The whole "Changing the Game" mentality

[sarals24]

I know it's been discussed here before, but I just don't agree with the sentiment that Griner is changing the way the game is played. Changing the way teams play against her specifically? Yes, of course. Changing the way her team plays, both offensively and defensively? Yes.

But "The Game" as a whole? I don't see it. She's a 6'8, very athletic player who clearly works hard to get better each season. How many of those are going to come along? Not many. The whole dunking thing? Are we supposed to assume that because Griner dunks, girls everywhere are going to wake up and decide "Oh, I should work on my dunking now!"

I think not. She is a phenomenon, to be sure, but not in the sense that players before her who have actually changed the game. I would venture Lobo did because she proved that a 6'4 player doesn't have to be stuck in the low post; she can roam and shoot threes. We see that a lot more now.

Taurasi did, because as a bigger guard she plays at a level that is different than any other female I've seen, she takes the whole "plays like a dude" mentality to heart and has obviously influenced players like KML, who have embraced the "shoot first, ask questions later" attitude.

And even Maya, though her influence remains to be seen, will surely change the way girls play. Her jump shot is so pure, and she makes incredible moves to the basket. I can see younger players trying to emulate that for sure, and adding it to their games. As much as you have to respect the way Novosel et al drive to the hoop with the intention of being fouled, give me Maya's amazing ability to float around contact and score any day.

I know these are all just UConn players, but to me they have changed the game way more than Griner will. Unless girls suddenly decide to start growing to 6'8, Griner is an anomoly. Women can't suddenly start dunking, no matter how much they want to. They can, however, add facets of the play of the other three I mentioned, which IMO, changes the way the game is played overall.

 

[alexrgct]

I don't think you'll even find too many Baylor fans who will disagree with you. Griner would be a good player even at 6'3", don't get me wrong, but she's able to do things at 6'8" that are just logistically impossible for someone who isn't.

She will not change the way is played generally. She will, however, continue to be someone casual fans, non-fans, and detractors of the women's game, have all heard of.

 

[Wonkster]

.
How many players have been called "the future face of women's basketball" in the last 15 years? Were they, really?

The media loves to engage in hyperbole. That's all you need to know.
.

 

[Icebear]

Outliers in physical attributes can rarely be people who change the game. Those who show development of skills and style of play are far more likely to change the game as others mimic and aspire to abilities. One cannot simply aspire to be 6'8".

 

[DishNSwish]

I was on Fox Sports 1410 and asked that very question.

My answer was also, no, she isn't changing the face of the game.

Just the landscape as it currently sits, and it will return to its old landscape when she graduates

 

[magic]

I was on Fox Sports 1410 and asked that very question.

My answer was also, no, she isn't changing the face of the game.

Just the landscape as it currently sits, and it will return to its old landscape when she graduates

RIGHT ON! The pundits in the women's game are so anxious to sell the NEXT BEST PLAYER. How many 6'8 women players are there going to be?

 

[schmendrick]

At the same time, girls are growing ever more athletic and skilled, as are athletes in every sport, so who knows if, in the next decade or two, 6'3" girls will be regularly throwing it down?

 

[Icebear]

At the same time, girls are growing ever more athletic and skilled, as are athletes in every sport, so who knows if, in the next decade or two, 6'3" girls will be regularly throwing it down?

In that case, as is happening rapidly, they will no longer be statistical outliers.

 

[alexrgct]

At the same time, girls are growing ever more athletic and skilled, as are athletes in every sport, so who knows if, in the next decade or two, 6'3" girls will be regularly throwing it down?

Given that dunks have accounted for all of 14 points in Griner's first three years of college, and she's unsually athletic and tall, I would not consider this a likely scenario.

 

[ladybears4eva]

im surprised this forum hasn't realized what the meaning of changing the game means, it means that players in high school and younger will try to be justa s athletic as Griner is and dunk the ball. As we are starting to see, more girls are attempting to dunk the ball like Griner does. Your recruit Stewart even likes to run accross the court and dunk the bank now, more and more girls will be able to dunk the ball. Nneka this past year was trying to do the same by dunking the ball on some stanford video... Griner is influencing current and younger basketball players to dunk the ball and be more athletic even if they are tall, thus changing the landscape of the game since no one before her has really been able to throw down a dunk like she does. Girls now want to be able to do dunks like Griner does... tomahawk, two handed slams, one handed drop step dunks... which are much more difficult and require more athletic ability. perdiod.

 

[ladybears4eva]

i think Maya changed the game some by showing how women can be more athletic and make the jump shot a powerful weapon, rather than a last resort and often called a too difficult shot to take... or high risk of failure.

Griner now changes the game by making the dunk more of an instinct when she needs a a basket close to the rim, like her first dunk in the ncaa tourney.

 

[sarals24]

But Griner isn't the first to dunk in games, and I think anyone tall enough would try to dunk. It's a product of seeing it in the guy's game and the NBA. And just because players want to dunk when they're close to the basket doesn't at all mean they can add that to their game.

 

[ladybears4eva]

read Voeples article on the dunks on espn.com it will give you some perspective on it.

 

[EricLA]

changing the game? no, not even close. changing the way the game is played? again not close. ushering in a new era of players who can play above the rim? maybe. talk to me when some other 6'6" + players can throw down a dunk like Griner, not the dribbling over the rim like Leslie and Parker.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Outliers in physical attributes can rarely be people who change the game. Those who show development of skills and style of play are far more likely to change the game as others mimic and aspire to abilities. One cannot simply aspire to be 6'8".

You could put that last line in a fortune cookie Ice!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

i think Maya changed the game some by showing how women can be more athletic and make the jump shot a powerful weapon, rather than a last resort and often called a too difficult shot to take... or high risk of failure.

Griner now changes the game by making the dunk more of an instinct when she needs a a basket close to the rim, like her first dunk in the ncaa tourney.

Nah, Maya hardly invented that aspect of the woman's game. Her release was/is quick and sweet in that narrow hang time but she's hardly the first.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

im surprised this forum hasn't realized what the meaning of changing the game means, it means that players in high school and younger will try to be justa s athletic as Griner is and dunk the ball. As we are starting to see, more girls are attempting to dunk the ball like Griner does. Your recruit Stewart even likes to run accross the court and dunk the bank now, more and more girls will be able to dunk the ball. Nneka this past year was trying to do the same by dunking the ball on some stanford video... Griner is influencing current and younger basketball players to dunk the ball and be more athletic even if they are tall, thus changing the landscape of the game since no one before her has really been able to throw down a dunk like she does. Girls now want to be able to do dunks like Griner does... tomahawk, two handed slams, one handed drop step dunks... which are much more difficult and require more athletic ability. perdiod.

?Apertif? I know your pumped at 40-0 and I would be too. She's done great maturing and is cool, calm, collected talent, but she is also a nonpariel - a one of a kind...no matter how tall her emulators are.

 

[Icebear]

You could put that last line in a fortune cookie Ice!

Thanks, Rocky.

 

[Icebear]

read Voeples article on the dunks on espn.com it will give you some perspective on it.

Most of us read that material by breakfast. You are speaking to a collective of basketball fans that are more aware of the game than most men's boards.

 

[easttexastrash]

i think Maya changed the game some by showing how women can be more athletic and make the jump shot a powerful weapon, rather than a last resort and often called a too difficult shot to take... or high risk of failure.

Griner now changes the game by making the dunk more of an instinct when she needs a a basket close to the rim, like her first dunk in the ncaa tourney.

If a female changed the game, IMO opinion it was Nancy Leiberman, Ann Meyers and Cheryl Miller. IMO, they were the ones who demonstrated the ability to "play like a guy." To me, Maya is a continuation of what those three started.

 

[easttexastrash]

I agree Griner cannot inspire other girls to grow. However, her impact will not be known for years. Has Stewart been inspired to work on her dunking due to Griner? Has Griner motivated Stewart to work on her leaping and ability to play closer to the rim? I would think so and I would suspect that she is doing the same with other girls who had never seen this from a woman, therefore they never thought that it was possible.

I guess we'll know more about 10 years from now....stay tuned.

 

[Icebear]

If a female changed the game, IMO opinion it was Nancy Leiberman, Ann Meyer and Cheryl Miller. IMO, the were the ones who demonstrated the ability to "play like a guy." To me, Maya is a continuation of what those three started.

That is a fair appraisal. Catchings, Diana and Maya were the next step beyond.

 

[easttexastrash]

That is a fair appraisal. Catchings, Diana and Maya were the next step beyond.

Diana, Maya and Catchings added the long range shot, which I don't recall being part of the game demonstrated by Meyers, Miller and Leiberman.

And speaking of Meyers, I saw her at the Final Four. I was probably one of few who recognized her.

 

[Icebear]

Diana, Maya and Catchings added the long range shot, which I don't recall being part of the game demonstrated by Meyer, Miller and Leiberman.

And speaking of Meyer, I saw her at the Final Four. I was probably one of few who recognized her.

True. Or at least a consistency and true jump shot to make that shot.

 

[hoopsdiva]

Outliers in physical attributes can rarely be people who change the game. Those who show development of skills and style of play are far more likely to change the game as others mimic and aspire to abilities. One cannot simply aspire to be 6'8".

I'm still aspiring to be 5'4" .