Hey there hoops fans! I‘m Lillie – long-time basketball expert and skills coach. Getting dunked on is a feeling every player will experience at some point. But don‘t worry! In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know about getting posterized on the court.
Dunking 101
Let‘s start with the basics. Dunking refers to when a player forcefully jumps up and slams the ball down into the hoop with authority. It‘s an impressive display of athleticism and skill. For a dunk, players often leap straight up vertically and throw it down over defenders.
According to stats from NBA tracking data, there are over 1800 dunks per season. The league leaders typically have well over 100 dunks individually.
The most prolific dunkers like Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine can even reach 12 feet in the air! That allows players with size and ups to rise way up and over their counterparts.
Origins of "Posterizing"
Now where did this idea of getting "posterized" come from? Well, when a defender gets dunked on, the spectacular image often ends up captured on highlights or photos for the world to see – like they ended up on a poster.
Nobody wants to end up on the wrong end of a sick poster dunk. It can be downright humiliating! But it comes with the territory in basketball‘s constant battle between offense and defense.
Some of the most famous "posters" include:
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Michael Jordan dunking on Patrick Ewing in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals
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LeBron James destroying Kevin Garnett‘s soul in 2009
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Scottie Pippen‘s embarrassing jam over Patrick Ewing in the 1994 playoffs
These epic jams live on in infamy!
What it Feels Like to Get Dunked On
Let‘s be real – getting dunked on stings! Here‘s some perspective from players on what it‘s like:
"It‘s one of the most disrespectful things you can do to a defender. You‘re helpless." – Metta Sandiford-Artest, 17 year NBA vet
"You feel embarrassed and caught off guard. Your pride takes a hit." – Gordon Hayward, 4x NBA All-Star
"It‘s humiliating. Fans go nuts and you gotta hang your head. It‘s just demoralizing." – Rudy Gobert, 3x NBA All-Star
So in summary – it sucks! Now let‘s go over some…
Keys to Avoid Getting Posterized
As a defender, you‘re not always going to prevent a dunk. But there are techniques you can use to make it harder for offensive players:
- Maintain good defensive position between player and hoop
- Contest shots straight up without fouling
- Box out players so they can‘t get inside position
- Leverage your lower body strength to hold ground
- Use your verticality – go straight up with hands high
- Time your jump – don‘t leave the ground too early
Additionally, some mental aspects include:
- Stay locked in – don‘t get caught ball watching
- Hustle hard even off the ball
- Maintain pride in your defense
While you can do a lot to protect the rim, amazing athletes sometimes still make you look silly. It happens to everyone!
Next let‘s examine some infamous cases of players getting abused…
Top 5 Poster Dunks of All Time
Here are 5 of the most disrespectful and iconic dunks defenders would surely want back:
5) Tom Chambers dunks on Mark Jackson
This mammoth one-handed slam from 1989 is an underrated old school gem. Chambers rises up and detonates it over poor Mark Jackson.
4) Baron Davis dunks on Andrei Kirilenko
In this epic 2007 playoff moment, Baron Davis vulgarizes Kirilenko with a towering two-handed finish. AK-47 wanted no part of that!
3) LeBron James annihilates Damon Jones
Jones was just in the wrong place at the wrong time against a young LeBron, who detonates a nuclear two-handed slam from the dotted line. Sheesh!
2) Scottie Pippen disgraces Patrick Ewing
We saw Pippen‘s monster dunk on Ewing earlier. This one may be even more disrespectful as he vaults over a ducking Ewing before throwing it down.
1) Vince Carter crushes 7-footer Frédéric Weis
In this 2000 Olympic dunk, the springy Carter took off from the free throw line before unleashing a devastating two-handed finish over a helpless Weis. An all-timer!
So there you have it folks – the dunks that have caused many defenders endless shame. Let‘s wrap up with…
Moving on From Getting Dunked On
Don‘t sweat it too much when you get put on a poster – it happens! Here are some tips:
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Laugh it off – getting angry only makes it worse
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Use it as extra motivation
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Study film so it doesn‘t happen again
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Focus on your next defensive possession
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Remember that even pro players get dunked on all the time!
Getting dunked on may sting, but don‘t let it wreck your confidence. Hustle back and be ready for the next play. That‘s the sign of a mature, professional player. Thanks for reading – now go out and work on those hops!
