Can Dunking Help Your Team Win?

NBA

Can Dunking Help Your Team Win?

By Jason McIntyre October 20, 2010 2:05 pm ET Follow @thebiglead

By: Jason McIntyre | October 20, 2010 2:05 pm ET Follow @thebiglead

Dunking: “What is rarely addressed is whether or not dunking, as opposed to laying it up, can help your team, both in the standings and on the bottom line. Let’s address the win column first: are teams that dunk more likely to win?” Look away for a moment, coaches who preach fundamentals. The answer – after looking at NBA stats over the last two years – is yes. “Dunk totals also represent a general aggressiveness: a willingness to drive through the lane, pick up fouls, and to try for the offensive rebound, as well as athletic ability – all things that a good team should have.” [Harvard Sports Analysis]

Miscellany, NBA, Miscellany, NBA

Comments

http://twitter.com/jaykidd13 José

Contract the WNBA.
irishmafia

not one D Howard mention. just led the league in dunking the past 10 years. Boston homers
ms621

RIP the mid-ranger jumper.
http://twitter.com/SouvenirCity SouvenirCity

Last year Bucher had a tweet that took dunks out of LeBron, Kobe and Wade’s FG% stats. LeBron is a 33% FG shooter w/o dunks, Wade was ~41% and Kobe was ~43%. I’d like to see it for the entire league.

Just a nugget, doesn’t mean a whole lot considering one of the 3 can get to the basket whenever he pleases plus all the stuff mentioned above.
http://notitlessince83.blogspot.com johndewar

The answer – after looking at NBA stats over the last two years – is yes.

Please tell me someone didn’t fund this study.

That said, I’m in the “dunks are a high percentage shot” camp, so not sure I needed this study.
Duder678

teams that score tend to be better than teams that dont
http://laugh-o.blogspot.com starkweather

Nothing annoys me more than when a big dude has the chance to dunk and just lays it in or, even worse, takes a jumper. This stat is really just telling us the most obvious thing there is in 5 on 5 basketball. Bigger players give you an advantage. If size is equal, aggression is the deciding factor. Lakers – Magic in the Finals again!
irishmafia

good stuff SC. you been watching NBATV? my man
Duder678

Just a nugget, doesn’t mean a whole lot considering one of the 3 can get to the basket whenever he pleases plus all the stuff mentioned above.

right. if the others could, they would.
http://twitter.com/jaykidd13 José

Kobe – the Joe Addai of the NBA
ScarletFever

“They say you showboat too much”

/throws monitor out window
http://laugh-o.blogspot.com starkweather

I assume you mean Mrs. Wade can get to the basket whenever he pleases but I’ve noticed that Dwyaney and Rape Mamba don’t have a lot of trouble getting to the basket when they set their minds to it. That Harvard Sports Analysis site is blocked so I can’t read the article – does it address the fact that most dunks are from post players, not guys driving the lane?
Krak

This just reinforces today’s game…….flashy dunks…me,me,me….chicks-dig-the-longball type stuff that has, sadly, made the game worse, IMO. Maybe more exciting plays from time to time, but overall the game is played fundamentally worse.
http://laugh-o.blogspot.com starkweather

Maybe more exciting plays from time to time, but overall the game is played fundamentally worse.

Fundamentals in the NBA are not as bad as they once were and are not anywhere near as bad as the rep would suggest. Trust me, most of those guys understand positioning and shooting pretty well. The game is played in the half court much more than it used to be (meaning in the 60s, 70 & 80s) so the fundamentals you can appreciate immediately are harder to spot but defensive fundamentals are much better now
http://twitter.com/SouvenirCity SouvenirCity

good stuff SC. you been watching NBATV? my man

My roommate had I had a lengthy conversation regarding it last weekend. He’s all in on your Magic for the East. I think our DVR is set to record Heat/Celtics on opening night.
http://www.rockchalktalk.com/ fetch

this reminds me of the correlation between pirate attacks and the temperature of the earth
Krak

but defensive fundamentals are much better now

Such as Hack-a-Shaq? I guess.

/No wonder Bball is 4th on my list
irishmafia

He’s all in on your Magic for the East. I think our DVR is set to record Heat/Celtics on opening night

like that guy. Heat/Celtics next tuesday. cant wait
Rapelishotdog

Dunking should be outlawed under “offensive goaltending” rules.
/get off my lawn