[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Iman Shumpert, Paul George, Chase Budinger and Derrick Williams, via Mark Stein over twitter:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/219032/Shumpert_George_Bundinger_Derrick_Williams_In_Dunk_Contest

No Blake Griffin, nobody from last year. Up until the finals, last year was a pretty rad dunk contest.

Any predictions for the 2012 version? Other than it will suck?

[McDunkin]

 Chase…break the Birdmans curse

Come on mikey no big names doesnt mean it will suck, I dont know why people always think that.

Hell youtube is filled with nasty dunk contest filled with players we have never heard of

[omphalosParticipant]

I’m thinking Shumpert has this one on lock, he was absolutely destroying the dunks he uploaded during the lockout on a semi-regular basis.

George is too lanky to impress with his trick dunks IMO, and Budinger I’m not too impressed with either.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

It. Will. Suck. I will be surprised if it doesn’t. These guys are awesome athletes and yes, not all of the best dunkers are the best players. But, lets take a road down NBA Dunk Contest history, shall we? Best contests have featured:

Dominique Wilkins (no one here fits that description)

Spud Webb (Thank the lord we are done with Nate Robinson. Love the dude, one of the best athletes I have ever seen, but he was killing the dunk contest. The bad killing)

Michael Jordan (If someone compares Iman Shumpert to MJ, well, go away)

Vince Carter (Just, nothing will come close. That contest was incredible)

Dwight Howard (The first one he won, with the "Superman" dunk. That was dope)

Last years was pretty damn decent, though the best dunks were pretty much all JaVale McGee. But, you tell me if you have really felt satisfied after watching a full contest in the NBA since probably Vince Carter. They have some nice athletes, Budinger was sick at the McDonald’s All-American dunk contest, but I feel little excitement with any of these guys. I would think Paul George might be the one I would be most interested in seeing. Still, there is so little history to support being anything less than disappointed with a field like this. At the very least, if they leave out cars and choirs, I will be happy.

Here was Budinger at McDonald’s All-American in 2006. The guy has hops, but he never seems to use it in a game. I just really do not think we will have that many dunks that blow us away this year. Plus, the Finals never seem to be exciting anymore.

 

 

[surveParticipant]

 yeah, I dont think it will necessarily suck because it doesnt have big names.  I remember when NOBODY knew who Jerome Kersey was and he killed it in 87.  Terrence Stansbury was pretty damn good too.

 

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 Iman Shumpert should have this one in the bag

[Anton123Participant]

 I disagree 100%!

I am extatic with those contestants, finally a normal dunk contest!

No midgets that take 50 attempts to make a dunk, no 7-footers, no ultra-overhyped young stars that would win it no matter what they did

Here we have 4 straight up athletic beasts all capable of doing terrific dunks. We have seen Iman do the alley-oop 360 windmill dunk, Paul George is an athletic freak and we have seen Derrick Williams do crazy dunks during the summer 

This will be amazing! Here’s the dunk

[surveParticipant]

 excellent points Anton

[surveParticipant]

 man, those shumpert dunks are crazy, wonder if he will use extra backboards and props like that during the contest.

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

I see Derrick Williams taking the trophy, especially if Ricky Rubio gets involved and dishes him a pretty dime in the contest. Paul George could easily win, as well. I just pray they remove all those silly props from last season. This real life, not 2K.

[Bob BallParticipant]

 chase used hishops vs Megee from the wizards this year nd it was dope i cant post the link but im surecsomeone else can

[Bob BallParticipant]

Ignore my last post that was chandlier parsons wrong rocket

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

 this contest should be interesting : buddinger could surprise lots of people…

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

 did the nba announce who are the players for the skills contest ?…. rubio, lin ?

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 I LOVE IT… i told yall Paul and D will was gonna get in. But i got Iman winning it hes a beast.. they all have hops and ability to win tho. this gonna be nice. Chase the man too, but Chandler prolly laughing at him in the locker room considering all the dunks he has had this year

[akhan786Participant]

I’m sure Kyrie will be selected as well for the skills contest too ^^^

[Future_Scout]

 i love derrick williams as dunker. lebron-esque!

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

It is not just due to the lack of star power. It is due to the fact that you want something you have not seen before, or a different style. Maybe an innovation. Iman Shumpert is Vince Carter Lite. LITE! Like, "no calories, but it is still a mans drink somehow" lite. He is an excellent athlete and I am sure he will have at least one dunk that will have people buzzing. But, I am looking for a performance, people!

Tell me you the last dunk contest you have watched where the ending has left you satisfied? Where you said to yourself, "These guys threw down and it had me on the edge of my seat seeing who won or what was coming next."? I miss the hell out of that. Last year had guys who did some things I had never seen, particularly JaVale McGee. I am not incredibly high on McGee as a player, but dude was robbed.

This year, who do we care about? Yes, Shumpert’s 360 windmill was nice, but what is he going to do to top that? When he won the JBC in 2008, any of his dunks blow you away? Is he going to pull up and than do something that made your jaw drop like Vince Carter? I truly think not. Suck may be a harsh word, there are certainly solid athletes here. But, I have a feeling that the satisfaction level after this contest will be low. We have had a bunch of nice athletes in a dunk contest before and very little to talk about on Sunday after the contest. This seems like the precursor to that scenario.

[McDunkin]

I mean James White himself never dunked on a single person in game from what I remember…most of his dunks were from fast breaks alone…but at the same time every dunk he does in contests are from behind the free throw line. Some people might be too "soft" or for whatever reason dont use their athleticism to its full extent come game time, but that doesnt mean they cant be just as imaginative with it as a Blake Griffin or any other big name player that dunks on people on a nightly basis.

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I’m Disappointed JaVale McGee didnt get in it again..Alot of people will agree that he had some Amazing Underrated dunks that not many folks had seen or thought of doing…Plus McGee had people excited to see what he would do..Becuz of the Outrageous Things he do during games..

Most of the guys i see in it this year..Will come up with the same dunks that guys from David Thompson to Nate Robinson have already done..

The NBA needs to find a way to get Lin in the contest…Otherwise its going to be another Snoozefest!!!!

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

That dudes ups were (probably still are) bananas. But, here is the thing with James White in marquee contests. He dies out. He lost the McDonald’s All-American to David Lee, than the college one, he pretty much choked. The distance he takes off from is unbelievable, but while individual dunks do get remembered (The Statue of Liberty, Superman, etc.), you want a full body of work. James White never seems to give that. I am not sure these guys are going to either.

JaVale McGee kind of fell off and Blake Griffin’s were over theatrical and corny near the end, but they made things interesting. The most boring dunk contests have been the ones which were won by Desmond Mason and Jason Richardson. It looks like pretty much every contestant this year is in that mold. Gerald Green was an awesome athlete, was his contest win really that cool?

 

Now, I will point to this. To many, none of these dunks were that spectacular. But, at the time, watching how freaking high he jumped and the power he possessed, these were sick. Do not see a single person in the contest with this ability. They may prove me wrong, but I hope expectations are not too high.

If the contest is awesome, I will change my name to "mikeyvthebased" for one week. If it sucks, than your name must be changed to "McSuckage" for the same. We will know which one of us is right when the time comes. But, I will say, prepare to McSuck, sir. Who am I kidding, it is so freaking objective. Still, I have a feeling this is not going to be a great dunk contest. I do not want to burst bubbles, but the dunk contest usually leaves me let down and I do not see anyone in here who is going to boost my spirits. I am glad Blake Griffin is not in it, but maybe if I got a Jeremy Evans or someone who I really thought could show me something, I would be more enthusiastic.

[McDunkin]

Why would I have to change my name to McSuckage when one of you guys would have called me it anyway sooner or later

 

And you bring up Gerald Green?

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Blake made the right decision not to return..He had nothing to gain,by doing it again..I think it shows he’s interested in becoming a more complete player…

I thought it would be fun,to see Vince Carter trying to show he still has it,by entering the contest..If he had won it,it wouldve made him relevant again….lmao

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I remember the Gerald Green vs. James White Russia contest. See those misses at the end? That was an awesome ending? Those guys have springs that not a single person in this years NBA contest thus far possess. Yes, Shumpert’s vert tested through the roof at the combine, but I am not blown away by his dunks. At least none of the contest stuff I have seen has really been on a "OH MY GOD JAMES WHITE IS GOING FROM THE FT LINE" level. You may disagree, but do you see any of these 2012 NBA contest dunkers being on this level?

Also, the name change would not be to say that you suck. You do not suck. You are awesome. But, it would just symbolize the bitter, agonizing defeat of being wrong about trying to get my hopes up for the dunk contest. Capice, McSlapMyElbowYouDoItLikeThis?

[Jlv2012]

a landslide. 

[McDunkin]

 Fine but if I win i want you to suffer…so not only do you have to make that name change, but no replys longer than two sentences and no run ons

[Anton123Participant]

mikeyvthedon

Judging by what you say, you enjoy people that do stuff that is on insane athletic level and showmanship/prop dunks. You say the J-Rich contests were boring? I mean J-Rich was doing mind-boggling stuff, he might’ve been the best SDC dunker of all-time.

I think it’s not about how high a guy jumps, but about actually what he does, I mean if you can jump high it’s cool, but I want dunks that take skill, I want 360s, I want tricky lobs, I want reverse eastbays. Basically DeRozan was in my opintion the perfect SDC contestant

Basically our opinions on a good SDC are exactly opposite, so I hope you don’t like it lol

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

I think he’s in the wrong event 

[cabbycabParticipant]

What?  Sounds like a good lineup to me!

I believe Iman and Williams will bring it with Iman holding the trophy.

I get the feeling that Paul and Chase will be too passive.  Chase is good for the novelty and Paul will do similar dunks that Rudy Gay did ( similar build and style ).

 

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 I’m disapointed McGee isn’t in it again.  The only thing I like about the contestants is that they are all evenly matched I don’t really see anyone of them as favorite.  But the players who has the most body control out of all of them to do some amazing stuff is Iman Shumpert.  He’s going to win off an of Jeremy Lin alley oop book it now.

This dunk contest isn’t going to be epic tho nobody in it has that wow factor.  I would have loved to see somebody like Christian Eyenga in it who would destroy this field of contestants in a dunk contest I also hate the field being only 4 players anymore that’s so wack.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

LMAO @ McDunkin, Challenging MikeyV to only respond with a 2 sentence reply!!!

[ultrablue123Participant]

Format is different this year apparently. 1 round, 3 dunks, no judges.  Fans vote on who the best is.  Good thing Blake isn’t in it, because he would win by default with the fans voting.

[CodySLCParticipant]

 I was really looking forward to seeing what Jeremy Evans could do…

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

But, most of the contests he won or competed in, were. Plus, here is the final reason I say "Suckage, thy name is 2012 Dunk Contest":

The format. One Round, Three Dunks, No Finals, No Judges, All Internet, Unlimited Suck Potential

This is truly not the fault of the contestants, but it sure will not make this contest suck any less. Jason Richardson did some cool things we had not seen, but I think that these guys will not. Maybe them not having to save dunks for the final will make it a little more hard core, but I hate not having judges and the internet voting. That $hit has been a let down every time. Internet voting means that even if the contest was solid, the chances are the winner could totally suck. So, I am officially thinking this will be the 2012 Suck Contest. Hope I am proven wrong, but this seems to be favoring the Gods of suck.

@The Future McSuckage: You have your concession, though you lose out so much (lol). I want mine. You will have to actually talk about basketball (not just post articles talking about it) and make a worthwhile Derrick Favors joke.

[StF616Participant]

 I don’t like the format, 3 dunks only, and one round with the fans voting
it seems… ehhh.. But its all good whatever.. i really don’t like the fan voting
but then again nobodody’s gonna be blaming the judges if somebody doesn’t win so i guess thats good.
I like Shumpert in it to win, and of Course happy that Budinger is represnting the H.

@MikeyV i disgaree with budinger not using his athleticism on games i live in houston and therefore watch all of their games and budinger is one of the most high-flying forwards there are Heres a few examples:

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Give me Budinger. 

People forget exactly how athletic he is because nobody watches Rockets games and we’re never on national television anymore.

[M-DYMESParticipant]

No props.  No playing dress-up.  No hype man.  No passes from teammates where the pass is more impressive than the dunk. No multiple baskets.  Lets make this DUNK contest all about the actual DUNK.  I miss the real NBA dunk contest. 

[I May Be WrongParticipant]

Hey NBA! You’ve done good this time. 

Honestly, this isn’t bad. I’m hoping for no gimmicks and just some unique stuff. I thought the NBA was going to add 3 centers which (although impressive) kinda makes me miss the little guys in it. Now, George, Williams, and Chase are not little guys but theres just something special seeing like a 6’8" doing a dunk (ala a Dominique) 

Here’s what I REALLY am curious about…. WHICH one of these guys will bring that hype! Whose gunna get the crowd involved and hyped and bring an extra swag. I mean, part of what makes this fun is how players react and show out. I like seeing some personality, not a bunch of "Tim Perry"s 

 

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 Wow I didn’t know there were no judges and and only one round….!!!!WTF!?!?!?!?!?

That is just insane.  But it makes it easier to pick the winner.  Since it’s fan voted I can almost guarantee either Shumpert of Budinger will win.  Shumpert has the whole New York fanbase and probably China if he brings Lin out to vote for him.  And Budinger is white and everybody loves seeing white people throw down dunks because of dumb stereotypes.  White players in the dunk contest are like short people in the dunk contest they always get the sentinmental vote.  And I’m white so plz don’t think I’m crying conspiracy I’m just telling you the truth.

[HaleParticipant]

 I’m not excited for this at all. 

[Author]

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