bring so much to buzz and attention to the game that it deserves. The naysayers would start with, "What is she 6-7? Lisa Leslie better be able to dunk at that height." Of course those of us that pay attention would respond, no she's barely over six-feet and I'm pretty sure she'd outjump you any day of the week.

I just think these young ladies deserve any and all praise for their amazing ability and their hard work that often goes unappreciated outside our little community!

Couldn't agree with you more.