Carnac
That venerable sage from the west
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2015
- Messages
- 15,931
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Ayanna Patterson dunks!!! Get use to it. It's going to happen. The first time she does it at a home game, the crowd will go nuts, and that play will be on SportsCenter. I appreciate and respect others that don't like or want to see women dunking. Fear not, you won't see too many women dunking this coming season or the near future. Only a very select few. Here's the thing about girls dunking in high school or college....those that can will. Those that can't, wish they could. As we know, (I'm guessing here) 95% or more of women that play basketball cannot dunk. Look for a moment at the list of the best women in the history of UConn basketball. How many of them could dunk, or dunked in a game?
Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore are considered two of THE BEST players in UConn lore. Neither of them ever dunked a ball in a game. No hops. A lot of players can "jump", but not dunk. It wasn't something either cared or worried about because it was never part of their skill set. I know there were times during certain games that Dee would have flushed a dunk or two if she could have, just to make a statement.....like in the closing moments of a huge rivalry game, putting that final cherry on top.
Most of the greatest women players that ever played the game NEVER dunked. They didn't have the hops. I believe most of them would have IF they could have. You can't expect or ask a player with a certain skill set not to use or exhibit them in a game. Why would you? As a coach, I would never ask a player not to do something he/she can do, is comfortable doing, and has been doing for years. Coaches strive to help players get better, not stay the same or retard.
Use it or lose it. I'd let them use it. I would give Ayanna the green light to dunk EVERYTIME the opportunity presented itself......except if we were blowing out a team, then just lay it up. You never want to rub salt in an open wound, or kick an opponent when they're down. THAT would be a "bush league" tactic. Not cool under any circumstances. Can you imagine a coach telling Michael Jordan or Julius (the doctor) Irving not to dunk in a game? Me either.
Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore are considered two of THE BEST players in UConn lore. Neither of them ever dunked a ball in a game. No hops. A lot of players can "jump", but not dunk. It wasn't something either cared or worried about because it was never part of their skill set. I know there were times during certain games that Dee would have flushed a dunk or two if she could have, just to make a statement.....like in the closing moments of a huge rivalry game, putting that final cherry on top.
Most of the greatest women players that ever played the game NEVER dunked. They didn't have the hops. I believe most of them would have IF they could have. You can't expect or ask a player with a certain skill set not to use or exhibit them in a game. Why would you? As a coach, I would never ask a player not to do something he/she can do, is comfortable doing, and has been doing for years. Coaches strive to help players get better, not stay the same or retard.
Use it or lose it. I'd let them use it. I would give Ayanna the green light to dunk EVERYTIME the opportunity presented itself......except if we were blowing out a team, then just lay it up. You never want to rub salt in an open wound, or kick an opponent when they're down. THAT would be a "bush league" tactic. Not cool under any circumstances. Can you imagine a coach telling Michael Jordan or Julius (the doctor) Irving not to dunk in a game? Me either.
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