A No-Win, Yes-Dunk Situation
NEW YORK , Jan 18, 2010 – 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks will attempt to become the first three-time winner of the competition when he defends his title on NBA All-Star Saturday Night, Feb. 13, at American Airlines Center (8 p.m. ET on TNT) in Dallas. Robinson will compete against the Charlotte Bobcats’ Gerald Wallace and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Shannon Brown.
via 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk Announced.doc.
Thanks, LeBron. I hate you.
Okay, we’ll go quick-route, then fast-route.
Quickly: Shannon Brown is a movement, who, much like his actual play, will end up disappointing. But hey, at least he wasn’t selected for the “Hold a 20 point lead by playing intelligent defense” contest.
The Dunk-In: What’s the line on DeRozan, you think? (-220)? Sound right? Because there’s no way in Hell Widdle Gordon beats the Northern Auroarer.
Gerald Wallace: Yeah, so, he’s going to murder everyone. This is the “Gerald Wallace is tired of people not knowing who he is” year. Why else would he be in the contest this year? What, he just randomly decided to come out of dunk retirement? No. This is his way of putting his name on the map.
Nate: I hate you, current CBA. Requiring the dunk champ to repeat is a nightmare. No one wants to see him in it. Nate probably doesn’t want to be in it. Certainly we don’t want him in it. “Short guy! Whee!” Honestly, this is a nightmare. We could have had Josh Smith, LeBron James, and we get Nate Robinson? I like Gerald but I’d sub either of those guys for him. Sigh.
But still! There’s some potential here.
The Long And Winding Road: What’s more popular and overblown, the dunk contest or saying the dunk contest sucks?
Is it star power? Because even if it had stars in it, people would compare their dunks to Jordan and Nique. Nothing that can be done will top what already has. Hating on the dunk contest is mad chic. People are passionate about how the Dunk Contest is “over.” Even after Howard’s resurgence, which was way more than the superman dunk (hello, off back-backboard, windmill, wrap-around dunk), there’s a prevailing hipsterness about the whole thing that bugs me. Because they’re all going to watch. It’s exactly like hipsters that show up to a party, put on their own music, then talk about how lame the party is. These people need jello shots.
I recognize the inherent greatness created by a star participating, and recognize how ti can be a defining moment. I desperately wanted LeBron to participate and am a little crushed he didn’t. But all that means is we need to lower our expectations. We need to understand that there may never be a dunk contest as good as VC’s 2000 exhibition, or as prolific as the free throw dunk or as insane as Nique’s work. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a fun contest. We’re not deciding homecourt in the Finals over it. Just watch the guys dunk.
Not all art belongs in a museum.
Oster-Tags: #letshannondunk, #makeshannonplaydefense, 2010 NBA Dunk Contest, DeRozan, Eric Gordon, Gerald Wallace, heeheelittlemandunkydunky, Nate Robinson, NBA Dunk Contest, Shannon Brown
