The Larry Johnson Gallery

LJ

 

 

Who Got Old Better? Michael Tuck vs Robert Parish

A very special edition of Who Did What Better? to mark the commencement of the 2014 AFL Premiership season. A quick side-by-side look at two dudes who kept playing and kept winning - Michael Tuck and Robert Parish.

Who Dunked It Better? Blake Griffin vs Desmond Mason

Blake Griffin's impressive season continued last night behind a 30/15 performance, leading the Clippers to their 9th straight W with a comfortable victory over their best mates, the Golden State Jermaine O'Neals.

The highlight of the night was Griffin's soaring putback in the 4th:

Blake Griffin putback vs Golden State Warriors

(March 12, 2014)

How does this finish stack up against great tip dunks of recent times? In our opinion, one of the most impressive putback artists of the past decade or so was Desmond Mason. Today's Who Dunked It Better? looks back at Mason's one-handed, head-at-rim finish over the GOAT Hedo and the Birthday Boy Bobby Jackson.

Desmond Mason putback vs Sacramento Kings

(November 15, 2002)

On this day: Michael Jordan dunked on Alonzo Mourning

Michael Jordan on Alonzo Mourning

(March 12, 1993)

 

Part of a 52 point masterclass that included too many highlights to convert to GIF format.

Card of the Week: Phil Jackson

The return.

Cue Gil Scott-Heron.

GIF of the Week: Chris Carr

Chris Carr?

Yes, Chris Carr, best remembered for this thunderous dunk on Mt. Mutombo:

Chris Carr on Dikembe Mutombo

(January 14, 1997)

Carr also performed admirably at the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest.

Jalen Rose enjoyed his work a little more than Kobe.

Happy Birthday Chris, we liked your dunks.

Manute Bol, Rick Mahorn and Sir Charles in a 76ers handicap match

Reminiscent of the time Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho put Stone Cold Steve Austin in the Crippler Crossface and Walls of Jericho at the same time, Rick Mahorn and Charles Barkley attack Manute Bol from both ends - circa 1990-something.

Judging from this footage of Mahorn wrapping up Mike by the ears and Charles taking down Shaq at the knees, we'd argue they should swap places to inflict maximum damage.

(Shout out to Hershey Hawkins laughing in the background, which is exactly what we did when we saw this.)

Insanity

Image courtesy of according2sources.com

As Baseline Leaner favourite Albert Einstein may or may not have mused, the definition of insanity can be explained as: "Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome." Whether the G.O.A.T. theoretical physicist is actually responsible for that poignant piece of behavioural analysis can be debated elsewhere - we're more concerned with the lesson contained within.

(Updated for a modern era, the definition of insanity may read "Passing up a coach with 11 championship rings, including 5 with your franchise, for a guy with none" but we digress. One definition at a time.)

Mike D'Antoni has had 4 stops in his career as a head coach - with the Nuggets, Suns, Knicks and Lakers. His tenure - from 1998 - 2014, with a few years on hiatus - spans various rule changes and league wide trends. His rosters have oscillated in quality, from stacked to great to good to downright awful. He has coached MVP's, Scoring Champions, Most Improved Players, Defensive Players of the Year, forces of nature, #vino and Keon Clark. Throughout 3 decades, 4 teams and 100's of players, there is still an identifiable constant in Mike D'Antoni's coaching career:

• 1998-99 Denver Nuggets - Defensive Rating* 29th of 29 - Record 14-36 (50 game season)
• 2003-4 Phoenix Suns - Defensive Rating 24th of 29 - Record 21-40**
• 2004-5 Phoenix Suns - Defensive Rating 17th of 30 - Record 62-20
• 2005-6 Phoenix Suns - Defensive Rating 16th of 30 - Record 54-28
• 2006-7 Phoenix Suns - Defensive Rating 13th of 30 - Record 61-21
• 2007-8 Phoenix Suns - Defensive Rating 16th of 30 - Record 55-27
• 2008-9 New York Knicks - Defensive Rating 23rd of 30 - Record 32-50
• 2009-10 New York Knicks - Defensive Rating 27th of 30 - Record 29-53
• 2010-11 New York Knicks - Defensive Rating 22nd of 30 - Record 42-40
• 2011-12 New York Knicks - Defensive Rating N/A - Record 18-24***
• 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers - Defensive Rating 20th of 30 - Record 40-32****
• 2013-14 Los Angeles Lakers - Defensive Rating 27th of 30 - Record 22-42*****

* Defensive Rating captures the amount of points a team allows per 100 possessions. All stats courtesy of the gurus over at basketball-reference.com

** Took over 21 games into season

*** Fired after 42 games. Defensive Rating unavailable for his tenure only

**** Took over 10 games into season

***** Season currently underway

In just one season has a D'Antoni coached team finished in the top half of the NBA in Defensive Rating, despite many of those teams winning 50 and even 60 games. Outside of an average 4 year run in Phoenix, opposing teams have scored in bundles against his.

Long held conventional wisdom states that in playoff basketball, it's not offense that wins series and championships, but defense. The numbers certainly agree and D'Antoni is living proof - 0 Finals appearances in 13 years on the job.

The question we'd like answered is what the Lakers were expecting when hiring D'Antoni? If it was anything other than below-average-to-atrocious defense and a pre-Finals exit from the playoffs, providing a prime Steve Nash or equivalent could carry the team there to begin with, then they truly are insane.

#MJMondays Competition: What game is this dunk from?

For your chance to win a copy of SLAMKICKS presents JORDANS VOL.1, simply be the first to correctly identify the game from which this dunk is taken:

If you think you know, please respond below. First correct answer wins. Please avoid responding multiple times. Competition closes in 48 hours.

Who Dunked It Better? Shaquille O'Neal vs Robin Lopez

Who Dunked It Better? Lakers vs Blazers edition.

Shaquille O'Neal on Kelvin Cato

(Late 90's)

 Robin Lopez on Robert Sacre
(March 3, 2014)