What do these things have in commmon?

[ndmb]

What do the statistical categories games played, games started, field goals, field goal attempts, three pointers made, three pointers attempted, free throws made, free throws attempted, offensive rebounds, personal fouls, assists, turnovers, and steals all have in common?

They're all things that Kiah Stokes has less of than blocks

 

[ndmb]

Oh, by the way, she's on pace to have 148 if we play in 39 games, which would break the single season blocks record and leave her 3rd on the career list (passing Maya Moore, Stef Dolson, and Tina Charles in way fewer minutes). I get frustrated with her offense like everyone else, but what she's good at, she's good at.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Dikembe Mutombo, an offensively challenged post player, shaped a very long professional career around his shot blocking ability.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Dikembe Mutombo, an offensively challenged post player, shaped a very long professional career around his shot blocking ability.

VAUConnFan, I respectfully disagree.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think you are using the phrase "offensively challenged" to mean very little scoring. I would say Mutombo was more "limited" in terms of his offensive abilities, in that he was not scoring outside the paint.

For his first 11 seasons in the NBA, he averaged between 11 and 16 points per game in every season except one (and that was 9.1 ppg).

And during those 11 seasons, he averaged at least 11 .5 rebounds per game in ten of them (putting up 10.8 rebounds per game in the 11th).

While his productivity declined in later years, keep in mind that Mutombo entered the league at the age of 25 in 1991. So by the time his 11th season concluded, he was about to turn 36, which is well past the prime for basketball players.

So you see, Mutombo was much, much more than just a shot blocker for his first 11 seasons. He had a long professional career because he was a double digit scorer, a great rebound, and an elite defender, not just someone who "shaped a long professional career around his shot blocking ability."

 

[wallman]

The presence of such a player can be undervalued by some but coaches need players to do some dirty work, set screens, rebound, block, defend and put back some baskets.

 

[DobbsRover2]

I think the name being sought was Manute Bol, the greatest shot blocker in NBA history (3.3 bpg), semi-okay rebounder (4.6), but not a scorer (2.6 ppg).

Most of the big blockers have had at least decent all-around games.

 

[Zorro]

And Manute was, I think, the only player ever to knock some of his teeth out on the rim.

 

[DobbsRover2]

And Manute was, I think, the only player ever to knock some of his teeth out on the rim.

I thought it was his kneecap that he broke on the rim.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

VAUConnFan, I respectfully disagree.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think you are using the phrase "offensively challenged" to mean very little scoring. I would say Mutombo was more "limited" in terms of his offensive abilities, in that he was not scoring outside the paint.

For his first 11 seasons in the NBA, he averaged between 11 and 16 points per game in every season except one (and that was 9.1 ppg).

And during those 11 seasons, he averaged at least 11 .5 rebounds per game in ten of them (putting up 10.8 rebounds per game in the 11th).

While his productivity declined in later years, keep in mind that Mutombo entered the league at the age of 25 in 1991. So by the time his 11th season concluded, he was about to turn 36, which is well past the prime for basketball players.

So you see, Mutombo was much, much more than just a shot blocker for his first 11 seasons. He had a long professional career because he was a double digit scorer, a great rebound, and an elite defender, not just someone who "shaped a long professional career around his shot blocking ability."

And he makes a very humorous, slapstick (pun intended) commercial. Loved him, couldn't recall the product if my life depended on it!

 

[geneticrex]

I thought it was his kneecap that he broke on the rim.

I thought it was his toe that he stubbed on the rim.

 

[VAUConnFan]

VAUConnFan, I respectfully disagree.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think you are using the phrase "offensively challenged" to mean very little scoring. I would say Mutombo was more "limited" in terms of his offensive abilities, in that he was not scoring outside the paint.

For his first 11 seasons in the NBA, he averaged between 11 and 16 points per game in every season except one (and that was 9.1 ppg).

And during those 11 seasons, he averaged at least 11 .5 rebounds per game in ten of them (putting up 10.8 rebounds per game in the 11th).

While his productivity declined in later years, keep in mind that Mutombo entered the league at the age of 25 in 1991. So by the time his 11th season concluded, he was about to turn 36, which is well past the prime for basketball players.

So you see, Mutombo was much, much more than just a shot blocker for his first 11 seasons. He had a long professional career because he was a double digit scorer, a great rebound, and an elite defender, not just someone who "shaped a long professional career around his shot blocking ability."

Absolutely right. Despite Mutumbo's limited offensive abilities, he was able to put up respectable offensive numbers in the NBA while establishing himself as a force on the defensive end; Shot blocking, rebounding, changing shots. Coming out of Georgetown, there were many, myself included, skeptical of his impact on the offensive end. The thinking then, as it will always remain in basketball, is that you cannot teach height. His success and his presence within and outside the game are commendable beyond measure.

 

[meyers7]

And he makes a very humorous, slapstick (pun intended) commercial. Loved him, couldn't recall the product if my life depended on it!

Geico