What is it? Four contestants attempt to execute the best dunks they can dream up while a panel of judges, in this case made up of some of the top dunkers in NBA history, offer up marks. This year's special twist allows fans to text or click their vote online, making up 50 percent of the final vote, with the panel of judges taking the other 50.
Look...up in the sky...it's a bird...no, it's a plane...no, it's a victory for Superman, er, Dwight Howard. (AP)
What it is: It continues to be a dying showcase, though you can't fault the NBA for trying to come up with innovative ways to keep the event interesting. Look, Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins aren't walking through that door. Neither is LeBron James or Kobe Bryant. Take Rudy Gay and Dwight Howard and appreciate it.
The Big Underdog turned favorite: Last year, I asked Dwight Howard about popular opinion that he was too big to win this contest, but he was adamant that his 6-foot-11 frame wouldn't be a detriment. He was wrong. The judges barely noticed his inventive sticker dunk. This year, I asked him about being the favorite; his massive popularity will be a major advantage, with fans making up 50 percent of the vote. He said he just hoped his dunking ability would speak for himself. It'll speak, all right. He wouldn't divulge the tricks he has up his sleeve, but considering he was petitioning the league to elevate the height of the rim, don't expect him to be shy.
Still not easy being Green: Gerald Green won last year's crown by jumping over a table, giving Celtics fans something to cheer about in their season of misery. His reward? Getting traded to Minnesota in the Kevin Garnett deal and winding up on the other conference's worst team. Can he give Timberwolves fans reason to cheer? Don't bet against it, though he has been the quietest of this year's four participants, perhaps letting his performance in last year's event speak for itself. It could also be because he has barely played this season.
Suggestion box: Rudy Gay opened it up to fans to submit suggestions and has received clips of unbelievable dunks executed by phenomenal athletes of all sizes, many of them doing cartwheels and ridiculous things he wants no part of. I'd suggest Gay unleash a massive 360 that's put away so hard, the ball bounces back up while he hangs on the rim for him to shove down again. That would be nasty. Gay isn't shy. He's gotten into it with Howard in a blogging war and was all for raising the rim to 12 feet if it meant going toe-to-toe with the big man.
Bad Moon Rising: Jamario Moon is in the NBA because of his freakish athleticism. Without that, undrafted players who toil in obscure leagues don't get the chances Moon got. That's why you have to consider him a threat here. He came out of nowhere once. Who's to say it won't happen again? Although he's bragged about how far from the rim he can take off and still dunk, he's dropped very few hints about what he's got in store, not even letting most of his teammates into the loop. Reportedly, he has a dunk that will incorporate teammate Jason Kapono, but Kapono isn't talking. Beware.
I wish this guy could crash the party: This Rising Stars dunking challenge is incomplete without Utah's Ronnie Brewer, who should be in the running for Most Improved Player honors, even though he'd take a back seat to Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu and Portland's Travis Outlaw. In this dunk contest, I'm not sure Brewer would take a back seat to anyone. Not a lot of people get to watch him play way out in Salt Lake City, but if you ever catch him finishing on a break, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Who wins? Howard. Not only are you guys suckers for a big name, but Howard is the type of guy who bounces back quickly and won't take no for an answer. Stan Van Gundy called him out on Monday for not being focused on defense and rebounding, so Howard responded with 23 points and a season-high 24 rebounds to prove he got the message. He'd have to fall on his face to not become the tallest person ever to win this thing. That said, Moon scares me.
How'd I do with last year's pick? Took Gerald Green and guaranteed it. Ding, ding, ding!
Viewer's recommendation: This competition should be the best in a few years, plus you get to influence it by voting. Go get yourself some Hurricane mix, sip on one and enjoy the show.
