NBA Slam Dunk Contest 2015: Forecasting Final Order for This Year's Contestants
After last year's failed team experiment, the NBA is going back to basics for the Slam Dunk Contest. With the structure in place for 2015, a true champion should emerge.
Some fans might bemoan the lack of established stars in the dunk contest this year. Indeed, the league opted for more younger players to round out the field.
All four have strong credentials even if they lack a ton of star power, and you could easily make cogent arguments for any of the quartet to win.
Below is an early prediction for their final order.
1. Victor Oladipo
The kind of player best suited for a dunk contest is either a guard or forward ranging in height from about 6'4" to 6'8". Victor Oladipo is right on the fringes of that standard. He should be listed among the favorites.
Oladipo signaled his excitement for the competition when he was confirmed as a contestant:
The 22-year-old isn't a freak athlete, which could be a hindrance, but he has enough hops to land a wide range of slams. The power with which he throws the ball home might also increase the value of his dunks.
The only potential problem for Oladipo is that he could be exposed as more of an in-game dunker. In an isolated situation, maybe he doesn't look as impressive. Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook are two of the best examples of great in-game dunkers whose skills probably wouldn't translate well to the dunk contest itself.
Oladipo should be able to get it done, though. He's a good dunker on his own, and he might also benefit a bit from being an underdog.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Being 6'11" is generally a hindrance in the dunk contest. In order to win, a player has to do something really special.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a really special player, at least in terms of athleticism.
The Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward has a wingspan that reaches well over seven feet and a vertical leap that will allow him to pull off almost any dunk. He landed a nasty windmill jam while seemingly falling away from the basket in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers last week.
The Greek Freak has also good name recognition, which might subconsciously impact the voting panel.
Antetokounmpo is probably the kind of contestant who will either be really awesome and bring the house down, or he'll be a massive flop. There won't be an in-between.
3. Zach LaVine
Maybe it's a little unfair, but Zach LaVine has the feel of James "Flight" White this year. Expectations for White were through the roof in 2013. He was well-established as a great dunker, and everybody got hyped after watching his performance in a Turkish dunk contest from a few years ago.
Then White finished dead last in the 2013 edition. His first dunk was kinda good but offered more flash than substance.
LaVine's over a decade younger than White was and a much better player, so the comparison might not be completely apt. The Minnesota Timberwolves point guard seemingly has limitless hops and an effortless nature with which he throws it down.
That said, the 19-year-old is carrying the massive weight of expectations as he enters the 2015 dunk contest. Some are already anointing him the champion:
Living up to those standards might be tough to do, especially for a rookie. Don't be surprised if LaVine is a bit of a disappointment in New York.
4. Mason Plumlee
You can understand why the NBA higher-ups would want a guy like Mason Plumlee in the dunk contest. It's always nice to have that designated big man to offset some of the more athletic guards and forwards.
The only problem is that Plumlee doesn't throw the ball home with a ton of ferocity, like DeAndre Jordan, nor does he look capable of putting a sticker near the top of the backboard, like Dwight Howard did in 2007.
The NBA produced a hype tape for Plumlee after revealing him to be a contestant this year. There's some good stuff there, but nothing that makes you jump out of your seat.
However, going back to Plumlee's days at Duke, he showed off some nice hops and managed to pull off a three-ball dunk. Stuff like that can win a dunk contest.
The Brooklyn Nets star might be the sleeper in this year's crop of dunkers. His expectations are so low that almost anything he does will be a pleasant surprise. Similar to Antetokounmpo, Plumlee will either be really good or really bad.
