Blake Griffin's Dunk Over Perkins Not Quite As Good As Amare's Over Tolliver

by Seth Pollack on Jan 31, 2012 11:46 AM MST in Phoenix Suns Commentary

Let's take a break from the misery that is the Phoenix Suns 2011-12 "No Fight" season where the team is 3-7 over their last 10 games with an average margin of loss of -15.6 and an average margin of victory of just 4.3. There's no fun to be found there, but fortunately we have Blake Griffin to ogle as he throws down a SAVAGE dunk on Kendrick Perkins.

Not surprisingly given our short attention span and the media's constant need to stir up trouble, Blake's dunk is already being called one of the best ever. Hold on, folks.

Blake's dunk was awesome but does it really stake up to Vince Carter's dunk over a 7-foot Frenchman? No.

Does Griffin's dunk stand up to Dr. J's dunk over Michael cooper? No.

How about Kevin Johnson's dunk on Hakeem Olajuwon? Close, but no.

How about Jared Dudley's dunk over the rim? Duh.

The real question is how does Blake Griffin's dunk over Kendrick Perkins compare to Amare Stoudemire's dunk over Anthony Tolliver?

Hit the jump and check them both out...

For my money, Amare's dunk is far better. It came in the fourth quarter of a close game and literally turned the tide and gave the Suns the win.

Game situation aside, Amare gets far more power on his dunk whereas Blake barely gets his finger tips on the rim. Both guys did go through a defender and Perkins is more formidable a road block than Tolliver, but Anthony had more force moving towards Amare while Kendrick was jumping straight up.

No contest, Amare's dunk wins...and also makes us remember just how much fun this Suns team used to be.

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Poll

Who's dunk was more awesome?

Blake's dunk over Perkins

181 votes

Amare's dunk over Tolliver

276 votes

457 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 56 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I like the Amar'e dunk since you know....it was actually a dunk.

Not just throwing the ball into the basket from a short distance.

No longer trying to light Vince Carter on fire.

by Scott Howard on Jan 31, 2012 11:47 AM MST reply actions 1 recs

this! this this this.

Amare’s was better in so many ways.

Blogging Suns Basketball at Bright Side of the Sun

by Alex Laugan on Jan 31, 2012 12:33 PM MST up reply actions

Griffin's hand hit the rim

by MMotherwell on Jan 31, 2012 2:11 PM MST up reply actions

Hand hitting the rim doesn't make it a dunk.

Yes, Griffin’s had hit the rim….after the ball was already in the rim. It amazes me how people say it’s one of the best dunks ever, when any dunk is actually a better dunk since this wasn’t a dunk. Also, Griffin sure does use his off arm to push the defender away a lot when he dunks.

by Chris_Coffel on Jan 31, 2012 4:50 PM MST up reply actions

Griffin sure does use his off arm to push the defender away a lot when he dunks.

A thousand times this. I have seen it so much. Ugh, I hate Griffin.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 31, 2012 8:11 PM MST up reply actions

Absolutely!

Every time I’ve seen this replayed I keep thinking it was an offensive foul.

by KJ7 on Feb 1, 2012 7:59 AM MST up reply actions

Amare's was stronger and faster

but I was unaware that a human could hang in the air for more than three seconds. Damn, Blake.

Crashing the [message] boards from the swamps of Louisiana, and blogging Phoenix Suns!

by PHXgp on Jan 31, 2012 12:06 PM MST reply actions

He wasn't really hanging in the air.

He used Perkins to hold himself up.

by Chris_Coffel on Jan 31, 2012 4:50 PM MST up reply actions

My top 5 dunks:
1. Carter on Mourning
2. Wade on Varejao
3. Griffin over Gallinari
4. Dwight over Jrue
5. Kobe on Dwight

by ap3604 on Jan 31, 2012 12:29 PM MST reply actions

How about the Carter dunk in the Olympics?

"Clearly the Brewers didn't realize that going into Beast Mode raised their testosterone levels."
by tcyoung

by txzona on Jan 31, 2012 12:34 PM MST up reply actions

Amazing as well, but I should have put an asterisk as to my top 5 NBA dunks since I’ve been watching the game (excludes Dr. J, Olympics, etc)

by ap3604 on Jan 31, 2012 12:37 PM MST up reply actions

Good point...

This wasn’t even Griffin’s best dunk. His spin-cycle dunk over Gallinari is his best in my opinion as well.

This “dunk” was one heck of a play though.

by 7footer on Jan 31, 2012 1:20 PM MST up reply actions

I still like Pippen over Ewing as a top dunk, too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SYmae9FhkQ

by KJ7 on Feb 1, 2012 7:59 AM MST up reply actions

Started watching NBA during the Lakers / Kings playoff series

by ap3604 on Feb 1, 2012 1:18 PM MST up reply actions

I liked

Lebron leapfrogging Lucas better too or Amare on Olowokandi or Foyle.

Amare on Foyle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmmmzVwNxxM

Lebron over Lucas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvjjEtjwKHE

by TruthTelling on Jan 31, 2012 12:43 PM MST reply actions

Amare on Foyle is better then Amare on Tolliver

You have to consider the competition. Tolliver was undersized, just trying to make a play he had no business making. Foyle was one of the dirtiest, meanest players in recent memory and was actually in charge of guarding a young pre-microfracture Amare. Look at where Amare jumps from when he abuses Foyle. Almost the same spot as the Toliver dunk and no running start!

by oLLiE Boombayay on Jan 31, 2012 1:38 PM MST up reply actions

I always like Marion over Nowitzki

But it’s not really a dunk and I mainly just liked it because it occurred during a phase in my life in which I had an unhealthy hatred toward the David Hasselhoff-loving German.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W27WnXwVN8Y

Free Steve Nash!

by JSun on Jan 31, 2012 12:50 PM MST reply actions

Seeing that Marion dunk and the two Amar'e dunks above is giving me nostalgia

I need some current Suns highlights to my mind back on track. Are there any?

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 31, 2012 1:13 PM MST up reply actions

I saw that live and damn it was sweet.

Here’s a lesser known early Marion throwdown. It’s like the NBA version of a porno and a snuff film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeg16laT9EY&list=FLItlhvJ0p1yi7hEZTmsGQNg&index=141&feature=plpp_video

by oLLiE Boombayay on Jan 31, 2012 1:26 PM MST up reply actions

J-Rich and Amar'e Stoudemire

We could use a couple guys like that. Gosh that dunk, those players, it was only two years ago! Back when our uniforms were actually decent and we were a good team. Sorry, I can’t see an old Suns and not think of the good times.

Yep, Amare’s dunk is better, although Blake got a lot of hang time.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 31, 2012 1:08 PM MST reply actions

they're both amazing

i think they are about even.

by forget on Jan 31, 2012 1:15 PM MST reply actions

I voted for Amare...

because I’m a Suns fan. Both are amazing. I would have voted equal if it was a choice. Amare jumps from further out and gets a notoriously raucous Oakland crowd to go “Dayyumm!” Blake repeats the Mozgov throw down against a bigger, meaner Perkins who was trying to block/foul or some shit, not take a charge like Mozgov was.

However, neither dunk is better then Lebron jumping over JLIII, catching the ball one handed 11 feet in the air, throwing it down with authority. Is it better then VC over Weis in the Olympics? No, but this is the NBA, not a showboating Team USA vs. some scrub that cowered in fear. Name one other time you have seen somebody get jumped over for a dunk in the NBA. You can’t. There’s one MJ dunk where he kinda hurdles somebody getting out of the way. Not the same. Plus the timing and catch on the alley-oop? Bonus points for being vs. the Bulls, the best defense in the NBA. To me this is one of the best dunks of all time in the NBA.

by oLLiE Boombayay on Jan 31, 2012 1:17 PM MST reply actions

Tom Chambers dunked over Mark Jackson.

by Chris_Coffel on Jan 31, 2012 4:55 PM MST up reply actions

Hehe, nice try,

catching a knee to the face and moving out of the way doesn’t count as getting hurdled. Watch for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDyBSTQDwH8

I like how the lore of this dunk keeps growing.

by oLLiE Boombayay on Jan 31, 2012 6:11 PM MST up reply actions

after watching both vids like 20x

clearly…Amare’s dunk is better. But no one can beat Carter’s dunk over the 7 footer in the olympics.

by SunsForLife on Jan 31, 2012 1:17 PM MST reply actions

Amare moved Tolliver backwards...

Blake was stopped in place by Perkins but managed to convert anyway because of his unbelievable athleticism. I’ll give Amare the nod because of the sheer power and force he dunked with.

by 7footer on Jan 31, 2012 1:26 PM MST reply actions

Agreed

Although Perkins is a lot harder to move than Tolliver. Gah I still remember how pumped I was after that Amare dunk OH MY.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 31, 2012 1:29 PM MST up reply actions

Do we still have that game thread of when the Amar'e dunk happened?

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 31, 2012 1:29 PM MST reply actions

here...fun stuff! great idea

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2010/3/22/1385968/game-thread-suns-vs-warriors

Twitter me at: @sethpo

by Seth Pollack on Jan 31, 2012 2:49 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 31, 2012 4:49 PM MST up reply actions

I'm now just remembering how wild that game was and how boring yet intense the end was.

Overall, that was a very positive thread. Of course there was still a lot of panic, but there will always be panic no matter how good our team is. It’s all in good fun though. I bet with most of our threads we’d prefer if they were deleted and never spoken of again, but this one is a keeper. In fact, that thread deserved a “comments of the night” section. I might just make one and post it on March 22nd if things are still gloomy around here. No promises though.

Good memories.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 31, 2012 5:13 PM MST up reply actions

That was a wildly entertaining time capsule.

I think I’ll just relive those old gamethreads the rest of the year.

No longer trying to light Vince Carter on fire.

by Scott Howard on Jan 31, 2012 5:15 PM MST up reply actions

Maybe we could just stream games from 2004-2010

and do new game threads on those instead.

Nevermind. Who would want to watch that old crap when we have a heated match up against the Hornets coming up tomorrow?

I can’t wait…

It was only called the mildly irritated house on McDowell until I showed up.

by Jim Coughenour on Jan 31, 2012 10:23 PM MST up reply actions

STAT THAT!

Damn, i miss amare dunking on folks…

Let's do this...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 31, 2012 1:57 PM MST reply actions

I think Amar'e misses that too.

No longer trying to light Vince Carter on fire.

by Scott Howard on Jan 31, 2012 3:40 PM MST up reply actions

He misses having any semblance of a point guard to pass to him,,,

Let's do this...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 31, 2012 3:52 PM MST up reply actions

Amar'e misses having knees

by MMotherwell on Jan 31, 2012 5:11 PM MST up reply actions

Blake all the way

Amar’e was in the open court, and Tolliver never had position and had no real leverage.

Griffin did it in the halfcourt, and got pushed back by Perkins, who had leverage AND position, and is as strong as an oxe.

by MMotherwell on Jan 31, 2012 2:14 PM MST reply actions

But he failed to actually dunk the basketball.

That’s important when talking about best dunk.

by Chris_Coffel on Jan 31, 2012 4:56 PM MST up reply actions

Dunk in my book

Above the rim, threw it down, touched the rim. What more does a dunk need?

by MMotherwell on Jan 31, 2012 5:11 PM MST up reply actions

It needs to be a dunk to be a dunk. Being above the rim and dropping the ball in and then grazing the rim on the way doesn’t count as a dunk, because it’s simply not.

by Chris_Coffel on Jan 31, 2012 9:03 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions

Fair enough

We’ll have to agree to disagree

by MMotherwell on Jan 31, 2012 9:06 PM MST up reply actions

fave suns dunk of all time

Can’t beat this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA_7TMoPUS4&NR=1&feature=fvwp

by john5cole on Jan 31, 2012 2:32 PM MST reply actions

That dunk leaves a bitter taste in my mouth

because it was vs. the Rockets and they lost that game and the series. You could even argue the Rockets were just trying to waste clock at that point.

KJ over Hot Rod is better for me because Hot Rod wasn’t lat to the play like Hakeem. Plus KJ rides him like a kid at the circus with his dad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqoSdFdVlzo

by oLLiE Boombayay on Jan 31, 2012 3:03 PM MST up reply actions

Man it used to be fun when we had players on our team who could dunk

BAMF goes HAM.

by brian13 on Jan 31, 2012 2:34 PM MST reply actions

It's what happens when Gentry tells Hak to stop trying to dunk the ball from all over the court.

Just because Steve Nash has that "dirty hipster" look doesn't mean he's in need of a shower. Steve Nash bathes in the tears of his victims on a nightly basis.

Mark of a Beast, baby. Mark of a Beast.

by NashMV3 on Jan 31, 2012 3:28 PM MST up reply actions

Warrick isn't a good player, but I will always remember him because of his dunks.

Just like how I remember Pat Burke because of his baseline threes. Whenever he got on the court, you knew things were good.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Jan 31, 2012 5:20 PM MST up reply actions

the helicopter...it's sick nasty, don't care that Raja and Millsap are late

the lead-up on this one by Hak in 10/2010 was glorious.

by ninecharacters on Jan 31, 2012 6:39 PM MST up reply actions

GREAT Dunk - AMAZING

Hak’s body control and adjustment to lean back away from the defenders – who tried not to foul, was GLORIOUS.

I really like that dunk – probably best of them all. WOW!

by MMotherwell on Jan 31, 2012 9:03 PM MST up reply actions

Blake's is more fun to watch

While Amare’s is a better dunk, if that makes any sense.
Blake gets that second boost as he goes over, just like TC did over Mark Jackson, that makes it so fun to watch.
Amare’s is a better dunk because, well, it’s a dunk.
Because I care about most fun a little bit more than “dunk form” or whatever, here are my two favorite:
Suns Dunk: Amare over Olowakandi. It’s a great dunk, It was his coming out party . . . and honestly, Marbury’s face makes the whole think so much better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuxoqAZEy6U
Degree of Difficulty: Young Kobe on the Nuggets. I hate Kobe as much as everyone, but this dunk (its the very last one) . . . insane. Much harder thank Blake’s on Galinari that every has fits over.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP_teS6y3e8
Best Moment: Baron Davis on Kirilenko: Maybe because I was at this game, in a weird twist of fate . . but I’ve never seen fans react to something like this in my life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w_1ZEk4mds

by UASun on Jan 31, 2012 9:43 PM MST reply actions

So many great dunks

Great job finding those – all superb.

I love this dunk – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9995mivGaD8 – Reggie Miller’s game tying dunk because, well, I didn’t know Reggie COULD dunk.

Watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9fVnbUjY2Q – a Baron Davis dunk mix, how was he NOT the greatest PG of his generation? The dunk around 1.52, where Davis goes baseline, jumps to the other side of the rim spinning 180 off a lazy hop is just… so effortless.

Davis had EVERYTHING, athleticism, power, defence, passing, shot. He was just…too lackadaisical.

As current president of the Shannon Brown anti-fan club, oh man, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECsPUEPZLD8 is AMAZING.

And blasts from the past: Diaw to Marion – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIoTIOfHxwE and Nash, FULLCOURT to Marion – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfyM1MDkle8

It’s a shame that Dunks don’t count for more points. Basketball is the only sport I can think of where the most exciting / best play isn’t the most valuable.

by MMotherwell on Feb 1, 2012 5:35 AM MST up reply actions

Agreed with everything

Loved that Reggie Miller dunk too. He’s one of my all time favorite non-Suns… as a broadcaster though, ugh.

BAMF goes HAM.

by brian13 on Feb 1, 2012 4:47 PM MST up reply actions

I know Vince Carter's not exactly a popular figure around here

But he was an incredible dunker in his prime. Look at what he did to Tim Duncan here.

Blogging Suns basketball for Bright Side of the Sun from California wine country.
Twitter: @EastBayRaymundo

by East Bay Ray on Jan 31, 2012 10:22 PM MST reply actions

Come on people, Griffin's dunk was a dunk.

If STAT did the exact same thing back when he wore a Suns jersey, would any of you be arguing that it wasn’t a dunk? Be honest!

by 520fan on Jan 31, 2012 11:04 PM MST reply actions

For me one of the most vital elements of a great dunk is power

also of hands hitting and harrasing the rim. This is why I could list 10 Dominique Wilkins dunks i like more than that one by Griffin. He is a wicked dunker though…

This is not quite a dunk just like Howard’s Superman Dunk isn’t.

Feed the cutter!!!

by Piotr Szczesniak on Feb 1, 2012 10:17 AM MST up reply actions

I know this is supposed to be kind nof a "diversionary" thread...

but it got me waxing nostalgic. I looked up Amare’s 100 greatest dunks and it just made me feel good. It’s amazing how many times Steve and him hooked up for some trul;y outrageous dunks. The list of his posterizations reads like a “who’s who” of the NBA.

Damn, I miss that combination…One of the greatest Pick & Roll partners of NBA history

Let's do this...!

by Daryl Ray on Feb 1, 2012 10:45 AM MST reply actions