flixotide wrote:If the dunk contest or 3 pt contest is added again, I want the free-throw contest added... It is just as silly!
While dunking is fun to watch, it is ruining the NBA players.. more and more euorpeans go to the states, because all the kids over there forget their basket fundamentals because they keep working on dunks.
Dunking contest, I think not!
Can you tell me when the first dunk contest was held? Lets se DR J won one..as did MJ..they must have been there for some time..
Dunk contests have become an NBA basketball tradition, just like the all star game and three point contest. Younger players are working on dunks, which takes what? Athleticism, fitness, etc. Many people today will say that todays NBA is far more talented then it was ever before. Look at jason kidd, kevin garnet, stephon marbury, in fact probably 60-70% of nba starts today. Without their athleticism theyd be half the players they are. what would iverson be if he werent so quick? At 6"0 160 pounds, not much. In his days, MJ was amazing because he was so much more athletic then everyone else in the league, as with DR J. Now, everyone in the league is about as athletic as he is. International players contunie to strongly improve to the point where fundamentally, they would be difficult to defeat. In the end the quickness, strength, and general athleticism is one big advantage held by NBA players in international basketball. In fact, dunkin gis quite important, because an athletic player has teh ability to drive and throw one down in teh lane against big guys, and not only do they often score, but its a good way to draw a foul. To add to it, these guys are out there playing an 82 game season workign day in day out, when ur out in the open late in a game why not let them have abit of fun? It gets players hyped. If ur having an off night, sometimes all it takes is a big dunk to give u that intensity and put you into your game. What would shaq be without the dunk? There are still plenty of guys in the game with "fundamentals". Thats what separates the NBA from streetball. to be honest i dont know wat the complaint about players coming from overseas is..if you as me its a great way to create a more inteesting sport. When you are playing against players who play a different style, it puts a new angle on things and requires u to improve your "funtamentals" to take them on. Similarly, with guys so athletic, it stresses NBA defenders to improve on their man and as a team. Good defense is definately a "fundamentals" issue. if you put a few of todays guys in the league even 10 years ago, i think the guys in those days would have alot of trouble stoppign them. Dunking and thleticism puts a new angle on the game and adds another level of excitement which makes it more excitign for fans and more enjoyable for players. It;s also a way to put some personality into your game.