NBA All Star Weekend
It has become obvious that the most exciting and anticipated event at the NBA All Star Weekend is the slam dunk contest. There has been a premium on creativeness and this year we were not disappointed. There was a lull in this event several years ago because the superstars didn’t want to compete in it, and the contestants didn’t do too much that was out of the box. We have been enamored with the freakish jumping ability of Vince Carter. We have always had a fixation with the little guys with the crazy ups (Spud Web and Nate Robinson) and always seem to root for them, but what Gerald Green and Dwight Howard did in the dunk contest pushed the envelope and set new standards for this event. Dwight Howard stole the show, but Gerald Green didn’t disappoint with his creativity. Unless you have dunked a basketball before, or come close to it you really can’t comprehend how difficult it is to focus on blowing out a candle and making a dunk at the same time. Gerald’s athletic ability for his size and age is scary, and if that ever translates over to his overall game - watch out.
Dwight Howard showed that you can’t discount big men anymore when it comes to this event. I don’t know that we have seen a man his size with this kind of jumping ability, strength, and creativity. He literally looked like Superman when he threw it down (and I do mean threw it down). That was the show stopper. They could have stopped it there. What was almost as impressive to me was his dunk from behind the basket when he threw it off of the opposite side of the backboard, caught it, ducked his head to avoid hitting it on the backboard, scissored his legs to add to the gracefulness of it, and then windmilled it into the hoop. The thing is, he looked amazingly graceful doing it. That is why big guys don’t traditionally win this competition because they don’t look as graceful as their smaller counterparts (ie. Doctor J & Dominique Wilkins). His creativity also raised the bar for future competitions as well. He has earned the nickname Superman, and it will stick with him as long as he is in the league. One thing is for sure - I can now honestly say that I look forward to future competitions and the athleticism and creativity they will bring.
Notes
I like the trade the Hawks made. Sheldon Williams wasn’t going to play much and develope his game with the glut of forwards Atlanta has that are better that he is. The fact that they traded him indicates that they realized they made a mistake taking him that high in the first round. What Mike Bibby brings to the table (if he stays healthy) is worth giving up Tyronn Lue and Anthony Johnson. That is definitely an upgrade.
The Dallas trade for Jason Kidd will eventually go through (that is what I predict) and it will help Dallas in the short term. My question is, what happens if they don’t win a championship this year or the next?
Kudos to the Suns for having the guts to pull the trigger on the trade for Shaq. They couldn’t get over the hump and get to the championship round with Marion, and he wasn’t a good team guy in the lockerroom, which affected the whole team. Shaq won’t slow Phoenix down. He will bring his passing ability, interior defense, and presence that they have not had before. It all depends on what Shaq has left in the tank. Overall, I like the trade for both sides.
Stay tuned for Power Rankings and predictions
February 18, 2008 at 16:27
Great writing style. I’m going to enjoy reading your commentary!