Dunk heard 'round the world In their research, they found that teams that dunk more were more successful. Meaning, typically, the more a team dunked the better chance they would win a game and make the playoffs.
I find this interesting by itself. But as a fan of the Dallas Mavericks, it has driven me mad that they have perpetually created teams that don't dunk.
I do not know how many dunks the Mavericks executed last year. With the naked eye, he doesn't look like much. If you consider that a portion of the team can't or don't dunk 99.9 percent of the time (Jason Kidd, J.J. Barea, Jason Terry, Roddy Beaubois), that kind of supports my unsubstantiated claim.
Still, the Mavericks made the playoffs last season. In fact, they've had one avid dunker (Brandon Bass) and they've won 50 games and made the playoffs (even a NBA Finals appearance) with and without him.
I've had one requirement come draft and free agent time: Go young, go black, go mean and go athletic. I want bodies flying in and around. Dunking and putting on a show.
The post comments on the dunk as not only a very high-percentage shot, but also as a key toward firing up a crowd or teammates.
Dunks also indicate a certain amount of aggressiveness. Last year, the Mavericks had one consistently aggressive player (Beaubois) and he played just half the games for marginal minutes. Aggressive play also leads to dunks or lay-ups, but also fouls and free throws.
There are exceptions. Steve Nash has never dunked in an NBA game, but he led a Phoenix team with many dunkers and, thus, a high winning percentage.
The San Antonio Spurs dunked just 73 times in 2008-09, yet still made the playoffs and won their division. The Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzles dunk a lot, but stink.
However, dunks are operational toward the success of the whole team. Like a functional (not superstar) running game in the NFL, it keeps opponents off balance.
Sound familiar. Know why opponents can get in Dirk Nowitzki's grill any time he gets the ball, rendering him useless? Because there's no real threat of a dunk -- of a guy streaking down the baseline catching an alley-oop or entry pass for the easy slam.Dunks are easy points, but they should not be the only points. The threat of the dunk – through posting up or through driving – is almost as important as the act of dunking itself. It opens up the playing field and spreads the defense, lending itself to open shots and open passing lanes.
Last winter, the Mavericks were allegedly in on Andre Igoudala when trade talks sparked up and I was all over it. Mainly because Igoudala gives you that extra threat to rise up and dunk on somebody.
It's one reason the Dallas Mavericks are who they are: Ringless.
