So I was talking with my co-workers at work about how the dunk contest is more and more boring, how it becomes less original each year, we came up with an idea: instead of only 4 dunkers compete individually, why not choose an additional 4 of the best shot blockers and make the dunkers dunk on them? The shot blockers will try to block the shot within the paint (can't have the feet out of the paint) and if the dunk is successful, the dunker wins and vice versa for the shot blocker. The judges will still vote on a scale from 1-10 the the winner. For example: Dwight Howard VS Marcus Camby Gerald Wallace VS Birdman etc. This can replace the dunk contest or be an additional event in the All Star week-end, as the All Star events are really getting boring these days. What you guys think?
With that... there's a huge possibility that someone could get hurt and being part of all-star festivities and all... I don't think it would ever work out. Not only is it dangerous for the defensive player to block a dunk but the dunker also has a chance to get hurt because of how he may land.
True, but making the defensive player restricted in the paint will reduce his movements, decrease the contact impact without affecting too much his shot blocking capacities. Also, it's the All Stars, it's for fun and entertainment, I'm pretty sure players would not go really hard on others. And also I doubt Dwight Howard will get hurt while trying to dunk. Usually players don't get hurt while dunking/after a missed dunk. Maybe Nate Robinson will lol
Sounds like an entertaining event, but I doubt anybody would want to enter it or try very hard even if they did. I think it would take a fierce personality like a Mutombo or Jordan to enter in something like this since there is such a big chance of getting embarrassed. Plus there is the injury factor, especially on the part of the guy blocking the shot. The dunker may pull a Paul Pierce and kick their leg out while dunking just to try and win.
I think the Slam Dunk seems worst than before is because of the dunkers if there was more "superstars" in it .... It would seem more exciting. Wade - Kobe - Lebron Last time it was good was Vince and SF3 before that was Jordan vs DW21 seems like nobody really want to be in the contest anymore ..
We need another multi-year hiatus, so that all these young guys worrying about their knees can grow up a bit. But the All Star Weekend Sprite Quench Your Thirst Slam Dunk Contest has become too big of a cashcow to worry about the dunking.
Everybody you'd want to see in that would decline the invitation for fear of getting shown up. It'd be filled with even more scrubs than it is now. They have a hard time getting big names now, it'd be downright impossible in this format.
creative idea, but, aside from all the reasons already mentioned, it would be basically impossible for anybody to complete a successful dunk. the blocker knows that when they are in the air, they are attempting to dunk. no potential for passing or reversing and laying it up or anything. the shot would be blocked or the player would be fouled. only possibility for a completed dunk would be dwight howard backing somebody down and dunking on them, and i don't think there would be too much entertainment value in that.
Like Luckyazn have stated, it's the lack of star names that are ruining the contest. It would be a long while and take some big changes to get the stars to dunk again. So I say, take the OP's format, bring in 2 trampolines and invite all the scrubs they want. Heck maybe they can have a NBA scrubs vs the old Houston Power Rangers dunk off. Maybe years down the line they can invite celebrities like fiddy and Kanye and JT and Justin Beiber to be the blockers on trampolines.
Horrible idea. Allstar games are for fans entertainment, and no one plays Defense. It would first take away from the history behind the dunk contest, second no coach or GM wants their allstar players to face injury or being susceptible to such a thing.
I suggested an idea like this last time this topic came up: I think the dunk contest needs something that adds bragging rights so that players get excited about it. You can up the reward money, but I don't think that will draw the bigger names because most of them already have enough money. So instead, we need to open it up to more contestants. Bring in some players from the D-League, allow some And1 or other streetball players, and also, let a Euro-League player if you can make it happen. So that way, it will be NBA v. D-League v. Streetball v. Euro-League. This brings in some bragging rights to accompany the pursue. Imagine if you expand it to 6 or 8 players and allow 2 players from each of these. That would make it more exciting. There are some wrinkles that need to be worked out however. For example, the streetball player might be willing to risk more because he doesn't have a guaranteed contract, so he might be willing to jump over things that the other players would not. So the question becomes, do you limit it to lessen the chances of injury? This format might not guarantee that the superstars will come out, but at least it will generate more excitement.
not a good idea...like someone else mentioned, it will be difficult to complete a dunk like that. It's completely different to dunk on someone in-game and then try to do it one on one....it'll suck probably more. It also severely limits the type of dunk that can be attempted. Pretty much the only option is a basic one or two hander. You can kiss any airtime goodbye, if a dunker lays himself out there like that the blocker will be salivating waiting for him.
You cant do any flashy dunks with a defender there, you cant bounce the ball in the ground, etc. It would be just a competition of how high 2 players can jump. and like other poster said, they dont want to get posterized.
