LeBron (photo. Mannion)Before Game 6 of the Cavs/Wizards series got out of hand, there was a play in the second half where Delonte West was leading a 3-on-2 break with Wally Szczerbiak and LeBron filling the lanes. Seeing the potential for what could happen, both Washington defenders focused their attention on LeBron, surrendering a wide open layup to Wally. And as one of the announcers put it, you’d rather give up the Szczerbiak or Delonte layup than let LeBron get one of his monster dunks because, “It’s still two points, but it feels like five.”
In other words, a LeBron dunk can be a Soul Crusher. Whether it’s setting the tone early in the first quarter, sparking a comeback in the second half, or putting a nail in the coffin late in the fourth quarter, Soul Crushers are those plays that mean much more than points on the scoreboard or tallies in the stat book: for the team on the receiving end, it’s a psychological stake to the heart. And if it happens to take place in front of the home crowd, it’s a huge energy boost for the entire building.
What is the NBA’s best Soul Crusher? Some candidates:
1. Baron Davis and/or Monta Ellis (end-to-end layup/dunk)
2. Chris Paul (and-one finish)
3. Dikembe Mutombo (blocked shot + finger-wave)
4. Dirk Nowitzki (and-one finish)
5. Dwight Howard (dunk over 2 or more defenders)
6. Kevin Garnett (blocked shot + maniacal glare)
7. Kobe Bryant (impossible fadeaway jumper)
8. LeBron James (fast break dunk or dunk in traffic)
9. Peja Stojakovic (three-pointer from 26-30 feet)
10. Rasheed Wallace (three-pointer)
May 5th, 2008 at 10:11 am
yoda says:
mamba. what ever you do against him, he will find way to score. no matter is it one or 3 defenders on him.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Brilliant Failure says:
1 NAME
KOBE
May 5th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Three Stacks says:
I’ve been a Laker fan as long as I can remember, so I can’t really say Kobe has crushed my soul. The only team/players that I can remember crushing my soul would be the San Antonio Spurs.
When Duncan makes a seemingly impossible layup in traffic, or when Manu hits that 3 pointer just when we’re about to go on a run…it hurts my feelings, really. I fucking hate those bastard.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Juanito says:
sheed
May 5th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Tim says:
Sheed is a soulcrusher 24/7…from 20 and 10 with 7 blocks one game to 8 points and 5 rebounds the next…he is always crushing my soul. lol I still wouldn’t have it any other way though…
His wide open 3s at the end followed by “DON’T LEAVE ME” make it all worth it.
I’m giving Lebron the slight nod over Kobe here…because Lebron has done it to the Pistons way too many times… ie last year on 4 straight possessions.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Chosen says:
I remember before d-wade got hurt he used to drive to the elbow and give’em that turnaround fader in everyones eye.
A couple of those and thats when you knew its was over. How do u stop a runaway train? Dislocate its shoulder
May 5th, 2008 at 10:34 am
YOUNGFED says:
Gotta give it to Sheed too
May 5th, 2008 at 10:35 am
dukesman2000 says:
What about Amare Stoudamire?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:37 am
fiyaman says:
KB24 no question… whenever u think u got him he still scores.. even if he’s doing a 180 in mid air behind the backboard. (dont have the clip but he did it yesterday)
May 5th, 2008 at 10:39 am
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Suprised you didn’t put a Manu jumper in there at a crucial moment. That crushes cause you already can’t stand dude and then he goes and does the whole dagger thing on you.
I would have to go with a Kobe drive for a dunk. To me those crush the soul cause 1 you know it motivates dude and 2 it just does something to the other team that is crazy. After one of those joints, it’s like the other team just wants to kick rocks saying it ain’t fair.
I think you got to throw in a Deron Williams 3 off a screen too. Just pure ice cold. He was crushing my soul all throught the Rockets / Jazz series lol.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:41 am
CP3StilllMVP says:
I’m a huge hornets fan, and as much as a killer as a CP and-one is, the super deep ass daggers Peja throws in can pretty much dig the hole, bury the coffin, and have the funeral for a team.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:43 am
cbizzle says:
Kobe. He gets the ball, gives you that “no one on earth can stop me” look, and gets eyeballs with the J. Don’t forget, he’ll come in and cram on you too. That man is just COLD BLOODED.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Sam I Am says:
Juwan Howard’s lay up !
May 5th, 2008 at 10:52 am
K Dizzle says:
lol @ post 3. I feel that, playa. If I was a Suns fan, I’d still be in a corner in the fetal position rockin back and fourth.
Kobe’s gotta be the best right now, but the honourable mention lifetime achievement goes to Ro Horry. How many soul-crushin daggers has Big Shot Bob drilled to finish off teams? But I got a few memorable soul-crushers startin from:
1)Tim Duncan hittin his only 3 of the season to force overtime.
2) D Fish hittin the 0.4
3) Alley from Kobe to Shaq against Portland in west conf finals
4) Robert Horry 3 versus Sac-town to save the Lakers season
May 5th, 2008 at 10:52 am
hahns says:
im gona second gee, a manu 3 can be pretty soul crushing at times.
but you gotta give it to kobe w/ a lebron dunk coming in second place. no matter how good of a defensive posession you have, kobe can still J in your eye and theres NOTHING you can do about it. your soul is at his mercy.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:55 am
JA says:
I can’t believe you didn’t put:
Duncan three to send the game to overtime on there.
That was painful.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Sam I Am says:
Luke Walton’s spot up 3 pointer
just hurts to watch him in the league…lol crushes my soul
May 5th, 2008 at 11:03 am
jz_smoove says:
hate to say it, but kobe wet jumpers are fatal daggers.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:04 am
marcus says:
Kobe or Lebron
each of those hurt
May 5th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
I’m gonna have to say Kobe
Everyone except me and few other people I know all hated Kobe.
The jumpers he hits seem impossible, I mean he hit a jumper last series over Kenyon Martin that almost made me cry for Kenyon, and the thing is, you CAN’T stop Kobe.
No matter what you do he’s going to score one way or another, so every shot is a dagger.
The Lebron dunks are great, The Kevin garnett blocks are menacing, the Chris Paul and-ones are special.
But all those guys have always had charisma and charm about them when it comes to the media.
Kobe Bryant is like guliani, everyone loves to hate this man. Yet his talent is undeniable and that’s what makes the daggers hurt so much more.
Jumper here, dunk there, layup there, behind the back there, 15 footer there, another 3 there, and one there. Then if he gets excited he might throw a 7 footers soft baby hook in the stands just to be jerk!
Dude is nasty!!!!!!!!
May 5th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Prof. TX says:
Yao Ming …for Rockets fans anyway
Every year that guy builds us up then lets us down. I’d argue that it’s harder to be a Rocket fan than just about any other team, because they’re always teasing you with flashes of greatness and then never coming through. They can’t win a title, but also can’t win the draft, stuck in the same spot every year.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:16 am
rangerjohn says:
man how can you say davis/ellis end to end layup with out throwing a parker teardrop/get to the rim in traffic no mater who is in the paint.
or manu going left is a soal crusher because you KNEW he was going left.
or a patiented tim duncan three to send a game to double ot. i mean how can you leave DUNCAN open from three?
worst yet, tracy mcgrady hitting 13 in 35 seconds, that crushed some souls.
not sure which did it but either losing the title after being up 2-0 over the heat, or the nasty 1st round loss to the warriors pretty much crushed the souls of the dallas mavs FOREVER!
May 5th, 2008 at 11:21 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
when the King gets going full steam toward the hoop, he is the most Unstoppable player in the world. Too Big, Too Fast, Too Strong.
Break your soul cause there is NOTHING you can do
May 5th, 2008 at 11:35 am
James says:
Either Kobe or Lebron- but i got to go with Kobe b/c so many people play perfect defense on him- u cant get better than some of the defenses and then he scores on what would seam a lucky fader but he does it all the time.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:48 am
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Shaq actually hitting free throws in crunch time! lol
Or a Young Shaq getting deep in the paint, you already knew, it was either a dunk, and and 1, or 2 foul shots or a possible flagrant on the dude trying to guard him for doing to much. Unless someone flopped and got him.
I think you have to throw Gil’s heroics in here too. Turning around before the shot goes in. Come on now.
Ultimate soul crush…hearing George Karl is the next coach of your favorite team. Sorry Denver fans.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Big V says:
You definitely gotta throw a Parker and-one in the paint up there somewhere as well as a Ginobili three from the wing.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
rodnets says:
manu flop?
May 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
G says:
What about Nash feeding Amare with a ridiculous pass that leads to a even more ridiculous and ferocious dunk that the whole team can only stand around and watch?
or as shown in earlier Dimes when the Stro Show is not only getting tick against your team but highlights too….
May 5th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
G says:
Also I wouldnt even call the Lebron dunks the most soul crushing aspect of his game. I think even more soul crushing is watch him just barrel into the lane time and time again and hearing the never ending sound of the whistle as foul after foul comes
May 5th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
G says:
Ok last one, watching your best defender chase Rip around multiple screens manage to stick with him and put a hand in the face and still watching him drop in midrange jumpers
May 5th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
girlybballluver says:
OUCH @ post 21.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
girlybballluver says:
Watching D Wade go down and my team (Miami) implode…tear, tear.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
girlybballluver says:
I’m one of the few ppl that love the spurs. I love watching the looks players on the opposing team make when either Tony or Manu makes one of those impossible layups. It’s best when they make the lay-in to put an end to the other team’s run, and ignite a run of their own…they know it’s all over then.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
GEE...Well im imp da dimp the ladies pimp ... says:
Prof. I got you lol.
Soul crushing - When you team gives up Rudy Gay. When your team gives away Bonzi Wells who was playing well at the moment. When your team gets back a former star player (Steve Francis) who is no contribution at all. When your team has more pg’s than any other team in the L and what is one of their biggest weaknesses at still…pg. Watching a Dikembe elbow hurt one of the players on his own team.
List goes on lol.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
djKianoosh says:
last year Gilbert Arenas would have definitely made this list.
I’d have to go with Sheed’s threes. it’s practically money in the bank if he gets a good look. and even though every body and their mother knows he’s money he still finds a way to get open for it. that’s got to drive coaches insane.
manu going left and throwing up off-balance layups also has to irritate opposing teams.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
dh says:
i’d say kobe…
it seems like the opposing team wants to take a time out after everyone of his jump shots just to make sure he doesn’t catch fire.
Of course, i watch mostly laker games so,,,,
May 5th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
JC says:
i’d ride with the Kobe breakaway where he flushes it, the other team calls a timeout, and does that airplane thing to the bench and “lands” into a shoulder bump w/ “Tender-Rony” Turiaf… soul crusher indeed.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
DAPro says:
Soul crushing from a fan standpoint-
Chi-town getting too cocky and forgetting what got them into the playoffs the last few years…
Teamwork, hustle, passing, hitting the open shot, listening to skiles that abandoned what got them this far. Still a Bulls fan but this season was pathetic.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
BxBaller says:
Kobe, he does that constantly.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
chrisGO says:
Chicago Bulls Management is my soul crusher
May 5th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
guitar hero says:
Manu with the three ball.
Hands down.
Damn those Spurs
May 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
daquest?on says:
im a kobe hater but i gotta give props where they are do and its kobe with his impossible fadeawys he did that to denver alot
May 5th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
ERIC says:
It used to be a Vince Carter dunk that would oooh and ahhhh the crowds and provide the Crushin
May 5th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Stallion says:
Gotta go with Dwight on this one
May 6th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Willis says:
yeah Gils 40-footers would be on here. And what about Bowen/Artest stripping the other teams best player clean?
May 6th, 2008 at 4:54 am
Bob says:
I think Amare Stoudemire dunks are the best
Take a look at this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mZjPnqzq_E0
or
http://youtube.com/watch?v=n9dejyEr9iM&feature=related
May 6th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Suciniac says:
Not a big fan of Kobe but the dude is nasty.It’s crazy how many times he has caught a player in the air with a fake,draw the foul and make the J.That just takes the wind out of the whole team.Brons freight train dunks are second,especially the dunk last year against Detroit where he went through almost the whole Pistons and crushed it on Wallace.That dunk right there was THE definition of Unstoppable.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:56 am
imung lolo upaw says:
peja is cold…. can’t believe he doesn’t get mentioned enough in NO reviews.. its always paul, west and chandler..
May 6th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Ne Plus Ultra says:
Hey I say Lebron, remember his dunk on Rasheed in game 3 of Eastern Conference Finals last year, the CAVS were down 0-2 and the game was tied at the moment. That dunk shook the Pistons….Cavs won the next 4
May 6th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Noble Mike says:
Speaking of Manu. It crushes my soul every time he flops. It seems like he always gets the flop call when teams are trying to come back.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:23 am
QQ says:
Watching Tmac. Nuff said.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Noble Mike says:
oooh. Watching Tmac does hurt. Especially when he eviscerates everyone in quarters 1-3 and almost disappears in the last.
Bummer
May 6th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Ian says:
manus three
May 7th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Lebron 2 the end says:
LeBron can get to the lane any time and get fouled so many times its not even funny
May 7th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
doc says:
Willie Green or Iggy bricking another J.