It's been awesome having hockey back, but I'll be honest - today I have basketball on my mind. Why? Well, we are just eight days away from one of my favourite parts about every NBA season - the Slam Dunk Competition.
Listen, I know. I know that it hasn't been good in a while. I know that the actual dunking has been replaced by stupid interviews, over-the-top gimmicks, and car commercials. But for whatever reason - maybe it's nostalgia - I'm always excited about the competition. But this year, it's so much more than the nostalgia, as the six man lineup that the NBA has announced has the potential to put on one of the best shows we've seen since Vince Carter in 2000.
The problem is, when it comes to star power, there is definitely not a Vince Carter in 2000 participating in this competition. So, I figure it would be in everyone's best interest to get to know this years competitors, because although they might not be all-stars (yet...although if Gerald Green, James White, or Jeremy Evans make an all-star game, I officially don't know anything about basketball), they can sure dunk the basketball.
So here are this years competitors, in order of who I think has the best chance to win.
Gerald Green
This picture alone tells you enough about how good Gerald Green can dunk. This is Green's tournament to lose.
Jeremy Evans
Jeremy Evans' claim to fame is being last year's winner of the dunk competition. You won't know him for anything else, because he plays just over five minutes a game for the Utah Jazz. He looked to shake off his nerves half way through the competition last year, and I think he'll come in ready to blow the roof off the place this year.
James "Flight" White
They call him "flight." He can do this:
Enough said.
Kenneth Faried
Faried only functions in one speed - and that is "all out." Not only does he throw it down with ridiculous authority, and every game he throws down at least one crazy alley-oop, but he also has awesome hair, and that's worth at least three extra points per dunk as flowing locks make every dunk look better than it actually is. They also call him the Manimal. So that's fun. Unlike the three above participants, Faried is a very good basketball player, and if you don't know him yet, you'll know him soon. His only knock is that big guys usually get the shaft in these competitions (unless you're Dwight Howard).
Terrance Ross
Terrance Ross might win this competition. He jumps so high, and every dunk he throws down is a highlight. I want him to win over anyone else. But, Ross is young and inexperienced, and that tends to play a factor in these competitions as he might come out shy or shaky, and not make it into the next round. He's also on the Raptors, and a Toronto player winning the dunk comp isn't good for business. I sure hope I'm wrong though.
Eric Bledsoe
Bledsoe's perhaps the best basketball player in this competition. He may just be a backup point guard, but he's got Chris Paul in front of him, so you can't really blame him for that one. He's super fast, super talented, can obviously jump, is a great in-game dunker - but for some reason I don't see him being a great competition dunker. But like all of these competitors, he's definitely got a shot, and considering he's only 6"1, he might get the "woah, he's not very tall and he's still pulling that off!?" vote.
