Dear Brandon: Please Dunk

I love Roy. Awesome player. Someone please remind him that when you are at the rim with a full head of steam, a dunk attempt is the highest percentage option. You will either 1) make the dunk, 2) go to the free throw line, 3) fire up the crowd and intimidate the opponent, or 4) all of the above. The layups at the rim are cool in the interest of energy efficiency, but not when the layup is missed, no foul is called, and we don't get the rebound. That's a turnover. I've seen multiple Roy misses or blocked shots on easy layups that could have been even easier dunks this year.

about 2 years ago sotis 15 comments 4 recs |

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Very

frustrating. that and his free throw shooting this year.

by BBG on Dec 18, 2009 2:40 PM PST reply actions

Yeah

I have noticed that he has not been taking it as hard to the hoop this year as he has in the past.

by UtahBlazer on Dec 18, 2009 2:50 PM PST reply actions

roy can dunk?

#52

by 50backflips on Dec 18, 2009 2:52 PM PST reply actions

bayless leaves over my dead body
Start Bayless (in a 2 guard lineup)
if you should strike Oden down he will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine
#52
#4
Can someone give a rational explanation of why blake plays 36 minutes a game?

by thomasikehara on Dec 18, 2009 3:14 PM PST up reply actions

His draft combine

had his standing vertical at 34’ while his running was 40.5’.

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-…=0&pos=0&sort=

He tells a story of how he used to be labeled as just a dunker while he was younger so he deliberately worked on everything else and chose not to dunk as much. He said he was always driven to prove doubters wrong about any aspect of his game.

Having said all that, maybe we just need to doubt his dunking ability and call him soft of something? He can get up, no doubt! Why he doesn’t throw it down more often baffles me too.

by 2dVs4u on Dec 18, 2009 11:29 PM PST up reply actions

eh, I was just joking

who could forget that slam on sheik samb?

#52

by 50backflips on Dec 27, 2009 9:05 PM PST up reply actions

i say this at least four times a game. marty needs to teach him his ridiculous “jump from the free throw line even if i have no chance to make it” dunk.

Life is about growth. People are not perfect when they're 21 years old. - Bill Walton

by NEP on Dec 18, 2009 2:53 PM PST reply actions

Yeah, for being called a "superstar"

he does not have much of an above-the-rim game. I would be happy to see at least one dunk a game with some actual effort behind it.

"I don't always read blogs regarding the Trail Blazers
...but when I do... I read Blazers Edge."

- resurrect_ha28

by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Dec 18, 2009 3:05 PM PST reply actions

Rec'd

Brandon surely will do whatever else it takes to add to his game over time. Layups with a high degree of difficulty are much less efficient than high-percentage dunk attempts, as you point out. While Brandon over the course of his career is a freak at making those layups, it could be his ability to convert those diminishes over time somehow for whatever reason. Could be that he’s working harder on defense this season for the first time as a pro and there’s a price to pay on his drives? His shot selection could change.

But yeah, hearing Wheels erupt for Brandon would be great. Could get him on the highlights more, get the refs to give him more respect, more good possible outcomes to add to your list. (I’d take turnover off your negatives list … a missed layup shouldn’t be considered a turnover. Even a crazy or hard layup attempt is at least a shot attempt in the paint and not a clanged 20-footer with 1 second left on the clock after a FBP.)

Maybe Roy will have some other surprise up his sleeve for us. This fits into the general critique of Brandon that I buy into, with ALL RESPECT for No. 7: does he work too hard to get too many of his shots? Nobody wants to see him attempt hard dunks just for style points, to posterize everybody like he did that Samb guy. That’s never been his thing and it’s partly why he’s so awesome. But easier Roy shots and dunks hopefully can come with the team achieving better backcourt play and hitting its 3’s and varying the tempo. More Bayless, more playmaking with Andre Miller, more 3-point shots from everybody, and more Brandon dunks? Yeah, gimme some of that.

by Dodoh on Dec 18, 2009 3:07 PM PST reply actions

Gotta remind the rookies

and the imports, don’t try it.

by Dodoh on Dec 18, 2009 3:15 PM PST reply actions

That clip will never get old.

"I don't always read blogs regarding the Trail Blazers
...but when I do... I read Blazers Edge."

- resurrect_ha28

by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Dec 18, 2009 3:26 PM PST up reply actions

I think Brandon has actually dunked at a higher rate this year than in the previous ones.. I agree but i think he could improve a couple other aspects of his game before he worries about his hops.

Keep the faith.

by fajunga on Dec 18, 2009 7:56 PM PST reply actions

For Roy to dunk more

he would have to take an extra dribble when driving toward the hoop, which would deminish his ability to get to the hoop. If you watch closely when Roy takes the ball to the hole, he will stop dribbling after his very quick first step, cradle the ball like a football, then at the last minute lay it up off the glass for 2, and sometimes the and 1. If Roy starting taking everything to the hole hard for the dunk, he would never get to the hole, as the ball would be stripped away before he got there. He would have to change his whole game to do it more, lets just be happy with the ample amount that he brings.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Dec 18, 2009 11:51 PM PST reply actions

Sometimes he also jumps off both feet after slipping through defenders almost from a standstill just behind the free throw line. He did that once against Phoenix. Not possible to dunk from there, but if no shot blocker is nearby it’s a nice way to score when totally covered. I would still like to see him dunk those that are possible.

by Norsktroll on Dec 19, 2009 12:02 AM PST up reply actions