2016 Slam Dunk Contest

[Andrew]

Thread open, and poll up. Make your predictions, and discuss the contest as it unfolds!

I have to go with Zach LaVine. I know a lot of people are down on this year's dunk contest, but star power isn't always required for an exciting contest; just creativity. Hopefully, it turns out to be better than expected. I also like that they're sticking with the more traditional format:

Verizon Slam Dunk is a two-round event in which the four participants can perform any dunk they choose without time limits. The players have a maximum of three attempts to complete each dunk in both the first round and the final round. Five judges score every dunk on a scale of 6 to 10, resulting in a high score of 50 and a low score of 30. All four competitors get two dunks in the first round. The two dunkers with the highest combined score for their two dunks advance to the head-to-head final round. The player with the highest combined score for his two dunks in the final round is crowned the champion.

[airBerlin]

Will Barton

[benji]

Five judges score every dunk on a scale of 6 to 10, resulting in a high score of 50 and a low score of 30.

Why not just make it 1 to 5 then?

[iamSamke]

Klay: 0 votes -> won 3PT contest
Towns: 0 votes -> won Skills Challenge

Drummond 0 votes -> (?)

[[Q]]

^ LOL that would be hilarious if Drummond won. KAT was the longest shot betting-wise to win

I'm going with LaVine with the hope that he pulls some team flight brothers shit out for the contest

[Andrew]

The way All-Star Saturday Night is shaping up, Drummond or Gordon winning somehow feels more likely.

[Andrew]

Pretty solid start to the dunk contest, good group of judges too. LaVine looking great after his first dunk.

[Moz]

Having a J-Rich-Desmond Mason duel vibe on this one... Damn Aaron Gordon is a beast!

[[Q]]

Holy shit they should make it tie and make em do tiebreaker dunks

[stereoxide]

Gordon putting the pressure on LaVine. This will be a good dunk off.

[Andrew]

This has actually turned out to be one of the best dunk contests in history. Some amazing dunks, a dunk-off in the finals...I mean, come on.

[Moz]

Dominique is patting Aaron's back after that score...

[stereoxide]

Upset that Gordon didn't win but what can you do? LaVine just has the mileage over him.

[Kevin]

Well played, LaVine.

The dunk contest is finally back. Even Thamuel L. Jackthon agreeth.

[[Q]]

Honestly, It's not really a travesty because they were both so good. They were neck and neck so the trophy could've gone either way. I agree with Kenny saying that Lavine won the contest but Gordon had the more impressive dunks. He had the better 50 dunks.

[Andrew]

47 was definitely too low for that last dunk by Gordon, but LaVine earned his scores all the same. They put on a show...1988, 2000, this is right up there, giving them a run for their money as one of the best dunk contests of all-time. So much creativity, no corny gimmicks, multiple tie-breakers. It more than lived up to the hype, and then some.

[[Q]]

Best dunk? easily the spinning hoverboard dunk. the showmanship, with the hand behind the head and he got it on the first try.
All of the others I've seen done by jordan kilgannon or team flight bros or whatever, but i've never seen that before.

[JaoSming]

I believed

[Andrew]

Best dunk? easily the spinning hoverboard dunk. the showmanship, with the hand behind the head and he got it on the first try.
All of the others I've seen done by jordan kilgannon or team flight bros or whatever, but i've never seen that before.

Definitely. The timing, the style, the flair, the grace, the power...well-earned 50 on that one.

I think the problem with the 47 dunk is that it looked easier and less complicated than it really was. At first, I thought it was just a double-pump reverse - nice of course, but we've seen it before - but then you see it again in slow motion, and that's when you appreciate what he actually did there.

The comparison to Nique's two-handed windmill is apt; not just because the score was too low, but because it's a product of the dunk not seeming as spectacular as it really is. It's funny because Nique did that same dunk in the final round of the 1986 contest against Spud Webb, and he got the same score for it then: 45. That's something that not a lot of people bring up, that that dunk let him down before. Right or wrong, there was an established standard for it. Nique being robbed and Jordan benefiting from hometown judging makes for a better story, because it can be told with sneering outrage.

[Moz]

Best dunk? easily the spinning hoverboard dunk. the showmanship, with the hand behind the head and he got it on the first try.
All of the others I've seen done by jordan kilgannon or team flight bros or whatever, but i've never seen that before.

C'mon man... It's gotta to be this one...

phpBB [video]

A bigman jumping over a standing mascot (who I reckon is at least 6'5) while doing that? C'mon now...

[Andrew]

Pure NBA Jam.

[Moz]

Indeed... The guy is a Blake Griffin-Darvin Ham hybrid...

[NovU]

Aaron Gordie!!!!! I am impressed. I couldn't watch any of it but looking at the highlights, Aaron's highlights definitely looked the best and should be right up there as one of the best. I don't think Lavine should have won.

[Andrew]

LaVine did set the tone early, though.

phpBB [video]

[[Q]]

Best dunk? easily the spinning hoverboard dunk. the showmanship, with the hand behind the head and he got it on the first try.
All of the others I've seen done by jordan kilgannon or team flight bros or whatever, but i've never seen that before.

C'mon man... It's gotta to be this one...

phpBB [video]

A bigman jumping over a standing mascot (who I reckon is at least 6'5) while doing that? C'mon now...

I'd say this is a close 2nd. Very impressive to completely sit out in mid-air while doing over a mascot, but the ball is stationary.