-
SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
This is not going to go over well...
[url]http://nba.si.com/2013/02/14/michael-jordan-nba-slam-dunk-contest-best-vince-carter-dwight-howard/#[/url]
10. J.R. Rider's Between-the-Legs
9. Dwight Howard's Backboard Tap Pass
8. Dee Brown's No Look
7. Jason Richardson's Bounce Between-the-legs Reverse
6. Michael Jordan Sideways Windmill
5. Vince Carter's cuff clockwise 360 windmill
4. Gerald Green's Cupcake
3. Dwight Howard's Superman
2. Vince Carter's Elbow
1. Michael Jordan's Free Throw
Also, SI's Five Worst NBA Dunk Contests: [url]http://nba.si.com/2013/02/12/nba-slam-dunk-contest-worst-kobe-bryant-nate-robinson/#[/url]
5. 2005 (Winner: Josh Smith)
4. 1996 (Brent Barry)
3. 2004 (Fred Jones)
2. 2010 (Nate Robinson)
1. 1997 (Kobe Bryant)
And SI's Top Ten Best NBA Dunk Contests: [url]http://nba.si.com/2013/02/13/nba-slam-dunk-contest-michael-jordan-vince-carter-dwight-howard/[/url]
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
1. MJ :facepalm
[IMG]http://www.pngfaces.com/images/joomgallery/thumbnails/by_emotion_28/desire_7/nba-vince_carter-desire_20120419_1745064603.png[/IMG]
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
I personally have a strong disagreement with Vince Carter's cuffed, clockwise 360 windmill being anywhere outside of the top 2 NBA contest dunks of all-time, let alone falling behind Gerald Green's Cupcake dunk and Dwight Howard's Superman.
I'd also select Jason Richardson's off-the-backboard between-the-legs dunk over his awesome-but-kinda-ulgy bounch reverse between-the-legs. I might even prefer his windmill and two-hand, reverse bounce windmill from the 2002 contest.
I also feel as if there had to have been at least [i]one[/i] of Dominique Wilkins' dunks that'd register on this list. He wasn't even in the honorable mentions (though Blake Griffin's Car Dunk is present).
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
Not a fan of cupcake but dho superman is in the top 10.
I really like this 360 by Jomario.
[URL="http://youtu.be/Jrp-VRA6Cpo?t=19s"]j.moon 360 alley[/URL]
Iggy and Iverson off the backboard is also underrated.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=Rake2204]I personally have a strong disagreement with Vince Carter's cuffed, clockwise 360 windmill being anywhere outside of the top 2 NBA contest dunks of all-time, let alone falling behind Gerald Green's Cupcake dunk and Dwight Howard's Superman.
I'd also select Jason Richardson's off-the-backboard between-the-legs dunk over his awesome-but-kinda-ulgy bounch reverse between-the-legs. I might even prefer his windmill and two-hand, reverse bounce windmill from the 2002 contest.
I also feel as if there had to have been at least [i]one[/i] of Dominique Wilkins' dunks that'd register on this list. He wasn't even in the honorable mentions (though Blake Griffin's Car Dunk is present).[/QUOTE]
Agreed. VC's clockwise 360 windmill and MJ's sideways windmill should be battling #1 and #2.
The problem with JRich's dunks is that they weren't strong enough
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
Regarding the Five Worst Dunk Contests of All-Time, I've got two I feel belong on the list: 2012 (Last year's debacle) and 2002 (The Wheel). I actually kind of liked the 1996 and 1997 dunk contests and I certainly do not believe '97 was worse than 12's. I might remove those two and replace them with '02 and '12.
And outside of '04's terrible finish, I didn't find that contest to be too terrible either. Andersen performed well. Ricky Davis was solid. Fred Jones had at least one good dunk. And Jason Richardson pulled off an all-timer (the off-the-backboard, between-the-legs crush).
[QUOTE=gasolina]Agreed. VC's clockwise 360 windmill and MJ's sideways windmill should be battling #1 and #2.
The problem with JRich's dunks is that they weren't strong enough[/QUOTE]I thought Richardson's dunks were strong. I mean, I didn't think they were ungodly powerful, but I thought they passed the threshold of what's deemed acceptable in that regard. But I respect your views there. Even then, I did not feel the dunk of his they included in that top ten list was his best competition dunk.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
blake griffin first dunk in 2011 was better than half of those on the list
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=alenleomessi]blake griffin first dunk in 2011 was better than half of those on the list[/QUOTE]I disagree. I thought it [i]would[/i] have been an all-time dunk if he'd finished his original attempt where he brought it down to his waist.
[img]http://www.tremendousupsidepotential.com/img/blake-griffin-missed-dunk.gif[/img]
Instead, his final product looked a little more pedestrian:
[img]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5wfntIAe51rymxgso1_400.gif[/img]
Still great, but not all-time great to me.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
his second is not even great. Its good at best. ~46 .
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=CeltsGarlic]his second is not even great. Its good at best. ~46 .[/QUOTE]True. I just meant I still liked it, but it wasn't an all-timer.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
How J-Rich's between-legs-off-glass is not even top is a joke. That had me literally jump out of my seat. In that same contest, he attempted a 360-honey dip (elbow in ring) which almost went down, which would have been godlike. I, personally, have Vince Carter, Jordans and Richardsons contests as 1,2,3.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
while i agree with you on the griffin dunk that is not an all time great... well i guess depends how do you define all time great... if its about originality then yeah most of the dunks on that list are original... as in how tough is it to make them... then absolutely not, 7 or 8 of them can be done by pretty much any above average dunker right now, while the same cant be said for that griffin dunk...
jordan, wilkins, drj, carter, jrich... those were the real dunks... no gimmicks
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
Desmond mason also was a real dunker. Never did something crazy creative but had great style , power and finesse.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
If you could choose 6 dunk contest contestants in their dunking prime, who would it be?
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
J Rich's bounce, between the legs, reverse is #1. That is a preposterously difficult and unique dunk. Exactly what the dunk contest is about... Not that gimmick crap like jumping over a kia or putting on a superman cape.
#2 I think I would go with Carter's 360 windmill.
#3 I am fine with MJ's free throw dunk here, since it's probably the most iconic dunk ever performed at the dunk contest.
#4 would be MJ's leaning dunk.
And where the **** is J Rich's off the backboard between the legs? :facepalm
I agree with Rake's on that one Blake dunk. The first attempt would have been an all-timer. By the time he finally hit the dunk it was just a normal 360...
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
F*ck, Brent Barry in 1996 was awesome. Dude kept his warm up jersey on, his free throw line dunk was amazing.
Darvin Ham was ripped off big time in 1997.
Dwight Howard blows, especially the non-dunk Superman cape shit.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
Whole list sucks, but "Superman" >> VC 360? Come on now. :oldlol: :roll:
Also, this has been mentioned, but J-Rich off-glass between the legs needs to be on the list. Shit, I might even argue that it could be #1.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=the article]Sorry, purists: Don
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
Damn, Sports Illustrated needs their eyes re-examined. All of these lists are garbage. VC and J-Rich are underrated, while Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard are getting overrated!
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
2005 Dunk comp was great!
J.R Behind the back
Amare with the Between the legs reverse and the Steve Nash 'header' assist 360 thing.
Then Josh smith with the windmill over K-Mart.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=alenleomessi]well i guess depends how do you define all time great... if its about originality then yeah most of the dunks on that list are original... as in how tough is it to make them... then absolutely not, 7 or 8 of them can be done by pretty much any above average dunker right now, while the same cant be said for that griffin dunk...
jordan, wilkins, drj, carter, jrich... those were the real dunks... no gimmicks[/QUOTE]I think originality has to play at least a little bit of a role when ranking dunk contest dunks. Of course, style and difficulty must also play big parts. The reasoning behind the importance of originality is in part to account for how the dunk was initially received when it was first completed.
For instance, if a player emulated Vince Carter's honey dip this year exactly as he did it, how might it be received? I feel like we'd peer at one another thinking, "That's it?" However, at the time, when we had not even fathomed such a slam in our imaginations, it was mind-blowing to witness (remember how the crowd didn't really cheer until they watched the replay to confirm their suspicions of what'd just happened?) It was a spectacular dunk and a spectacular moment.
On the flip side, I've never been a huge fan of Dee Brown's no-look dunk. I feel like "the moment" may have provided a little too much propulsion to his legend - pumping up his shoes and whatnot.
All that said, I disagree that any above average dunker can complete every dunk on that list. I also disagree with the notion that the majority of dunks on that list are easier to truly replicate than Blake Griffin's final 360 product. It [i]was[/i] a difficult dunk, and it'd provide a problem to small guards and two-foot dunkers who cannot palm a ball or jump off one foot (Francis, Richardson, Wilkins) but it didn't strike me as a dunk residing on a different difficulty plane than the slams mentioned.
[QUOTE=IGotACoolStory]J Rich's bounce, between the legs, reverse is #1. That is a preposterously difficult and unique dunk. Exactly what the dunk contest is about[/QUOTE]I respectfully disagree. I personally believe dunking the ball between-the-legs after throwing it off the backboard would be much more difficult than a self-alley off the bounce. Lobbing and bouncing the rock tends to provide players with a little more time to prepare, especially when it's a self-pass (as opposed to a teammate pass). Also, not having the ball in one's hands for such an extended period of time allows for the freedom of approaching, planting, and leaping exactly when you want.
On a backboard toss, the process is pretty much in motion as the toss is happening. The ball's not floating in its dunk zone as long and it's pretty much an insane bang-bang play to be able to make the toss then still be able to throw it between the legs on the catch.
Also, to be a complete stickler, I thought Richardson's bounce between-the-legs was a little ugly. And, when discussing the greatest dunk contest dunks of all-time (particularly when considering one slam for the top spot) I think those dunks better appear just about perfect. In this case, J-Rich's dunk was outstanding, but it also looked a little awkward, lacked in power, and did not go down cleanly.
In contrast, I found Vince Carter's cuffed, clockwise 360 windmill to be just about as perfect as a dunk can get. I don't know if that makes it number one on the list but in all the areas I'd nick Richardson's bounce dunk, Carter's slam excels. In fact, in those same areas, Richardson's backboard slam excels (although I [i]guess[/i] it could have gone down slightly stronger).
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
I don't think anyone has mentioned Iguodala in '06 yet. A couple of his dunks probably deserve consideration. That one where Iverson bounced it off the back of the glass, and then the self-alley behind-the-back. From a degree of difficulty standpoint, those are tough to beat.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=StroShow4]I don't think anyone has mentioned Iguodala in '06 yet. A couple of his dunks probably deserve consideration. That one where Iverson bounced it off the back of the glass, and then the self-alley behind-the-back. From a degree of difficulty standpoint, those are tough to beat.[/QUOTE]
oh yeah. Iggy was robbed. Derozan was robbed. Steve Francis was underrated and TMac, 360 pump dunk off the bounce. :bowdown:
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
1. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve9o8gyUYLM[/url] J-Rich Off the glass, between the legs
2. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhZs9vDflzc[/url] J.R. Smith Behind The Back
3. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oHGL7vBLGM[/url] V.C. 360 Windmill
4.[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUaWZEiOL0U[/url] Demar Derozan - The Show Stopper (Dude got robbed)
5. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq11VVkdPZU[/url] Jordan Kiss The Rim
6. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NpPtKRLuq0[/url] Larry Johnson The Original 360 windmill 32:07 of this video.
7. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWcR0N4iGSk[/url] Darvin Ham - Touch The Glass 360
8. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYOW9VvmoYk[/url] Harold Miner - 180 cuff windmill
9. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6z9-l4hnMM[/url] AI to AI - Behind The Glass Dunk
10. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y5yb_u3OFw[/url] Amare - Off Steve Nash's Head
These were probably the prettiest dunks that I've ever seen in a dunk contest. Feel free to disagree with my list.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[quote=StroShow4]People still acting like he did it on purpose. It's one thing to do that in a game, when you're getting fouled... but THE MAN DIDN'T JUMP FAR ENOUGH. :oldlol: :roll:[/quote]
This. It was a nice, but not better than Carter's 360.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=Noob Saibot]oh yeah. Iggy was robbed. Derozan was robbed. Steve Francis was underrated and TMac, 360 pump dunk off the bounce. :bowdown:[/QUOTE]
Yeah, the 2000 dunk contest was great because not only did VC give a near perfect performance, but TMac and Francis showed up with really good performances as well.
[QUOTE=Rake2204]I respectfully disagree. I personally believe dunking the ball between-the-legs after throwing it off the backboard would be much more difficult than a self-alley off the bounce. Lobbing and bouncing the rock tends to provide players with a little more time to prepare, especially when it's a self-pass (as opposed to a teammate pass). Also, not having the ball in one's hands for such an extended period of time allows for the freedom of approaching, planting, and leaping exactly when you want.
On a backboard toss, the process is pretty much in motion as the toss is happening. The ball's not floating in its dunk zone as long and it's pretty much an insane bang-bang play to be able to make the toss then still be able to throw it between the legs on the catch.
Also, to be a complete stickler, I thought Richardson's bounce between-the-legs was a little ugly. And, when discussing the greatest dunk contest dunks of all-time (particularly when considering one slam for the top spot) I think those dunks better appear just about perfect. In this case, J-Rich's dunk was outstanding, but it also looked a little awkward, lacked in power, and did not go down cleanly.
In contrast, I found Vince Carter's cuffed, clockwise 360 windmill to be just about as perfect as a dunk can get. I don't know if that makes it number one on the list but in all the areas I'd nick Richardson's bounce dunk, Carter's slam excels. In fact, in those same areas, Richardson's backboard slam excels (although I [i]guess[/i] it could have gone down slightly stronger).[/QUOTE]
You will get no arguments from me on Carter's 360 windmill. It is the single best looking dunk I've ever seen. Basketball porn, if you will.
Meh, we can argue the semantics of the dunk. To me the reasons why Richardson's final dunk in 2003 ranks at the very top is twofold:
1) The moment and situation.
Desmond Mason was a terrific dunker and those two went at it all throughout the competition. It was definitely one of the best battles in a dunk contest, up there with Dominique and MJ. It came down to the final dunk, he needed like a 49 or 50 to win, and Richardson completed it on his very first try (something important to me). For the same reason why I'll take a clean jumper to win a game in the Finals over some ridiculous move and circus shot to win a regular season game, I like this dunk.
2) The dunk itself was just about as far as creativity should be allowed in a dunk contest.
Self alley? Done before. From the base line? Nothing new. Between the legs? Solid, maybe good, is all. But he combined everything with the added difficulty of going between the legs reverse. He literally picked parts of the greatest dunks ever, joined them, added a little of his own flavor, and that treasure emerged.
There was so much going on in the dunk that it almost felt like he made up what he was going to do after his jump in the first viewing, yet it still came off simple --in a good way. Like a good painting, from afar you see a beautiful picture and that's great and all. Then when you look up close (the replay), you can see the true intention of every little brush stroke and only then do you realize what a masterpiece it is.
I do agree that it could have been cleaner and/or stronger to some extent. However, considering the level of difficulty pertaining in that dunk, it really couldn't have been much better unless he can jump higher. Which, imo, would take a little away from the dunk.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=IGotACoolStory]Yeah, the 2000 dunk contest was great because not only did VC give a near perfect performance, but TMac and Francis showed up with really good performances as well.
You will get no arguments from me on Carter's 360 windmill. It is the single best looking dunk I've ever seen. Basketball porn, if you will.
Meh, we can argue the semantics of the dunk. To me the reasons why Richardson's final dunk in 2003 ranks at the very top is twofold:
1) The moment and situation.
Desmond Mason was a terrific dunker and those two went at it all throughout the competition. It was definitely one of the best battles in a dunk contest, up there with Dominique and MJ. It came down to the final dunk, he needed like a 49 or 50 to win, and Richardson completed it on his very first try (something important to me). For the same reason why I'll take a clean jumper to win a game in the Finals over some ridiculous move and circus shot to win a regular season game, I like this dunk.
2) The dunk itself was just about as far as creativity should be allowed in a dunk contest.
Self alley? Done before. From the base line? Nothing new. Between the legs? Solid, maybe good, is all. But he combined everything with the added difficulty of going between the legs reverse. He literally picked parts of the greatest dunks ever, joined them, and that treasure emerged.
There was so much going on in the dunk that it almost felt like he made up what he was going to do after his jump in the first viewing, yet it still came off simple --in a good way. Like a good painting, from afar you see a beautiful picture and that's great and all. Then when you look up close (the replay), you can see the true intention of every little brush stroke and only then do you realize what a masterpiece it is.
I do agree that it could have been cleaner and/or stronger to some extent. However, considering the level of difficulty pertaining in that dunk, it really couldn't have been much better unless he can jump higher. Which, imo, would take a little away from the dunk.[/QUOTE]Good stuff. I agree with some things (loved that battle between Richardson and Mason) and still do not entirely agree with other things, but I respect it. It was a great dunk all the same.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
no love?
[IMG]http://basketball-basic.com/wp-content/uploads/nate-robinson.jpg[/IMG]
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
J Rich and VC should have 4 of the top 5. With MJ sneaking in with his free throw line at 4th or 5th somewhere.
But c'mon. The between the legs off the backboard was the sickest dunk of all time in the dunk contest. Its not close.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=NBA4EVER]no love?
[IMG]http://basketball-basic.com/wp-content/uploads/nate-robinson.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
No. Because it sucked.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=Glide2keva]1. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve9o8gyUYLM[/url] J-Rich Off the glass, between the legs
2. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhZs9vDflzc[/url] J.R. Smith Behind The Back
3. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oHGL7vBLGM[/url] V.C. 360 Windmill
4.[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUaWZEiOL0U[/url] Demar Derozan - The Show Stopper (Dude got robbed)
5. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq11VVkdPZU[/url] Jordan Kiss The Rim
6. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NpPtKRLuq0[/url] Larry Johnson The Original 360 windmill 32:07 of this video.
7. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWcR0N4iGSk[/url] Darvin Ham - Touch The Glass 360
8. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYOW9VvmoYk[/url] Harold Miner - 180 cuff windmill
9. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6z9-l4hnMM[/url] AI to AI - Behind The Glass Dunk
10. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y5yb_u3OFw[/url] Amare - Off Steve Nash's Head
These were probably the prettiest dunks that I've ever seen in a dunk contest. Feel free to disagree with my list.[/QUOTE]
No love for this list? I think it's pretty solid.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=Glide2keva]No love for this list? I think it's pretty solid.[/QUOTE]I thought it was a good and fun list. I don't agree with it, but it was fun. I think a lot of it comes down to what markers we're using to measure "best" dunks. For instance, it sort of complicates things, but I still think the effect given dunks had on crowds, judges, and viewers at the time may still be at least a small part of the equation. With that in mind, it's kind of tough to exclude, say, the soaring Jordan free throw line dunk.
On the flip side, I've never been a [i]huge[/i] fan of Jordan's side windmill (aka his Kiss the Rim dunk). I always kind of thought the legendary status of that slam was created by excellent camera work more than by the outstanding nature of the dunk itself. That low angle sideline view that's thrown into super slow motion at just the right time make Jordan look like he's floating higher and longer than he truly was. It was a fun dunk, but I feel we're more in love with a camera effect than we are the dunk itself.
I also feel J.R. Smith's dunk is not exactly top three worthy because the shock factor was basically at 0 after his numerous attempts to put it down prior. And even then, the final dunk was awesome, but not perfect by any means.
I also really like DeMar DeRozan's dunk in slow motion (and regular motion for that matter) but his slams always seemed to be lacking something to me. This is my favorite dunk of his but still, in regular motion, he nails it, but the flavor seems moderate. I really like it, but I can't see myself labeling it as one of the top four dunk contest dunks of all time.
I like all 10 of the dunks you picked. But if I were to be a stickler, as you can tell so far, I have issue with some of them. Darvin Ham is another example. It wasn't super clean and I get the feeling even Ham would admit he didn't perform that dunk exactly as he wanted to.
Amar'e Stoudemire's dunk was fun and I was entertained, but it is more or less a dunk he could perform in his sleep. I may have even liked his All-Star Game version better: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp164npRuxE[/url]
It feels ridiculous to talk down any of those slams because again, I'm a fan of each of them, but if we're talking Top Ten of all-time, those are some of my issues I'd have with those picks.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
I actually think one of the main problems with the dunk contest is that they f*cking change the rules EVERY YEAR. Just keep it consistent. I mean in 94 or 95 one of the players didn't even know about the rule changes until they told him he f*cked up.
[QUOTE=Glide2keva]6. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NpPtKRLuq0[/url] Larry Johnson The Original 360 windmill 32:07 of this video.
7. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWcR0N4iGSk[/url] Darvin Ham - Touch The Glass 360[/QUOTE]
I think LJ's bounce off the ground, off the backboard dunk was as good if not better than the 360. He thew down some good dunks until the final round when he missed.
Again, Ham was ripped off. Dude didn't even get out of the first round in that contest. Given that wasn't super clean, but he was clearly the best or second best in that round.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
I think both Shawn Kemp and Larry Johnson were robbed by two stupid gimmick dunks and Dee Brown doesn't deserve to be on that list.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=Overdrive]I think both Shawn Kemp and Larry Johnson were robbed by two stupid gimmick dunks and Dee Brown doesn't deserve to be on that list.[/QUOTE]
Yeah the Dee Brown and Ceballos blindfold shit was super weak.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=Rake2204]I thought it was a good and fun list. I don't agree with it, but it was fun. I think a lot of it comes down to what markers we're using to measure "best" dunks. For instance, it sort of complicates things, but I still think the effect given dunks had on crowds, judges, and viewers at the time may still be at least a small part of the equation. With that in mind, it's kind of tough to exclude, say, the soaring Jordan free throw line dunk.[/quote]I can understand that part. I took it into account.
[QUOTE]On the flip side, I've never been a [i]huge[/i] fan of Jordan's side windmill (aka his Kiss the Rim dunk). I always kind of thought the legendary status of that slam was created by excellent camera work more than by the outstanding nature of the dunk itself. That low angle sideline view that's thrown into super slow motion at just the right time make Jordan look like he's floating higher and longer than he truly was. It was a fun dunk, but I feel we're more in love with a camera effect than we are the dunk itself.[/QUOTE]I can understand how you would feel that. I agree to a degree. The slow motion side view makes it epic, but then it shows off the beauty of the dunk.
[QUOTE]I also feel J.R. Smith's dunk is not exactly top three worthy because the shock factor was basically at 0 after his numerous attempts to put it down prior. And even then, the final dunk was awesome, but not perfect by any means.[/QUOTE]I definitely feel you on this, but judging the dunk standing alone, it was awesome. It had never been done before. That factored in to me.
[QUOTE]I also really like DeMar DeRozan's dunk in slow motion (and regular motion for that matter) but his slams always seemed to be lacking something to me. This is my favorite dunk of his but still, in regular motion, he nails it, but the flavor seems moderate. I really like it, but I can't see myself labeling it as one of the top four dunk contest dunks of all time.[/QUOTE]This is just one of my favorite dunks of all time. He got robbed by Kia and gimmicks. Blake's misses were better than his makes and Demar just put on a show.
[QUOTE]I like all 10 of the dunks you picked. But if I were to be a stickler, as you can tell so far, I have issue with some of them. Darvin Ham is another example. It wasn't super clean and I get the feeling even Ham would admit he didn't perform that dunk exactly as he wanted to.[/QUOTE]He had some good makes and that third one was nice. It's an underrated dunk.
[QUOTE]Amar'e Stoudemire's dunk was fun and I was entertained, but it is more or less a dunk he could perform in his sleep. I may have even liked his All-Star Game version better: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp164npRuxE[/url][/QUOTE]This was a fun dunk for me. I wanted to include Dominique, but all he ever did was the same windmill dunk every single time.
[quote]It feels ridiculous to talk down any of those slams because again, I'm a fan of each of them, but if we're talking Top Ten of all-time, those are some of my issues I'd have with those picks.[/QUOTE]That's fine. I want the disagreement because that gets conversation going. Thanks for your input.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=Rake2204]This is not going to go over well...
[url]http://nba.si.com/2013/02/14/michael-jordan-nba-slam-dunk-contest-best-vince-carter-dwight-howard/#[/url]
10. J.R. Rider's Between-the-Legs
9. Dwight Howard's Backboard Tap Pass
8. Dee Brown's No Look
7. Jason Richardson's Bounce Between-the-legs Reverse
6. Michael Jordan Sideways Windmill
5. Vince Carter's cuff clockwise 360 windmill
4. Gerald Green's Cupcake
[b]3. Dwight Howard's Superman[/b]
2. Vince Carter's Elbow
1. Michael Jordan's Free Throw
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Rake2204]
[I][b]3. Dwight Howard's Superman[/b][/I]
[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://www.reactionface.info/sites/default/files/images/1310497097772.gif[/IMG]
It's not that surprising they'd pick MJ over Carter (I'd disagree, but whatever). But picking Dwight's "olol I have a cape" dunk over the legendary 360 windmill? No. No. That's not right
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
My #1 dunk is J-Rich's either reverse tweener or off-the-board tweener.
Also, Superman Dunk is not overrated. It is entertaining and visually incredible.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
[QUOTE=kaiteng]Also, Superman Dunk is not overrated. It is entertaining and visually incredible.[/QUOTE]
I really like the visual of him not dunking the ball.
-
Re: SI's Top 10 Dunk Contest Dunks
Nique is numero uno. Dude had finesse and power like no other.