NBA Dunk Contest: MJ's Still the Best

The NBA decided to change the rules for the dunk contest, yet again. Unlike the past two years, when dunkers had an infinite amount of time to complete their dunks (which we can thank for travesties like this - click here), 2007 dunk contest participants were given two minutes to complete each dunk. If time ran out, they got two more tries. Thankfully, the rule was pushed to its limit only once during the contest, when Nate finished a self-alley-oop'd 360° on his second try after his two minutes were up.

The common wisdom is that dunkers should make their first dunk something simple yet powerful, just to get themselves acclimated to the event. The problem is, with only two dunks, the contestants can not afford to do anything that isn't jump out of your seat spectacular. Dwight Howard started off with a simple yet very well executed windmill. Received a score of 43/50. His second dunk was one for the ages - I absolutely loved it. Approaching the hoop from the front, he jumped up on the left side, smacked the backboard high up with his left hand, and dunked with his right. Okay, so he hit the backboard where most people can't touch jumping off a trampoline. Wait... why is Dwight pointing at the backboard? Oh, he slapped a sticker of himself with this goofy smile on the backboard! He signed it too, but the cameras wouldn't stay zoomed in long enough to read what it said. Probably something like "Dwight was here" or "50, please!" (EDIT: The sticker says, "All Things Through Christ, Phil 4:13." Dwight is a very religious man). Unfortunately, this dunk actually received a lower score than his first dunk, which brings me to my next point.

Judges are too generous. In the first go around in the first round judges were already handing out 9's for dunks that deserved 7's. The scores are out of 10 for a reason -- no need to give everything an 8, 9, or 10. Save those for the spectacular. MJ, showing the type of savvy we have grown accustomed to, was the only judge to give the dunker the opportunity to improve in the later rounds. When Paul Pierce comes out and throws it off the side of the backboard, and Gerald Green activates the jet pack and throws down with his head a few inches above the rim, that dunk deserves a 45+. Dwight's aforementioned windmill? 43? Come on. Judges can't be giving that a 9. Jordan said it himself; he needs to use those 7's, because otherwise the ceiling is set too low for the high flyers.

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In the 3-point contest, the Hibachi heated up one round too early. In the first round, Gilbert scored 23, which was more than enough to advance him to the next round. With the best first round score, Gilbert went last in the finals. He watched fellow finalists Dirk and Jason Kapono shoot while he waited his turn. Dirk stunk up the joint, while Kapono defined the word 'pure.' Jason fell one point shy of the contest record of 25, set by Craig Hodges in 1986.

Gilbert shot himself out of it early. Even if he were to hit all of the money balls, he would still have to drain all but five shots (30 points on 25 shots, total, are available). Gilbert missed his fifth shot before he was half finished. On the last rack, Gilbert shot all balls one handed. Where have I seen that before? Oh yeah (link). Maybe it would have helped Gilbert if he were allowed to snap his fingers and take mock shots right next to Kapono during the contest. Just a thought...

Overall, this was the best pool of three point shooters that I can remember. Kapono, Mike Miller, Gilbert, Damon Jones, Dirk, Jason Terry are probably six of the top ten outside shooters in the NBA, with the possible exception of Terry.

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D-Wade defended his title in the skills competition. Afterwards, I heard what sounded like an extremely subtle Kobe diss come out of Wade's mouth. Cheryl Miller asked him if it meant more to him that he beat a competitor like Kobe, and Wade answered with a simple "no." Shaq has trained him well...

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Here's an edited down video of the dunk contest for your viewing pleasure (until youtube has to take it down for copyright infringement... when they do, go here (link))