ASW 2010 Dunk Contest Thread

[Fresh8]

I think people want to see the top 16 teams, irrespective of conference in...

I wonder if they could have divisional playoffs? Anyone think that would work?

[Patr1ck]

Lots of things since the West and East seeds are considered as if they are separate leagues. If one conference is just horrible, bad teams get into the playoffs, and if the other conference is a power house, lots of good teams don't make it to the playoffs. Overall seeding in general, plus the "different" way the games are officiated.

[Andrew]

Neither Kobe nor Carter care much for Shaq's proposal.

[benji]

aside from the amount of time between the games- what's wrong with the playoffs again?

Sorry AG, I forgot to respond to this thread when it got pushed down. Pdub got most of it though.

Lots of things since the West and East seeds are considered as if they are separate leagues. If one conference is just horrible, bad teams get into the playoffs, and if the other conference is a power house, lots of good teams don't make it to the playoffs. Overall seeding in general, plus the "different" way the games are officiated.

The most important thing for some is this. It's not even entirely about the bad teams making it. It's that it makes it that much easier for the teams in the bad conference to get through unhindered. If you're playing 35-40 win teams in the first two rounds, and you're a 55-60 win team, you're coasting. Meanwhile, the other conference is facing 50+ wins. Every. Single. Round.

This created an imbalance in which teams in the East were not facing a real series until the Conference Finals, while the most of the West was slogging through major series in every round. There are people (with fancy math degrees from dem fancy universities) who believe this was the reason for the Pistons and Heat's "easy" titles.

I don't entirely buy into that, I think it plays a factor, but I think injuries can matter more. (Although not playing tough opponents can save you on injuries since you can rest your stars.)

Ultimately, I do think a sixteen team conference-free field would improve things. For one, it'd give reason to not just win your division and conference, but to out pace others. You'd lose incentive to not play all the way through the season if it means 66 wins and #1 versus 62 and the #3 seed. And as you mention, the time between games basically eliminates this issue anymore. If we're going to take an entire month to play a series (and have things like NO/MEM vs. POR anyway), and with modern travel and luxuries, there's no reason we need to pretend you can't do cross-country series from round one.

People bring up "rivalries" but those are either dead or so unlikely it's irrelevant. Boston and LA's rivalry came and was reignited because they were the two best teams, not because they were in two separate conferences.

[air gordon]

no worries...

didn't think about the east/west thing since i just wanted to see the bulls make the playoffs haha

i think it was 2yrs ago. Chris Paul vs Tony Parker in the playoffs. what an awesome treat that was. Spurs won in 7 but TP was finished after that series

is there any professional sports that incorporates a conference free playoff seeding? off the top of my head i think no. if this was to ever happen- then i say the league would have to rid itself of the unbalanced schedule. it wouldn't come out perfect i'm sure but at the least teams could rotate which division they will play more

be nice to the some of those West Coast teams come to town more often

[benji]

IIRC, the schedule imbalance results in only a one or two game swing for the other conference. You could still make the schedule based on distance, so Portland would play Miami the least or something.

Do note that both the Super Bowl and World Series are technically the meeting of two separate leagues, not two separate conferences. The Stanley Cup also has some history in being the meeting of different leagues. NBA has never had that history, the conferences and divisions were setup just to cut down on travel back when it wasn't near instantaneous.

Theoretically in both the NFL and MLB you could have a team from Seattle and a team from Tampa Bay play for the League Championship to go to the Super Bowl/World Series. (And in both you could have teams from the same city play in the Super Bowl/World Series.)

[Skills]

As an avid Toronto Raptors, I'll be rooting for DeRozan come All-Star Weekend. I've been waiting for his entry into the dunk contest since he was drafted. He's been a rim-rocking monster since the sixth grade and I don't think he'll have a problem winning the Dunk-In. According to his Twitter, he has something special for the Raptor fans. Between-the-legs twice in a VC throwback perhaps? One can only dream.

[Lenne]

i think Shannon is the most athletic guy in the contest this year, man he gets up soooo high :p
Cheryl D. Miller gave Shannon Brown the idea of dunking over the president :p Dunk On Barack
thaha sick idea but i'd like it :p
join my facebook group: YES YOU CAN Shannon! Dunk On BARACK!
Shannon for Dunk champ 2010

[Abctest123]

Got my Derozan jersey on. Let's go DD.

ANyways, if he doesn't win, as long as it isn't Nate he wins it I'm OK.

[Oznogrd]

I cant believe im fucking saying this...
I'm pulling for a Laker
...
Shit

Shannon Brown is my #1, #2 wallace, then derozan, then nate. Nate should just stop being in it.

[Abctest123]

Wow. G Wall with a PLAIN dunk. People pull that off on breakaways.

[Oznogrd]

Are the other guys (as in not Nate) even gonna fucking try? i know its the 1st round and you wann save it but damn...

[JaoSming]

first dunks were just bad....

[benji]

Wallace and Brown are probably out.

Robinson wins unless the Raptor Truthers GOTV.

Are the other guys (as in not Nate) even gonna fucking try? i know its the 1st round and you wann save it but damn...

Actually, it's stupid to save any dunks, since the final round isn't even scored, it's just the fan vote. You have to get in the second round to win.

[Abctest123]

Nate's dunk was nice but the multiple attempts counted against him. DD had a good dunk. Shannon Brown should have stuck with the 360 he originally attempted. Freaking Gerald Wallace with a double pump dunk...man you can pull that off in games with ease.

Wow, this isn't a game situation, Shannon Brown. Regular alleyoop.

[Abctest123]

I am SO disappointed with Gerald Wallace. AND Shannon Brown.

[Christian.]

Gerald Wallace
this year's dunk contest is boring.

[Oznogrd]

where the fuck is the originality? Props were being overused but it doesnt mean to get rid of them completely. This finals better be hot.

[JaoSming]

shame on GW and Shannon.....turrible

[Panco]

Sucks so far. I expected much more from Shannon, having in mind all the fuss about him. He should have stuck with that 360 dunk.
Wallace was just embarrassing. Why the hell did he even accept to compete here, if he had no interest? 15k?

[Abctest123]

Nate Robinson didn't have the hops quite to get the VC dunk.

[Christian.]

What's with the cowboys' cheering squad? Oh! They just showed their nice @s$ to wake up the crowd.

Edit: the perv in me just woke up.

[JaoSming]

I've lost faith, 2 good dunks all contest

[Oznogrd]

worst dunk contest i've ever seen. epic fail on all accounts. Nate wins for being short

[benji]

Are the Raptor Truthers GOTV? Only thing that matters.