A Predictable Dunk Contest for All-Star Weekend 2009

Dwight Howard did steal the show last year with his Superman get up and his series of athletic dunks.  There is no argument that he did not even really get the dunk down, but that is not what should upset NBA fans.

Nate Robinson also was chosen to be in the 2009 Sprite slam dunk contest.  Robinson was the winner of the 2006 contest by showing off his hops and dunking over Spud Webb.  There is also no argument as to why he won.  He simply deserved it.

However, before the 2009 contest began there was something in the air that was saying Howard and Robinson would be in the final.  Why not?  These are both fun loving guys with great personalities who love to use props.  But let us be real.  This is not Hollywood.  The best dunks should win and they did not.

We all know Dwight Howard can jump out of the gym.  It was no surprise he dunked on a twelve foot goal.  Every time he dunks in a game he is that high already anyways.

Robinson also showed us things we knew he could do.  The dunk over Howard was impressive, but he should not even have been in that round because he jumped off of his teammate Wilson Chandler for the dunk to get him there.  This type of dunk should not even have been allowed.  It defeats the purpose of why he is there.  He is already athletic enough to dunk it why would he need to jump off another player to prove it?

Rudy Fernandez and J.R. Smith had impressive dunks.  Smith came out with a windmill after two bounces, in which the second bounce was very low to the ground and he still had the power to windmill it.

Fernandez came out with a nonchalant, but great behind the back pass off the backboard for the dunk.  He also made his second dunk which was from behind the backboard.  Although it did take him ten times to complete the dunk.  Let us flashback to the 2006 contest when it took Nate Robinson 13 times to complete his dunk.

Howard and Robinson were locks for the final round in the contest.  It was very clear in the judging of the dunks and the commentating by Reggie Miller and Kenny "The Jet" Smith that they wanted these two guys in it in the end even if they didn't deserve it.