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    Ball Don't Lie

    Paul George (and Jeremy Lin, essentially) will highlight this year’s Dunk Contest

    By Kelly Dwyer | Ball Don't Lie – Thu, Feb 16, 2012 10:45 AM EST

    Paul George, shootin' a dunk (Getty Images)

    Two weeks ago, we more than excused 2011 Slam Dunk Contest winner Blake Griffin from appearing in this year's event. There isn't a whole lot more he can do, dunk-wise, he's starting in the actual All-Star game the day after the Dunk comp, and he's also expected to be the finishing force behind a Clippers team with legitimate Finals aspirations. Why not boast a field full of less-heralded youngsters, instead?

    Well, we got our field. And our wish. And we were probably wrong. According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Dunk Contest lineup will include Indiana's Paul George (yes), Minnesota's Derrick Williams (gee, I wonder if Ricky Rubio will get to aid him in any way?), Houston's Chase Budinger (a great athlete and huge leaper, but …) and New York's Iman Shumpert.

    Iman Shumpert. That old high-flyer.

    The guy who, as Posting and Toasting pointed out, shoots a better percentage on his free throws than he does his dunks. Clearly, the only reason Shumpert is involved in this competition is to provide Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin with a chance to toss him a lob or two (or, considering that he's a Knick in the dunk contest, 18) off the glass for Shumpert to eventually dunk. And why Denver's Kenneth Faried isn't included clearly indicates that the NBA really, really wanted a lottery pick, a guy who looks different from everyone else, and a reason to bring Jeremy Lin along. If transparency is your plan, NBA, then you are working at peak efficiency.

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    29 comments

    • Don't Blame Del Harri ...
      Don't Blame Del Harri ...  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 months ago
      Shawn Kemp.
    • Brett
      Brett  •  St Louis, Missouri  •  2 months ago
      I dont think ive ever seen Budinger dunk
    • D L
      D L  •  Wheaton, Illinois  •  2 months ago
      Sally Struthers
    • D L
      D L  •  Wheaton, Illinois  •  2 months ago
      Candace Parker
    • D L
      D L  •  Wheaton, Illinois  •  2 months ago
      Steve Kerr
    • Mike B.
      Mike B.  •  Shallotte, North Carolina  •  2 months ago
      Vince Carter
    • Jason
      Jason  •  Seattle, Washington  •  3 months ago
      who who who and who? Can we just cancel this thing and get a free throw shooting contest between shaq, dwight howard, Ben Wallace, Deandre Jordan. Now that would be funny... first one to hit 5 baskets in a hour wins.
    • the REAL headless chicken
      the REAL headless chicken  •  3 months ago
      Spud Webb!
    • J P
      J P  •  Warren, Oregon  •  3 months ago
      Let's just watch replays from the first ten years of the Dunk Contest!!! Way more entertaining.
    • RzGz
      RzGz  •  3 months ago
      demar derozan ffs
    • JC
      JC  •  Houston, Texas  •  3 months ago
      Kenneth Faried and DeAndre Jordan would have dominated the dunk contest in terms of pure leaping ability and power. I saw them put on a dunk show during a charity game in the off-season in Houston and their athleticism is unreal.
      • William York
        William York 3 months ago
        These are the 2 most glaring omissions, no doubt.
    • ChristopherS
      ChristopherS  •  Warminster, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
      I remember when the dunk contest was interesting, relevant and worth watching. But Wilkins, Jordan and Webb have since retired. It is now none of those things.
    • Imadogg
      Imadogg  •  Reseda, California  •  3 months ago
      How does no one know anything about Shumpert's dunks? Youtube him, now
    • The Devil
      The Devil  •  3 months ago
      It's pretty obvious what the NBA is doing here with their picks. Williams and Shumpert are there in the hopes that Rubio and Lin will assist them. With Budinger there's the chance that Kyle Lowry will show up and appease all the fans who are upset over Lowry being passed over for Steve Nash in the All-Star game. Paul George is the only one that seems to be there solely because he's a great dunker.
    • Time4fun
      Time4fun  •  3 months ago
      Brian Scalabrine.
    • Lukasz K
      Lukasz K  •  Bound Brook, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      random choices. paul george seems like hes the only liable cantidate. jeremy evans would be a good choice, iman has a crazy veticle but idk if the creativity is there. eh, looks boring on paper but who knows?
    • Evan
      Evan  •  Atlanta, Georgia  •  3 months ago
      um shumpert can throw it down, so he does deserve to be in it. I understand that it helps that lin is his teammate but dont take away from his abilities.
    • tilowBoow
      tilowBoow  •  3 months ago
      Chase Budinger???
      seriously...
      why not Steve Nash or Gary Neal instead...
      Gonna watch and laugh...
      • abcforme
        abcforme 3 months ago
        Seriously Tilowboow,

        You obviously don't know his past very well if you made this comment. Check out his dunks on you tube. He was in the dunk competition at the McDonald's all american game and has had some serious dunks in the league too. He was also an all american in volleyball out of high school.
      • Gargamel Pennymellow
        Gargamel Pennymellow 3 months ago
        Ya this guy clearly has no idea what is up. Chase can get up and throw it down, he wont disappoint. I also went to high school with the guy and he was one of the best volleyball players in the country at the age of 17. The kids got hops.
      • anonymous
        anonymous 3 months ago
        he might be the best american volleyball player period
    • K NEL
      K NEL  •  Olathe, Kansas  •  3 months ago
      I have to disagree..Iman Shumpert has some serious rise. it's not just to get Lin to make a appearance. Shumpert can jump out of the gym. Derrick Williams can jump but I'm not sure if he's a dunk contest dunker..He's more of a "I'll dunk on you given the opportunity" dunker..Been waiting to see Budinger in the contest..his vertical is out of this world..extremely athletic..

      I can't believe you really said Faried should be in it...he's not even close to a dunk contest dunker...
    • Jeff C
      Jeff C  •  3 months ago
      Being a huge Arizona Wildcats fan, the field sounds great to me. Although I'd replace Paul George and Iman Shumpert with Andre Iguodala and Richard Jefferson...
     Post a comment

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