[cbeckermanParticipant]

 it seems to me that more often than not dunks are because of bad defense rather than good offense. seems like a lot of times its because players dont get in front of  who they are supposed to be gaurding and staying there. if your just running from end to end rather than staying in front of your man  being dunked on seems like the end result, but is this also caused because of the speed of the game? is  it smarter to slow things down unless you have an ultra athletic team? I was watching the vesely mix and it reminded me of these things, I know he is athletic but how might his game change when he gets to the NBA and teams hopefully start playing defense on him. also I  have always went to D2 schools in the south and they do something I havent seen elsewhere in basketball  when the opposing team goes on a run  they clap their hands together as a team and pat the floor with both hands like its time to wake up and start playing D   anyone know what I am talking about?

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

But, I guess points scored closer to the hoop are usually on worse defense than most. Still, I would say most NBA dunks are scored on strong cuts to the basket or in transition. I know Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard dunked A LOT this year, but still I think they averaged less than 3 per game. Here is a list of leaders:

Rank	Player	Pos	Team	Dunks
1	Dwight Howard	C	ORL	227
2	Blake Griffin	PF	LAC	214
3	DeAndre Jordan	C	LAC	158
4	JaVale McGee	C	WAS	155
5	LaMarcus Aldridge	PF	POR	148
6	Tyson Chandler	C	DAL	129
7	Kevin Durant	SF	OKC	125
8	Amar’e Stoudemire	PF	NY	119
9	Nene	C	DEN	112
10	Serge Ibaka	PF	OKC	102
11	Andre Iguodala	SG	PHI	102
12	Dwyane Wade	SG	MIA	102
13	J.J. Hickson	PF	CLE	99
14	Kris Humphries	PF	NJ	99
15	LeBron James	SF	MIA	98
16	Josh Smith	SF	ATL	98
17	Brook Lopez	C	NJ	87
18	Emeka Okafor	C	NO	84
19	Hakim Warrick	PF	PHO	84
20	Thaddeus Young	SF	PHI	84
21	Derrick Favors	PF	UTA	82
22	Brandon Bass	PF	ORL	81
23	Roy Hibbert	C	IND	81
24	David Lee	C	GS	80
25	Andrew Bynum	C	LAL	77
26	Shawn Marion	PF	DAL	77
27	Al Jefferson	C	UTA	74
28	Josh McRoberts	PF	IND	74
29	Pau Gasol	PF	LAL	73
30	Dorell Wright	SG	GS	71
31	Ryan Hollins	C	CLE	70
32	Andrei Kirilenko	SF	UTA	68
33	Amir Johnson	SF	TOR	67
34	Chris Wilcox	C	DET	66
35	Kenyon Martin	PF	DEN	64
36	Andrew Bogut	C	MIL	63
37	Brendan Haywood	C	DAL	63
38	Rudy Gay	SF	MEM	62
39	Taj Gibson	PF	CHI	61
40	DeMar DeRozan	SG	TOR	60
41	Marcin Gortat	PF	PHO	60
42	Al Horford	C	ATL	60
43	Kevin Garnett	PF	BOS	59
44	Joakim Noah	C	CHI	58
45	Samuel Dalembert	C	SAC	57
46	Ed Davis	PF	TOR	56
47	DeMarcus Cousins	C	SAC	54
48	Tayshaun Prince	SF	DET	54
49	Carmelo Anthony	SF	NY	53
50	Nicolas Batum	SF	POR	53

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/dunk-o-meter/yearly

 

As you can see, only about 25 or so players average over one dunk per game. So, dunks are a rarity, and yes, probably most of them are due to either getting beat of off the dribble, being the victim of a back door cut, not protecting the paint or turning the ball over, all of which lead to bad defense. Do not know why this is such a sudden epiphany, but I guess that is why it is so hard to name truly great NBA defenders.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

But, I guess points scored closer to the hoop are usually on worse defense than most. Still, I would say most NBA dunks are scored on strong cuts to the basket or in transition. I know Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard dunked A LOT this year, but still I think they averaged less than 3 per game. Here is a list of leaders:

Rank	Player	Pos	Team	Dunks
1	Dwight Howard	C	ORL	227
2	Blake Griffin	PF	LAC	214
3	DeAndre Jordan	C	LAC	158
4	JaVale McGee	C	WAS	155
5	LaMarcus Aldridge	PF	POR	148
6	Tyson Chandler	C	DAL	129
7	Kevin Durant	SF	OKC	125
8	Amar’e Stoudemire	PF	NY	119
9	Nene	C	DEN	112
10	Serge Ibaka	PF	OKC	102
11	Andre Iguodala	SG	PHI	102
12	Dwyane Wade	SG	MIA	102
13	J.J. Hickson	PF	CLE	99
14	Kris Humphries	PF	NJ	99
15	LeBron James	SF	MIA	98
16	Josh Smith	SF	ATL	98
17	Brook Lopez	C	NJ	87
18	Emeka Okafor	C	NO	84
19	Hakim Warrick	PF	PHO	84
20	Thaddeus Young	SF	PHI	84
21	Derrick Favors	PF	UTA	82
22	Brandon Bass	PF	ORL	81
23	Roy Hibbert	C	IND	81
24	David Lee	C	GS	80
25	Andrew Bynum	C	LAL	77
26	Shawn Marion	PF	DAL	77
27	Al Jefferson	C	UTA	74
28	Josh McRoberts	PF	IND	74
29	Pau Gasol	PF	LAL	73
30	Dorell Wright	SG	GS	71
31	Ryan Hollins	C	CLE	70
32	Andrei Kirilenko	SF	UTA	68
33	Amir Johnson	SF	TOR	67
34	Chris Wilcox	C	DET	66
35	Kenyon Martin	PF	DEN	64
36	Andrew Bogut	C	MIL	63
37	Brendan Haywood	C	DAL	63
38	Rudy Gay	SF	MEM	62
39	Taj Gibson	PF	CHI	61
40	DeMar DeRozan	SG	TOR	60
41	Marcin Gortat	PF	PHO	60
42	Al Horford	C	ATL	60
43	Kevin Garnett	PF	BOS	59
44	Joakim Noah	C	CHI	58
45	Samuel Dalembert	C	SAC	57
46	Ed Davis	PF	TOR	56
47	DeMarcus Cousins	C	SAC	54
48	Tayshaun Prince	SF	DET	54
49	Carmelo Anthony	SF	NY	53
50	Nicolas Batum	SF	POR	53

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/dunk-o-meter/yearly

 

As you can see, only about 25 or so players average over one dunk per game. So, dunks are a rarity, and yes, probably most of them are due to either getting beat of off the dribble, being the victim of a back door cut, not protecting the paint or turning the ball over, all of which lead to bad defense. Do not know why this is such a sudden epiphany, but I guess that is why it is so hard to name truly great NBA defenders.

[cbeckermanParticipant]

 most fans think that  players create dunks and besides a very select few it isnt that way, what should be considered is why it is always dunks that go on highlight reels and the offensive player given a lot of credit rather than pointing out the bad defense that was played in the first place? thank you for your response and I do think you have one of the better basketball minds on this site you and joe wolf  get first place in my vote for basketball knowledge. maybe their  would be better nba defenders if the emphasis was placed on basketball knowledge rather than pure athleticism

[cbeckermanParticipant]

 most fans think that  players create dunks and besides a very select few it isnt that way, what should be considered is why it is always dunks that go on highlight reels and the offensive player given a lot of credit rather than pointing out the bad defense that was played in the first place? thank you for your response and I do think you have one of the better basketball minds on this site you and joe wolf  get first place in my vote for basketball knowledge. maybe their  would be better nba defenders if the emphasis was placed on basketball knowledge rather than pure athleticism

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

When LeBron, Blake, Dwight, Rose, and others dunk ON people then that is mostly great offense and aweseome athleticism meeting average defense, not necessarily bad defense. 

Great offenses can make good defenses look bad, like when JJ Barea threw an alley-oop to Tyson Chandler or when Dirk rolls to the rim for a layup.  Lots of dunks are created on turnovers and fast breaks, some other ones on put-back dunks. 

If a team gets a dunk off a turnover and fastbreak, on a put back, or when a super athlete dunks ON a whole team then that is just good offense.  If an average player gets a dunk under the basket it could be bad defense or it could just be great offense.  Though, I think that a lot of it had to do with poor help defense. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

When LeBron, Blake, Dwight, Rose, and others dunk ON people then that is mostly great offense and aweseome athleticism meeting average defense, not necessarily bad defense. 

Great offenses can make good defenses look bad, like when JJ Barea threw an alley-oop to Tyson Chandler or when Dirk rolls to the rim for a layup.  Lots of dunks are created on turnovers and fast breaks, some other ones on put-back dunks. 

If a team gets a dunk off a turnover and fastbreak, on a put back, or when a super athlete dunks ON a whole team then that is just good offense.  If an average player gets a dunk under the basket it could be bad defense or it could just be great offense.  Though, I think that a lot of it had to do with poor help defense. 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Is of course pointed out, but highlight films are meant to show good plays, not too show people how to play basketball. When a team watches game film, they are not watching highlights, they are watching every step in between. Highlights are just meant to showcase the players best plays, that is why it is incredibly hard to take a bevy of basketball information from them.

Perfect time to give examples:

 Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes:

 

Jameel Pugh:

 

 

Shaquille Johnson:

 

Henry Bekkering:

 

 

What do all of these players have in common, besides RIDICULOUS hops and cool mix tapes? None of them are considered fantastic BASKETBALL players on a pro level. Shaquille Johnson still has a chance, do not get me wrong I wish him the best, but right now he is considered to be a fantastic athlete going to Auburn, not an impact player. Highlight tapes are meant for the fans enjoyment, not for the fans analysis. You can not get much out of them usually, as they are edited to show strictly the great plays, sometimes even to the tune of a beat. Believe me, players know that they have played bad defense and gotten dunked on during game film. Dunks are glorified, and maybe bad defense is not pointed out as much as it should be, but you NEVER want to give up a dunk, and I am sure that players know that dunks are more of a product of poor defensive positioning than anything.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Is of course pointed out, but highlight films are meant to show good plays, not too show people how to play basketball. When a team watches game film, they are not watching highlights, they are watching every step in between. Highlights are just meant to showcase the players best plays, that is why it is incredibly hard to take a bevy of basketball information from them.

Perfect time to give examples:

 Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes:

 

Jameel Pugh:

 

 

Shaquille Johnson:

 

Henry Bekkering:

 

 

What do all of these players have in common, besides RIDICULOUS hops and cool mix tapes? None of them are considered fantastic BASKETBALL players on a pro level. Shaquille Johnson still has a chance, do not get me wrong I wish him the best, but right now he is considered to be a fantastic athlete going to Auburn, not an impact player. Highlight tapes are meant for the fans enjoyment, not for the fans analysis. You can not get much out of them usually, as they are edited to show strictly the great plays, sometimes even to the tune of a beat. Believe me, players know that they have played bad defense and gotten dunked on during game film. Dunks are glorified, and maybe bad defense is not pointed out as much as it should be, but you NEVER want to give up a dunk, and I am sure that players know that dunks are more of a product of poor defensive positioning than anything.

[cbeckermanParticipant]

 it seems that a lot of the videos that are posted on this site are meant more for entertainment than to show the quality of the players that are available or their potential, especially the videos of the euro players. while this may be common knowledge I think it is easy to get caught up in the confusion of entertainment versus looking with a skeptical eye. I guess this would be one of the key differences between the nba and streetball as well.

[cbeckermanParticipant]

 it seems that a lot of the videos that are posted on this site are meant more for entertainment than to show the quality of the players that are available or their potential, especially the videos of the euro players. while this may be common knowledge I think it is easy to get caught up in the confusion of entertainment versus looking with a skeptical eye. I guess this would be one of the key differences between the nba and streetball as well.

[cbeckermanParticipant]

 it seems that a lot of the videos that are posted on this site are meant more for entertainment than to show the quality of the players that are available or their potential, especially the videos of the euro players. while this may be common knowledge I think it is easy to get caught up in the confusion of entertainment versus looking with a skeptical eye. I guess this would be one of the key differences between the nba and streetball as well.

[cbeckermanParticipant]

 it seems that a lot of the videos that are posted on this site are meant more for entertainment than to show the quality of the players that are available or their potential, especially the videos of the euro players. while this may be common knowledge I think it is easy to get caught up in the confusion of entertainment versus looking with a skeptical eye. I guess this would be one of the key differences between the nba and streetball as well.

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