We need a new word

by JakeTheSnake on Oct 24, 2008 4:27 PM EDT in The clubhouse Comment 15 comments

So I caught a little grief about saying Nick Young dunked "on" Fabricio Oberto. That's fair. On indeed means on and it should be reserved for when there's clear contact between the dunker and the player being dunked on. Take for example, this dunk:

Now that's a dunk on someone. I'm pretty sure Shawn Bradley still has marks (both physically and emotionally) from that posterization. Dunks like that are the why we say dunked ON, not dunks like this. I get that. But what happens to all the great dunks over the years that have happened without contact?

What do we call Starks dunk in the '93 Conference Finals? What about this dunk by Dwight Howard? Saying that the dunk happened "on" someone isn't fair, but just calling it a dunk doesn't seem fair either.

Basically, what I'm saying is that we need a new term for a dunk where the dunker narrowly beats the defender to the rim, but doesn't dunk "on" anyone. Here are two ideas I'm toying with:

"Starks" - Obviously named after the man behind the most famous dunk that fits in this category. Defenders would be the ones that are Starksed and dunkers are pulling a Starks

Examples in sentences: D-Wade just Starksed Chris Kaman!

I think Jordan Farmar just pulled a Starks on Tim Duncan!

"Apex" - The apex is defined as "the point of culmination" which in basketball, would obviously be the rim. So in the cases that we've been talking about, all the players have beaten their man to the apex.

Examples in sentences: That was a nasty apex by Kevin Martin.

Chris Paul totally just apexed Dwight Howard.

Anyways, those are just some thoughts on the issue. If you have some ideas on what to call it, chime in. Also, if you want to talk about how many sentences in this post ended with a preposition, you know what the comments are here for.

UPDATE: And the debate rages on! I hope I didn't inadvertently start a blog war.

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Stand down

No appeasement!

by Ziller on Oct 24, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea Jake....

I defended you among the Google Reader ShareBros (“I would contest that Oberto should’ve been there quicker to protect the basket….it’s on him…to get to the spot. And yes, I’m biased”)…..and then you’ve changed man, you’ve changed….

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 24, 2008 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I get that

I’m just saying that we need to define a term so we can differentiate between times where a player is dunked on physically, and when they’re dunked by half-hearted effort/a lack of rotation/wimpiness/floating out of the way/etc.

(Side Note: I’m glad we’re having this debate, if for no other reason than I have nothing else to do this afternoon.)

Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.

by JakeTheSnake on Oct 24, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish

there was still competition for a roster spot.

Discussions of this nature fall beneath my attention threshold.

by MR on Oct 24, 2008 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trust me

This is just one of those arguments that stems from having way too much time to think about it. It won’t happen a lot. But they do come up every now and then.

Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.

by JakeTheSnake on Oct 24, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"On" is all encompassing.....

My additional argument:

And “on” means that if you were supposed to be “on” your game and “on” assignment protecting the basket, then the dunk was “on” you…..maybe not in your mouth or in yo’ face, but ON you and you and you and you.

So…..other ‘dunked on’ events need to get another name….like facial, etc.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 24, 2008 5:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Um....

I think “facial” has some connotations that are non-basketball related….

Like, in a Spa.. etc…

My daughter made up a word when she was little for the marks left on the skin from prolonged contact with something…… (ie: sleep with your face on a pillow with stitching, and when you get up, you can see the stitching embedded in your face) – she called those marks a “blitch”.

So, if someone gets dunked on- Literally, physically dunked on…. you’d expect to see the marks on them…. So, blitched

by Rook6980 on Oct 24, 2008 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea....

But 1st base, 2nd base, etc….have “other” connotations as well.

If I’ve heard Marv Albert use “facial” when doing an NBA game before then it’s okay…..wait not a good example.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 24, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts

I’d propose that actual physical contact be termed “on.” For dunks such as this one, perhaps “got” could be used (i.e. Nick Young got Fransisco Oberto). It’s not quite as strong, but that’s fitting.

by goathair on Oct 24, 2008 5:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that works

It’s easy to remember, the dunker still gets some props and victim still gets some embarrassment. I’m satisfied.

Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.

by JakeTheSnake on Oct 24, 2008 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Splitting hairs

I would have to agree with the group that is using “dunked on” as an all-encompassing term. Howard dunked on Duncan because he was covering him on that play. Young dunked on Oberto because he didn’t rotate fast enough. And Rudy Fernandez dunked on Dwight Howard because Howard tried to challenge the attempt and failed. It wasn’t a Bradley moment for Howard, he didn’t have the position advantage that Bradley had on McGrady…but still, Rudy dunked on Howard.

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Oct 24, 2008 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Waiver wire... The End of the Road for..???

Michael Ruffin, released by the Bulls… how did he last this long?

by khrabb on Oct 24, 2008 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If it's off topic

Make it a FanPost or FanShot. Please don’t clutter up this thread.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Oct 24, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My 2 cents

If a player contests the dunk or is under the player/basket when the dunker jams then he got “dunked on.” In this particular instance I have to think this dunk isn’t REALLY on Oberto b/c he got scared and got out of the way so he wouldn’t be embarrassed. A “dunk on” doesn’t necessarly require physical contact, just physical closeness. (Hmm that sounds touchy-feely).

However, I think we have to keep calling this a “dunk on” if for no other reason than to dissuade future fraidy cats (or “dunkees” if you will) from skitting out of the way of the dunker. If the dunkee knows he will receive the same criticism regardless of whether he jumps in like a man or runs like a girl, then dunkees will hopefully stop acting like pansies when the arial attacks begin.

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on Oct 24, 2008 7:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs