Almu, I was thinking the same thing about Francis. I was just thinking... on that dunk where he lifted his knees and brought the ball from between them, his knees were higher than most people could jump. His best dunk by far was the one where he overran the bounce and pulled it back for the power jam. Vince just showed more variety than anyone else. McGrady really impressed me, too. It was a 3-man contest all the way... not even close. ------------------ trade them all and fire the coach.
Does it annoy anyone else the way that the NBA is shamelessly promoting Carter? I think they have a right to promotion, but not until the player has *proven* himself a bit more. Afterall, Carter *isn't* the best player in the league right now... and the NBA seems to be promoting him as such. Secondly, I felt that Francis was given a low score on his first dunk to insure that he didn't beat Carter. Carter performed better than Francis: he should have won. Yet, I think that even if Stevie HAD out-performed Francis, it wouldn't have mattered. Carter's last dunk was a safety dunk... it shouldn't have recieved 48 points. Ah well...
More like : "Who feels bad for Larry Hughes for even showing up?" ------------------ trade them all and fire the coach.
Haven, I agree with that. I couldn't believe his last dunk got a 48. It wasn't a "from the FT line" dunk. He was one to 2 feet inside. It was anti-climactic after his previous dunks. Everybody was moving around hoping it was going to be great... after he did the last one, I just said "That was it?". Sure, two hands, nearly from the FT line, but blah. Yeah, I was already spoiled by the earlier dunks... ------------------ trade them all and fire the coach.
Do ya'll even realize how hard it is to dunk from 14 feet out with 2 hands. It didn't look spectacular, but no one else in the league can do that move. Anyways, let's not bring the conspiracy theories about how Francis was robbed a few points. Finishing 2nd and finishing second by a closer margin is little consolation. I was extremely surprised that Francis performed as well as he did. I was kind of anticipating that he might disappoint, but no he did not. Also, I'm a tad bit confused about how a players vertical can be accurately measured by whatever method they used. I figured that Carter would jump well over 40 inches on a few of those dunks. But he was measured at 36 inches on his first 360 dunk which unfathomable. Lastly my favorite dunk had to be Vince's first dunk. The 360-windmill was a thing of beauty.
grummett, alot of guys have dunked over mutombo. I know vince carter has. They just dont have to wag there fingers at him to show him up. ------------------ "Don't they get cable in Canada ?" Keith olbermann, after watching hakeem block terry catledge's shot 5 times.
Almu, Good point about publicity for Houston. I'm hoping Francis' National performance will give Houston some recognition. Gr8-1, I remember when Jordan dunked on Mutombo, Jordan waved his finger at him. Hilarious when I saw it. ------------------ trade them all and fire the coach.
About human ability and the 720 There is no reason why this dunk can not be made. There is a man in Houston who has done it...his name is Carlos Acosta, principle dancer for the Houston Ballet; arguably the best ballet dancer in th world. He is a taller Barishnokov with 40" leap. He is a Cuban defector, about Vince Carter's age. The 720 part is very easy for a ballet dancer. And the rim part is very easy for Carlos Acosta. All Vince needs to learn is a little fundamental spin techniques. He could easily do a 720 spin if he practiced, because every principle ballet dancer in the world can do it...but only Acosta has the height and leaping ability to get above the rim. Now about his jump from the FT-line (a little inside). He is the first to slam with both hands from there...no?
Two-handed dunks are next-to-nothing for someone like a long jumper. Triple-jumpers and long jumpers could easily do this as long as they have height. Mike Connelly (sp?) took off from the FT line with one hand and looked like he had about another 3 feet to spare for the dunk. I'm sure he could easily do a two-handed from 14 feet. The 720 would be more difficult because it requires more body control (unless you want to end it with your wrist blasting into the rim and then dunking). ------------------ trade them all and fire the coach.
I'm not arguing that Francis should have won. I'm arguing that NOBODY could have won, except for Carter, even if they outperformed him. Steve's first dunk was better than a 41 (or 42?) and Carter's last dunk wasn't a 48. Compare Carter's last one, and Steve's last one. Same score, yet Steve's was much better. Why do you think the NBA didn't invite Kobe Bryant? I think it's because Kobe could have beat Vince. Yet despite his considerable gifts, Kobe is less marketable because Shaq eats up his shots. Kobe isn't going to score 30 pts a game as long as he has Steel ( ) playing beside him. Carter won the dunk contest hands-down... yet the way that the NBA is manipulating his image makes me ill. NOBODY had a chance in that contest, even before it started... and not because of Carter's ability.
Guys, how can you say that Vince already had the contest won? He still HAD to make the dunks no matter what. Year in and year out, Ken Griffey, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire sign up for the HomeRun Derby. What has been the results? None of them have won it lately. Last year, Big Mac hit about 10 in a row over the Big Monster in Boston. He made it to the 2nd round and then fizzled. Don't you think that the MLB would have the pitchers "loft" a few good ones so that Mac, Griff, or Sosa would win it? Market them to death afterwards? Griffey is favored every year. Who is more marketable in MLB than Griffey? They even allow the hitters to choose their own practice pitchers from their own teams. And still, the results are not there. And you think that Kobe isn't more marketable than Vince? Please. The NBA is dying for this guy to rise up and be the MJ clone. Now, does this belong to Vince? Can't it just be that this guy made the dunks that counted when it counted? Why is it that there is always a conspiracy? ------------------ Live Rocketball. Breathe Rocketball. Die with Rocketball.
DoD, Yes the 720 would be much more difficult. He would need to elevate first and then spin in air to stay in control. The way Acosta stays in control while also getting the height, is to leap with one long outstretched, horizontal to the floor, in a relatively slow spin. He achieves roughly a 180 by the time he tucks into a tight spin at peak height. The tight spin is very fast. He then slows himself down to slam by extending the leg again. I saw this slam as a promo for ballet in underprivileged rec centers. I also love the ballet, because those people can fly. Most basketball players just start spinning off the floor in an uncontrolled spin (comparatively speaking to Acosta). Yes, it would be beautiful to watch Vince do it. He can if he practices a tight spin. Acosta is only 6'1", so he has a big advantage there. My main point is: It is certainly not beyond human ability, not to mention Vince's other part. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited February 13, 2000).]
You don't answer my questions . Why WASN'T kobe invited to the dunk competition? Did Vince's final dunk REALLY deserve 7 points more than Francis first (in the finals)? I don't believe it's a conspiracy; I think it's marketing.
"Why do you think the NBA didn't invite Kobe Bryant? I think it's because Kobe could have beat Vince." No way Bryant could have beaten Carter. Bryant would've been the 4th best in this competition. Maybe that's why he wasn't invited? After all, even Jordan at his best couldn't have matched what these guys were doing. Maybe the league didn't want Kobe's image tarnished by a major butt-kicking in the dunk contest. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of ingenuity exhibited by these guys given that they were allowed to bring a partner. I think Steve could've made it a lot closer had he just used Cuttino a little more wisely. How 'bout Cuttino in the fetal position, with Steve taking off with one step off of Cuttino's back (this looks more painful than it would be, I believe) and slamming it down? Or maybe Cuttino shooting a layup, with Steve coming in right behind him, jumping in the air, pulling the ball out of the net and dunking it? It just seems that so much more could've been done by utilizing the partner.
"How 'bout Cuttino in the fetal position, with Steve taking off with one step off of Cuttino's back" ------------------------------------ Yeah, that's all we need... "Francis looks as if he's talking with Mobley about his next dunk." "Yes Kenny, it looks like Mobley is walking towards the free throw line." "What do you think they have up their sleeve?" "Let's wait and see..." "Okay, Francis is at half court thinking about what he is about to do..." "Look at this! Mobley is balled up into a fetal position about 8 feet from the basket!" "What in the world are they doing?" "It looks like Francis is readying himself... There he goes. He's going to try and jump off Mobley's back!! I don't believe it!" "He's at the FT line. He leaps... OH MY GOD! He's down. He's down. Steve Francis is down. It is horrific. Shades of the Robin Ventura injury folks, just look away." "Wait... Cuttino is not getting up either. He is holding his back and writhing in pain on the floor. Trainors are rushing to the two players side." "Let's watch the replay and see exactly what happened..." "Everything looks okay as Francis jumps from the FT line attempting to land on Mobley's back and catapult himself up towards the basket. Oh my God! As Francis tries to push off of Cuttino's back his lower leg just snaps in two. It reminds me of Joe Theismann. It also looks like Cuttino Mobley is in an immense amount of pain. Let's go to a commercial..." No thanks. I can do without risking two of our young talented players with a ridiculous stunt like that. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem. [This message has been edited by DREAMer (edited February 13, 2000).]
Before we all slam the door shut on this NBA conspiracy question, I would just like to add that there is no way Jerry Krause won the ping-pong lottery last summer without a little bit of help.
Cabbage, you had me rolling with that one. Good point! If I am not mistaken, Kobe WAS invited to the dunk contest. I think he pulled out at the last minute. By the way, conspiracy theorists will love the fact that Shaq got the nod over KG for the MVP trophy since Shaq is in LA. But that theory goes down the pipes because "small market" Duncan was there also. Oh wait. The NBA is trying to throw you guys off!! Trying to fool the world into thinking that Duncan is just as marketable as Shaq no matter what market he is in. Or, the league is preparing a major marketing campaing because it is already known that Duncan will sign with Chicago in the offseason? Ahhhh the savvy NBA and their marketing genius David Stern. Beautiful work boys. Just beautiful. ------------------ Live Rocketball. Breathe Rocketball. Die with Rocketball.
Props to Francis But Megaprops to Vinsanity MJ , Dr.J , and Brent Barry captured the free throw line , Cedric Ceballos blinded himself but none of them could do **** compared to what Carter did
