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Message: [QUOTE="Longtime fan, post: 4634137, member: 7093"] Dunking is simply a matter of being able to jump high, while holding onto the ball. I have seen 8th graders who can do it. Athleticism is something far beyond that. Athleticism is not standing with the ball in your hands wondering what to do next, or crashing into three opponents while trying to gather a rebound. Or getting stripped of the ball once you catch it. Athleticism is doing all the good stuff ( gain and maintain possession; dish expertly off to another teammate; or take it up court yourself, while avoiding the bad ( turnovers and fouls). You now say ( due to the dunking ability) that Patsy is a better athlete than Muhl. Isn't going full speed up court with the ball, while harassed by two defenders, and still being able to find an open teammate athletic? Isn't grabbing an offensive rebound and taking it end to end for a lay-up a sign of athleticism? Have you seen Patsy ever dribble the ball 6 feet without losing it? If dunking is such a defining skill set of Patterson's game, why did we never see it on the court? Of what athletic value are abilities a player doesn't use? I'm not saying Patsy isn't athletic. Anyone who can play. at this level is a fine athlete. I am just saying that jumping up and dunking is not a sign of " someone special." I mean every player in the NBA can do it. How, then , do you distinguish a Michael Jordan type athlete from the next guy? In the end, I hope you are right. Maybe Patterson can score 26 points per game in the post, as she did in HS. If she does, how many of those 26 are likely to be from dunking the ball? [/QUOTE]

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