Slam Dunk Contest

[Martti.]

I hear Nick Young has practicing some 360 dunks.

He said - "Just in case I get invited."

Hope he does well and gets invited. A great guy.

[JaoSming]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTh1RPI ... re=related

i'd allow Mr. Young in

[dan_suth]

http://www.nba.com/nba_news/slam_dunk_080121.html

The official line-up is:

Gerald Green
Rudy Gay
Dwight Howard
Jamario Moon

Also...

For the first time, fans will have the final say in deciding the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk competition. Following the concluding round of dunks, fans will be able to cast their votes via SMS TXT message and at NBA.com to determine this year’s winner. The dunker with the most fan votes will be named the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk. A panel of judges will continue to play a key role by determining which two participants advance to the final round. During the final round, each judge’s vote will count the same as a fan vote.

Fan voting is playing a role in determining who the slam dunk champ this year. I'm not sure that's a great idea, but we'll see...

I'm definitely excited about the line-up this year, I'm just really glad Nate Robinson isn't in it again. Can't wait to see what Dwight's gonna do this year.

[benji]

Jamario Moon wins the dunk contest!

[dan_suth]

That's kinda what I'm thinking. If Yao were in it, he might give Moon a run...

[[Q]]

glad to see dwight back after getting robbed on the sticker dunk.

I like the additions of Moon & Gay, although I personally think Gay or Moon will win it.

[diddy]

i'd see Wade, G-Force, Carter and J.R. Smith!

[Abctest123]

glad to see dwight back after getting robbed on the sticker dunk.

I like the additions of Moon & Gay, although I personally think Gay or Moon will win it.

Agreed, good to see Dwight Howard come back after him having his spot in the final stolen by Nate Robinson. Though I am somewhat surprised he got in because of that rule where the player has to be in his first three years in the league (Howard's in his fourth year). I'm liking this year's participants for the Slam Dunk Contest.

[Andrew]

That's a fine group. I like the fact there's seems to be some enthusiasm from the competitors as well, with Rudy Gay campaigning to compete and Howard looking for revenge even though he's approaching a level as a player where others might look down on the dunk contest (if he's not already at that level already). In any case, I admire the competitiveness.

For the first time, fans will have the final say in deciding the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk competition. Following the concluding round of dunks, fans will be able to cast their votes via SMS TXT message and at NBA.com to determine this year’s winner. The dunker with the most fan votes will be named the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk. A panel of judges will continue to play a key role by determining which two participants advance to the final round. During the final round, each judge’s vote will count the same as a fan vote.

They tried fan voting via the Internet circa 2002 and in my opinion it didn't necessarily improve the contest. I don't think the contest really needs such gimmicks any more than it needs the wheel or a rule stating that you must use a teammate but I guess it will appeal to some.

[---]

Nice choices. I'm trying not sway away from my bias and not pick Rudy, but I just can't. They all have great chances - Dwight got robbed last year, Gerald Green is the current champ and has some crazy ability, Jamario Moon is a former globetrotter with alot of hype right now, and Rudy Gay is just plain nasty. Looks to be one of the best dunk contests in a while, I just wish they would go with more contestants. That way someone could quickly sign James White.

[grusom]

Looks very promising!

Dwight Howard will definitely have learned from his mistake last year, and will come out strong - I'll be looking for his kiss-the-rim-dunk on his first attempt.

As for the others, I'm sure they'll all do great - we have already seen what a great dunker GG is, now I'm really looking forward to see if Moon and Gay has something that can challenge him. Gay seems like a very good one leg jumper - I'm hoping for a free throw line dunk, it's a long time since we've had one of those.

[Andrew]

Dwight Howard will definitely have learned from his mistake last year, and will come out strong - I'll be looking for his kiss-the-rim-dunk on his first attempt.

You know, I still think the sticker dunk was a bit overrated. The sticker was original and creative but apart from that it was, at the end of the day, a powerful one handed dunk with a backboard tap. Even taking the location of the sticker into account, he's 6'11" with a long reach and there's always been that higher standard for taller competitors, justified or not.

[grusom]

You know, I still think the sticker dunk was a bit overrated. The sticker was original and creative but apart from that it was, at the end of the day, a powerful one handed dunk with a backboard tap. Even taking the location of the sticker into account, he's 6'11" with a long reach and there's always been that higher standard for taller competitors, justified or not.

That wasn't the one I was talking about - I assumed everybody had seen this vid of the dunks DH was intending to do if he moved on (apparently he thought he would do them WHEN he moved on, since he saved his best one): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o5_jGvyVvo

But yeah, it wasn't like the sticker dunk was one of the best dunks in contest history, but definitely one of the best gimmick dunks.
While it's not in the league of MJ's ftl dunk or Jason Richardson's off the backboard, through the legs-dunk, it should still had gotten a 50 compared to the usual standards IMO.

[BIG GREEN]

Having mj, nique and Dr. J judge the competition is unfair to new dunkers. We need fresh judges that aren't so jaded. At the same time....it keeps new dunkers on their feet (or air).

[[Q]]

Andrew you do have a good point about the sticker dunk being overrated but Dwight made the most with what he has at 6'11" and that is one thing that most other dunkers won't be able to do. Now I would imagine that a 6'7" swingman would try things that tall guys wouldn't be able to do to try to win the contest.

Having mj, nique and Dr. J judge the competition is unfair to new dunkers. We need fresh judges that aren't so jaded. At the same time....it keeps new dunkers on their feet (or air).

I agree. the NBA used them for their name & star power but they should have more recent dunk champs (J Rich, D Mase, VC, Kobe, and maybe even Ceballos/Dee Brown)

[Sauru]

the sticker dunk may be overrated but it was funny and the showmanship is better than the performance to me when it comes to all star saturday

[emi_b7]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=N3FbX-17iOY

Rudy will win

[CMJ3]

I hope Green can win again, we havent seen any back to back winners since J-Rich and i think Green has what it takes to win again. I like all of the dunkers in this years tho so it should be a good dunk contest.

[Andrew]

That wasn't the one I was talking about - I assumed everybody had seen this vid of the dunks DH was intending to do if he moved on (apparently he thought he would do them WHEN he moved on, since he saved his best one): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o5_jGvyVvo

But yeah, it wasn't like the sticker dunk was one of the best dunks in contest history, but definitely one of the best gimmick dunks.
While it's not in the league of MJ's ftl dunk or Jason Richardson's off the backboard, through the legs-dunk, it should still had gotten a 50 compared to the usual standards IMO.

Thanks for the link, I hadn't seen that. I only brought it up as I thought he kind of shot himself in the foot on that one, perhaps expecting a 50 and as I said, I still think it's a little overrated. On one hand you've got judge every contest seperately and reward the creativity but if it's not to be considered one of the best dunks in the history of the contest then you're basically using the dunks you mentioned (amongst others) as the measuring stick and a standard of excellence. If it doesn't rate up amongst them, it's hard to give it a 50.

Having mj, nique and Dr. J judge the competition is unfair to new dunkers. We need fresh judges that aren't so jaded. At the same time....it keeps new dunkers on their feet (or air).

Their judging in the 2003 contest was pretty fair to the competitors though. They may be harsh critics but given how high the bar has been set by past performances I wouldn't want to see 50s being handed out left and right.

[shadowgrin]

Dwight should modify that kiss the rim dunk and try to make it a kiss the backboard dunk.

Tough choice, Gay or Moon.

[Drex]

Wanna see a Gay-Moon final, shadow?

[BIG GREEN]

Any guy willing to moon another guy must be gay.

[Indy]

Damnit Drex, stole my joke.

For the first time in a long time I think all 4 guys have an equal chance to win. My money is on Rudy Gay though.

[Tuomas]

I'd go with Moon or Green. Green seems to be the most creative two-legged jumper and that might be the edge. I haven't seen much of Gay, except those in-game windmills.

But Moon, from what I've seen, he is very explosive, has great hops and seems to be creative as well, so Moon or Green for me.

With these guys Dwight won't make it to the finals unless he makes the elbow dip with his shoulder (Aka shoulder dunk).

[Sacke12]

I think that all four has a chance to win, but I'ma go with Jamario Moon. He's got some real hops, and I think his Globetrotters background will pay off