The NBA announced the participants for the Slam Dunk Contest yesterday and it's a pretty uninspired lot. Nate Robinson will try to actually complete a dunk to defend his ill-gotten title against Celtic scrub Gerald Green, Bulls rookie and non-factor Tyrus Thomas and the lone All-Star in the event Dwight Howard. Howard's a fantastic player, obviously, and posterizes people on a regular basis but big guys never do well in these contests as power is less of a factor then artistry and creativity. I'm showing my age here but I do remember the days when these contests were packed with All-Stars like Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan and even Vince Carter and prefer that even if Green is a spectacular dunker, which is the word on the street.
The three guys I mentioned will still be a part of the festivities. They will serve as judges as will Kobe Bryant and Julius Erving making this the first case of the judge being a more talented athlete than those on trial since the O.J. Simpson case. That Lance Ito could ball, yo. Marcel Mutoni of Slam Online agrees that it's a sham group of contestants and wonders why the Commish doesn't do something to improve the field.
Here’s what I don’t get: The NBA can force its players to alter the way they dress; it can get them to only address the referees after having politely raised their hands like good students; and might even start telling them which clubs to hit after the game; but can’t get its biggest stars to participate in what used to be one of the League’s markee events.
Maybe they are just setting it up so that after a lackluster first round Carter and Kobe step up and throw down to send the crowd home happy? That would actually be cool if the two former champs stepped up in their suits and put this sorry group of competitors to shame with their acrobatic antics.
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