The Golden Age of the Dunk
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Dwight Howard is one of the poster boys for the dunk.
It’s no question, this generation of basketball is dominated by the slam-dunk. Almost every NBA player can do it, and when they do, they dare to defy gravity en route to a hair-raising, emotion demanding play that dazzles the eyes. It tends to be so commonplace, and it is certainly apparent: the dunk is a true staple of the game now. I’m not talking about the big men down low throwing down dunks from a standing position, I’m talking about the full speed break-away dunks, one’s that make you wonder if the Earth might have tilted just a little after that monster slam. And while it’s inception is rather unclear, it’s use over the years is not. It’s been drilled into our minds over time, and despite it’s overall simplicity, the dunk is one of the most powerful plays in sports.
On paper the dunk looks bland. Look at box scores and dunks only appear as 1 attempt, 1 make, and 2 points. On shot-carts, it looks even less impressive, as a 0 or 1 foot make. Even radio broadcasts can’t do the dunk justice, as no matter how much any announcer describes it, one’s imagination can only do so much. The dunk is a striking play that demands attention from the eyes. Conventional words cannot truly pay it the homage it deserves.
Few plays in other sports are so simple on the score sheet but so emotionally charged. Anyone that has been to a close game knows that a well timed dunk can almost lift the roof off of an arena.The home run in baseball and a kickoff or punt return touchdown in football come close, but doesn’t quite achieve the same emotion. And what about blown dunks? Fly balls to the warning track or returns that end up at the 5 yard line are not embarrassing at all, not like missing a dunk.
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Nate Robinson dunking over Dwight Howard during the 2009 NBA All-Star Dunk contest. He won the contest with this dunk over Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.
We’ve been privileged over the past few years with some amazing dunks, both in games and in the Dunk Contest held every All-Star weekend. Sheer power, athleticism, and creativity fuel these monstrous displays of the human body. Nate Robinson of the Boston Celtics (he won it while with the Knicks, though) won last year, as well as in 2009 and 2006, displaying amazing dunking talent at only 5’9. Then there’s the classic “LeBron James with no regard for human life” dunk over Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, which got played almost every day during this summer as LeBron inched toward his departure from Cleveland. Realistically, you can search for “awesome NBA dunk (insert your favorite player here)” on YouTube and will get results.
I’ve had the privilege of seeing a few great dunks in my day, including a dunk by the 29th pick of the NBA draft by the Orlando Magic Daniel Orton back in high school when he broke the backboard. The crowd reaction is the most important thing. The dunk is mostly a motivational tool. It pumps up the team, and, if at home, the crowd, energizing the field of play for the next minute or so. On the road it provokes the opposing team’s crowd, throwing salt in the wounds of a big lead or goading the crowd to get louder in a close contest. It impresses, invigorates, and excites, all in a matter of seconds. Watch the greats as the throw one down, and watch the crowd go wild. When Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, or Dwight Howard dunk in close games at home, the lid is almost lifted on their respective arenas, and the building explodes with cheers. In sports where scoring is traditionally high, that rarely happens.
As the players soar above the hardwood, Charles Darwin revels in the evolution of humans, and Sir Isaac Newton tries to rethink the idea of gravity. Over the history of basketball, the dunk has been showcased more and more. And in 2010, the dunk will be just as important as ever. Here’s to the dunk.
-Justin Wright
Oklahoma City Thunder: A Year Too Young No More
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2010-2011 Looks promising for the young Thunder.
Last season was, for a fact, the best season the Oklahoma City Thunder have ever seen… not that it should surprise anyone, considering there are only two years to pick from (yes, Seattle there were better years, I understand, but this is Oklahoma City’s team now).
Very few Thunder fans will soon forget how memorable the 2009-2010 season was. It was the cornerstone for what this team will do in this new decade. The team isn’t getting any younger, but at 24 years and 260 days (as of October 13, 2010), the Thunder don’t have to worry about age for a good while. Last season’s devastating ending, however, can be chalked up to inexperience.
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Outside of the Ford Center, the Thunder struggled in the playoffs.
The post-season was not kind to the young Thunder players, and nerves got the best of them in the Staples Center. The hostile environment got to the Thunder. While they shot fairly evenly (and not exactly efficiently, both makrs under 40%) both in Oklahoma City and Los Angeles, the stats in Los Angeles are a bit worse. 14.7 fewer points per game, 10 fewer rebounds including 3.3 on the offensive end, 2.3 fewer assists, and an assists to turnovers ratio 1.1 points lower. It’s pretty safe to say the young guys might not have quite been ready for their first trip to the playoffs.
The numbers are even more staggering when you look at the numbers for the Lakers. Despite the losses in Oklahoma City, including the 110-89 Thunder win the even the series, the Lakers never played poorly–they were simply outplayed by the Thunder. A veteran team with a veteran swagger.
Now begins the Thunder’s newest journey on the road to the NBA Finals. They were out of the hunt in 2009, fell a few steps too short in 2010, and now, for the 2011 NBA Playoffs, the Thunder look poised to find a way to the Finals, no matter who is in their way. And all the ingredients are there for the Thunder to cook up the magic that no one saw coming last year, but they’re doubling the recipe.
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Few teams have as strong a camaraderie, between players and coaches alike, as the Thunder.
It all begins with Kevin Durant. Even he had forgettable shooting performance in the playoffs last year after being crowned the NBA’s Scoring Champion. Durant added to his already stunning list of accolades, leading Team USA to it’s first gold medal in the FIBA World Championships since 1994. Not only was he given the chance to show how icy his veins could be in the clutch on a world stage, he did it by being the backbone of the team with the highest expectations in the world. He has developed his leadership ability, his teamwork, and his superstar status, none of which came at the expense of his humility. He is a crowd, and especially a hometown, favorite, and is drawing a following by simply doing exactly what he loves–playing the game.
Then comes the immediate supporting cast, who have consistently found ways to help Durant lead the Thunder to victory, just not all necessarily at the same times. Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green both logged minutes this summer along with Durant on Team USA, and Westbrook was fortunate enough to make the cut and travel to Istanbul, Turkey for the FIBA Worlds. Jeff Green then spent the rest of his summer scrimmaging with college and pro athletes from his home town in Maryland. Both have been instrumental to Durant’s success, creating outlets and assists, as well as taking some of the heat off of him by adding double-digit scoring of their own. Thabo Sefolosha has been a defensive pest for the Thunder, bothering the prolific scorers of other top-tier NBA teams. Nenad Krstic added to the mix by stepping out and hitting big 18-foot jumpers at the top of the key. Then comes the bench, with the young guns James Harden, Eric Maynor, and Serge Ibaka, as well as veterans like Nick Collison.
All in all, the Thunder have built up a team stocked with young talent and teamwork. They have dubbed this year’s training camp “Thunder U,” establishing a college-like atmosphere, playing with high-emotion and teamwork, and working those elements into skill. Under head coach Scott Brooks, the Oklahoma City Thunder has a team that, if for no other reason, will win games due to hard work and playing like a team. And they’ve done it all with plenty of room under the salary cap.
The best statistic of all coming from last season is that now only 2 players on the current Oklahoma City Thunder roster (the 15 man depth chart), D.J. White and Cole Aldrich, have not played in a NBA Playoff game, and D.J. White has at least seen the atmosphere. There’s no more being too young. The experience is finally there, the drive is finally there, and the want is finally there.
The NBA’s youngest team, the NBAs feel-good team (in the midst of all the Miami Heat talk), looks ready to strike. Don’t be surprised if they make a run.
As always, keep Thundering Up
-jw
Monday(Tuesday) Tip-Off: October 11th(12th)
Last week was… well it was last week. And the Heat game, well, it shows that this team is still young.
And I’ve been slacking a bit, but this week will, hopefully, be a busy week for me.
So let’s run down this week’s events:
Tuesday, October 12th, 7:00PM CSTThunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies at the BOK Center in Tulsa
2009-2010 record: 40-42, 10th in the Western Conference, 2-2 against the Thunder
Radio: WWLS, the Sports Animal
A battle of the two teams with the most improved records from 2008-2009 to 2009-2010, should be interesting to see the two youngest teams in the league duke it out.
Thursday, October 14th, 7:00PM CSTThunder vs. CSKA Moscow
Radio: WWLS, the Sports Animal
International team. Not much to say. Hard to see how this game will go.
Other News
Eric Maynor has been solid while coming off the bench for Russell Westbrook. Averaging 25.5 minutes per game and 10.5 points per game, Maynor has been a sturdy rock the team can rely on while Westbrook rests.
The labor issue continues to be unresolved in the NBA, and many are preparing for a lockout.
This week should be a big week for me, I’ve got a lot of ideas brewing for posts this week, so hopefully my studies won’t interfere with my posts.
Check out the games this week if you can, both on WWLS.
Until tomorrow, keep Thundering Up
-jw
Green Finds Shot, Thunder Roll Against Bobcats
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Jeff Green and Harden led the Thunder in scoring Wednesday night.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the proud owners of a 1-0 record. Unfortunately, this means absolutely nothing. The game, however, was an integral step in a 2010 season that looks extremely promising.
The story of Wednesday night’s preseason opener was Jeff Green. Folks, the shot is back. For all of you who continually criticized Jeff Green for the number of three pointers he took and missed last season: he went 5-7 behind the arc Wednesday night, as well as 4-7 from the rest of the floor. The only way to truly get a shooter out of a funk is to have him shoot his way out, and it looks like, though it’s only one game, that Jeff Green may have shot his way out of his slump. Green played a solid 28 minutes before he was forced to sit out the fourth. Green’s 25 points were a game high.
The return of Jeff Green’s offensive game could mean less pressure on Kevin Durant, and re-opens a whole new page in the Thunder playbook. And remember that big three pointer that could’ve won Game 2 in Los Angeles and completely shifted the series? Now that goes in.
The player to watch in this game was Serge Ibaka, and whether he could find an offensive rhythm or not. He started in place of the injured Nenad Krstic. Ibaka added 12 points on 5-13 shooting, which isn’t particularly effective, but at least he wasn’t afraid to let the ball fly. Ibaka did have a game high 11 rebounds, and gave us a little taste of what he loves to do by denying a shot, something we’ve come to expect from Ibaka. For Serge to be effective, and for him to be the offensive presence the Thunder desperately need on the inside, Ibaka will need to trade the 10-20ft shots he is taking in favor of short, 2-5ft shots in the paint, and use his length to get good position of defenders.
James Harden also showed a lot of promise, finding his way to the free throw line several times, and finishing with 16 points. He started in place of Thabo Sefolosha, who missed the game due to illness. He also had 5 steals, and was constantly plugging up the passing lanes.
Kevin Durant only played 17 minutes, not to anyone’s surprise. He will likely continue to have a reduced role since he had a huge summer in Turkey.
The Thunder did a great job forcing the Bobcats into 27 turnovers, 18 of those steals, and scoring 35 points off of those turns, and pulled down 18 offensive rebounds. The Thunder, however, still turned the ball over too many times, and allowed the Bobcats to shoot 47.8% as a team.
Overall, it was a good game, and some of the young guys that we’ve been expecting to have a good season started to show their colors. And Jeff Green finding his shot is fantastic for the Thunder.
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The Big Three, minus Wade, will meet the Thunder Friday.
Tonight is Thunder @ Miami Heat, 7:30 PM tip-off, broadcast on FSThunder as well as WWLS The Sports Animal.
As always, keep Thundering Up.
-jw
Monday Tip-Off: October 4th
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The season is so close, you can almost smell it.
Well, it’s almost that time. After almost one solid week of Training Camp, after media day, after a handful of scrimmages, early workouts, chalk talk, and all the business that goes with preparing for a new season, the Oklahoma City Thunder get ready to hit the court this week. The Thunder have two preseason games scheduled this week: versus the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday, and against the Miami Heat on Friday, both on the road.
Happy Monday Thunder fans. I’m gonna take a look at the upcoming events for this week, and as mentioned, I will perouse this weeks matchups.
Now keep in mind that this is preseason. The stats will be a bit off, the younger guys will get a larger share of the playing time, and you don’t have to play for keeps. Most teams won’t even showcase most of their offensive sets, just the bare bones of what they might be doing this year to see what works. Having said that
Wednesday, October 6th, 6:00PM CT Thunder @ Charlotte Bobacts
2009-2010 Record: 44-38, 7th in the Eastern Conference, 1-1 against the Thunder
Friday, October 8th, 7:30PM CT Thunder @ Miami Heat
2009-2010 Record: 47-35, 5th in the Eastern Conference, 0-2 against the Thunder
The primary focus on this game will to see how each team will come out from the offseason. The Thunder will be exposed to their first game since the break, and after one week of team scrimmages, it will be interesting to see how well the team gels together. The most important thing about these games is seeing how the younger guys play, especially the likes of the sophomore trio, Eric Maynor, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka. Hopefully these guys come out strong and show how much they’ve developed before the season starts.
Another fun thing will be watching the impact of Miami’s big three, and how well they play together. I’m expecting a huge hit on output for the three of them individually, but their impact to the team as a whole could be tremendous–or catastrophic, we will see with time.
Unfortunately, the Charlotte game will not be on local TV, but it will be on WWLS the Sports Animal for those of you who want to listen to the play-by-play on the radio. The Miami game, however, will be broadcast on FSThunder, as well as WWLS the Sports Animal, so check the games out if you can.
Player to Watch Serge Ibaka
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Air Congo needs to have a big offensive game this week.
If you do get the chance, or even if you don’t, this week’s focus should be on Serge Ibaka. With the injuries to Nick Collison and Nenad Krstic, and with the ever developing role of young “Air Congo,” see if he asserts himself in the paint on the offensive side. We’ve all seen his defense, but now it’s time for Serge to become an offensively minded player as well. Look for him to really use his length to get open and get good shots in the paint.
Other News
Nick Collison sat out of training camp due to a bone bruise in his knee.
Nenad Krstic had surgery on his broken finger, the same one that bothered him through much of last season, and has been sitting out of training camp during his rehab.
4 rookies, Desmond “Tweety” Carter of Baylor, Longar Longar of the University of Oklahoma, Elijah Millsap out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Jerome Dyson out of Connecticut, are also on the roster for the Thunder’s training camp, trying to make a name for themselves and find a spot on the team or on the Tulsa 66ers roster.
Construction on the Thunder’s practice facility, The Integris Health Thunder Development Center, continues.
Sam Presti and Scott Brooks are still considered “the man.”
That’s all for this week’s tip-off.
Thunder Up!
-jw
