Blake Griffin explains why he doesnt dunk anymore

[Darius]

And people wonder why athletes spit out cliches instead of providing real insight.

Looking at the responses in this thread, same Neanderthal attitude as ever prevails: sharing real thought and insight = weak.

SMH hasn't Drake taught you guys anything?

[ralph_i_el]

The guy was just sharing what he's thinking haters gonna hate

[ProfessorMurder]

ultimately dunks do wear on your body over time.

Bullllllllllshit.

[Top Gun]

Vince Carter really seem's to be suffering from all those dunks...

[Rake2204]

Bullllllllllshit.

I'm certain it takes me 10 times more effort to dunk than a mega-jumping NBA power forward, but I do think there's the tendency for wear over time, including the effort it takes to constantly put oneself in position to dunk (and dealing with the consequences of someone deciding they were going to do anything possible to not let you dunk).

Nothing major, but I attribute my slight issues with shoulder, neck, and back pain on my right side to dunking, at least in part. Even now, on the rare days where I'm dunking a lot, I can often count on dealing with a headache the next day from the strain that comes with jumping & extending, then violently coming in contact with the rim, either briefly or by pulling and hanging.

Sometimes I even wondered if Tracy McGrady's back issues could have somehow been dunk-related (absolutely zero evidence to suggest as such).

On the other side, I remember folks here saying that his knees would give out quicker from landing on the floor from so high up, so it was dumb that he dunk so much. I think that's totally false. People land from a significant distance any time they jump, whether a play ends with a dunk or layup.

[Rake2204]

Vince Carter really seem's to be suffering from all those dunks...

I think Carter actually took similar steps though. Even for a guy who floated as easily as VC could in his prime, playing 40 NBA minutes per night over a four-games-in-six-days stretch, with late night flights to Phoenix, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Portland, the constant non-stop attacking against a defense that's set up to prevent your attack likely takes its toll.

I think there's a happy medium in there somewhere though, between uber-attacking and veering toward becoming a jump-shooter (a criticism of Carter as his career wore on, though he's a career 37% shooter from deep).

Either way, I get what Griffin's doing. If a team knows you only have one trick, games become a grind, hoping your outright skill with that one trick can constantly overcome the opposition. However, diversifying, and proving that diversification can make the game easier, even if it's tough for us watching at home to pick up on that.

[Chadwin]

so instead of spending countless hours improving his post-moves he decides to practice jumpers. great idea.

dude could be averaging 25/10 playing in the post but he'd rather average 22/7 playing like Dirk.

It seems like a waste with him and Deandre. With their athleticism they would be beasts if they worked on their post games.

[Sarcastic]

The gif is the best part of the article

[Fiasco]

Someone ask him why he doesn't rebound anymore.

[SugarHill]

Someone ask him why he doesn't rebound anymore.