Throwbackz: '8 Worst Dunk Contest Performers of All-Time'

Why in Allah's name was M.A.R. in a dunk contest? 

8 - Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf - 1993
- Chris Jackson had hops, but he was known as a shooter. I think even he was surprised he got invited.  And he couldn't have been too encouraged of his chances seeing he had to follow two-time champion Harold Miner.


7 - Darrell Armstrong - 1996
- I liked Armstrong's toughness as a player, and he dunked hard when he got some momentum going, but if your repertoire consists of three, maybe four dunks, you do not belong in the NBA dunk contest.


6 - Tony Dumas - 1995
-You know things didn't go well when you have to pretend you hurt your knee . . .

5 - Antonio Harvey - 1995
- Classic case of biting off more than you can chew . . . starts off good @ 1:24 . . . but ends miserably @ 1:46 . . . Shaq's face says it all.


4 - Joshua Treadway - 1985
- Here's all you need to know about Treadway's chances of winning the contest in '85; a list of the other participants: Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, Darrell Griffith, and Clyde Drexler.


If you squint, Barry looks a little like Blake Griffin.



 3 - Brent Barry - 1996

- Reverse affirmative action winner here.  Barry completed the most bland free-throw line dunk in basketball history and won the award because all the other contestants were either lame dunkers (see, Darrell Armstrong, Doug Christie) or did hard dunks but with no creativity (Michael Finley). 

2 - Nate Robinson - 2006
- I know he's the only player to win the dunk contest three times, and he's a fine little man baller and off-the-bench point guard, but as far as I'm concerned, 2006 was the beginning of the end of the contest for me.  Philadelphia 76ers guard Andre Iguoudala should have won the contest, as he hammered through a variety of impressive dunks with deft ease and fluidity.  Meanwhile, it took Robinson 14 tries to complete his final dunk, which took about nine minutes of realtime.  It was probably the most painful nine minutes of my basketball watching life.

1 - Jeremy Evans - 2012
- In the year of surprises, so far this has been the least exciting one.  He wasn't even supposed to be in the contest; he replaced New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert, who has been nursing an injury.  And let's face it, replacing Evans for Shumpert in a dunk contest is like trading in a '99 Ford Taurus for a 2001 Hyundai Elantra . . . Granted, he did have one dunk that was impressive, his first dunk, where he decided to wear a camera on his headband so people can 'see what he sees' when he's dunking was a FAIL of epic proportions.  On the actual dunk, I'm not sure if he got more than a foot off the ground.  And then he hung on the rim and spun around so as to add to the camera effect.  Lame.  They should not have allowed him to continue to participate after that.

'Mo Betta Blues'

No easy layups on Davis' (23) watch.

Dominant point guards have been the key to Kentucky head coach John Calipari's success in recent years.  This year, it's a former point guard who is the key dominant figure for the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats (27-1, 13-0 Southeastern Conference) and will likely be the next Coach Cal player to go first overall in the NBA Draft. From Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans at Memphis and John Wall and Brandon Knight at Kentucky, Calipari has counted on freshmen floor generals to lead their teams deep into the NCAA Tournament.   Freshmen forward Anthony Davis stands 6-foot 10-inches tall with a wingspan of a seven-footer, and is widely known for his ability to defend the paint (4.8 blocks per game, leads nation).  Davis wasn't always known for his shot-blocking though, not until the end of his junior year of high school in Chicago, when a growth spurt added him10 inches between the end of his sophomore year to the beginning of his senior year.  Calipari will take it.  Davis' inside presence is just what the Wildcats need to compliment the bevy of perimeter talents on the roster.  Sophomore forward Terrence Jones returned for another year after being a projected lottery pick last year.  Jones has the frame to bang underneath with the big men (he's listed as 6-9, 252-pounds) and the agility to take slower defenders off the dribble.  Guards Doron Lamb (48-percent from 3-point) and Darius Miller (38-percent 3-point) are spot up shooters that can light it up from deep when teams focus on stopping Davis and Jones in the paint.  Add in freshmen guard Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who has a similar game and body frame to Jones but with superior ballhandling, and Marquis Teague (younger brother of Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague) who leads the team in assissts per game (4.7), and it's easy to see why Kentucky is the top team in the nation and the frontrunner to win the 2012 NCAA Championship.  Here is a list of other talented players in the country putting in work for their respective teams this year.

Robinson is dominating in his first year as starter.

Thomas Robinson, Forward, Kansas Jayhawks. If Anthony Davis is the No. 1 player in the country, then Robinson is 1A.  The junior spent most of his career backing up Marcus and Markieff Morris (14.6 minutes per game in 2010-11, 31.2 mpg this year) and has flourished in his first opportunity to be a starter.  Robinson is an intimidating force on both ends of the floor.  He has a polished back to the basket game in the low post (17.4 ppg) and finishes almost everything in the paint with a power dunk.  Robinson is a better than average defender and a vacuum on the boards, as his 11.9 rebound per game average ranks second in the NCAA.

Kendall Marshall, Guard, North Carolina Tarheels.  He's not the quickest or most athletic point guard out, but his basketball instincts are advanced to the point where he might be the second coming of Jason Kidd.  If you wanted to show a young player how to play the point guard, definitely show him some clips of Marshall.  The sophomore has a knack for seeing the play before at happens, and it is largely due to him always having his head up on the dribble and he is never in a hurry when he breaks out in that UNC transition offense that coach Roy Williams likes to run.  Marshall's offense is improving - he had a career-high 22 points and went 4-for-5 from 3-point in his most recent outing Feb. 21 at North Carolina State.  Still, passing is his thing as he had 13 assists and zero turnovers in that same game.  His 9.8 assists per game average is second best in the nation.

Kris Joseph, Forward, Syracuse Orange.  It's always good when your most versatile player is your best player.  Joseph is the definition of a swingman with his ability to play in the post on both ends of the floor, play the perimeter on both ends of the floor, as well as being the go to guy down the stretch.  The senior from Montreal had a career-high 29 points Feb. 8 in an overtime win against Georgetown on a day when no one on the Orange could get anything going offensively.
 
Marcus Denmon, Guard, Missouri Tigers.  The Tigers are a guard oriented team and Denmon is the top dog.  The 6-3 senior has no problem driving the lane against the big men on offense or crashing the defensive boards, as his 5.1 rebounds per game average indicates.  What makes Denmon special for No. 3 Missouri (25-3, 12-3 Big 12) is his fearlessness as a shooter.  He has shot himself out of a early season slump and is averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 40-percent from 3-point.

Green (23) is the unquestioned leader for Izzo's Spartans.

Draymond Green, Forward, Michigan State Spartans.  Green is quietly having the best year of his career under coach Tom Izzo and once again, Spartie looks like they have the type of squad that doesn't have a ton of flash, but is built for the NCAA Tournament.  The senior from Saginaw has put this team on his broad shoulders this year leading the team in scoring (15.5), rebounding (10.3), and is second in assists (3.8).

Austin Rivers, Guard, Duke.  It's a different type of squad for Mike Krzyzewski this year at Duke with no real go to guy on the roster at season's start.  Enter Austin Rivers, who was the top ranked high school baller by many scouting publications last year, and a fierce shooter who never met a shot he didn't like.  Rivers has the complete package on offense.  He can take you off the dribble and adjust his shot mid-air to get the best angle, or hesitate off the dribble and pull-up for jumpers.

Jones leads the Big East in poins (20.3) and rebounds (11.2).

Other players to watch:

F - Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
G - Pierre Jackson, Baylor
F - Otto Porter, Georgetown
F - Mike Scott, Virginia
F - Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
G - Dee Bost, Mississippi State
G - Rodney McGruder, Kansas State
F - Jeronne Maymon, Tennessee
F - John Henson, North Carolina
G - Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
F - Perry Jones III, Baylor
F - Kevin Jones, West Virginia
F - Fab Melo, Syracuse
G - Dominic Cheek, Villanova
F - C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State
F - Cody Zeller, Indiana
G - Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas
G - Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette

WeekleeInsperayshunFrumThaWurldUvSportz



Durant is a NBA superstar; while Oden can't shake the injury bug.

The day after Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant dropped a NBA season high 51 points, Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden had his third season ending knee surgery and fifth career surgery overall.  Oden was drafted first overall in the 2007 NBA Draft with Durant going No. 2 . . . So coming in second is not the same as being "first loser" as some people say.  Just ask Portland fans.

2012 NFL Playoff Preview: 'Divine Intervention'

Can the vaunted 49ers D get to Drew Brees?

NFC Divisional Playoffs
New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 - Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

It's true test time for both teams Saturday when the New Orleans Saints (14-3) offense goes against the solid defense of the San Francisco 49ers.  The Niners (13-3)  have been slightly under the radar this year despite earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC under first year coach Jim Harbaugh and one of the most improved defenses in the NFL.  Quarterback Alex Smith went from possibly being on the trade block last year after being benched midway through the season to starting every single game for San Fran this year.  He has been efficient (17 touchdowns, five interceptions, 90.7 QBR) despite not throwing for 300 yards in a game at all this year.  On the other side, Drew Brees has thrown for 300 yards an NFL record 13 times this year.  The 49ers rush defense is the strong point, allowing only three rushing touchdowns all year, but the secondary will be tested.  Getting a solid pass rush from rookie linebacker Aldon Smith and veteran lineman Justin Smith will go a long way in slowing down Brees and the Saints offense.

Pick:  Saints, 34-20

Key to game for Saints:  Air it out.  Use the short passing game to running back Pierre Thomas and tight end Jimmy Graham as the run to get the linebackers moving laterally.  It will open up the intermediate passing game and the delayed draw that head coach and playcaller Sean Payton likes to take advantage of.
Key to game for 49ers:  Control time of possession.  Running back Frank Gore must have a good game on the ground as San Francisco's best defense will be keeping Brees and the Saints offense on the sidelines.

Brady is burning to lead the Pats back to the promised land.

AFC Divisional Playoffs
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 - Gilette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

If there were ever a matchup more tailored for Tim Tebow to redeem himself as a starting NFL quarterback and shut up his critics once and for all, it is this game against Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the New England Patriots.  The Broncos had a 16-7 lead early against the Pats in the regular season matchup before two turnovers right before the end of the first half put them in a hole they could not climb out of.  Denver (9-8) get a second chance to see what might have been if it weren't for those fumbles.  The Patriots (13-3) have their own redemption story.  They've earned the first round bye in the AFC playoffs for the third consecutive year, but have not won a playoff game since the 2008 AFC championship game against the San Diego Chargers, the game before the New York Giants ended the Patriots undefeated season in that huge Super Bowl upset.  Both Belichick and Brady stand to take big hits in their overall legacies should the Patriots lose this game, so expect both the gameplan and quarterback play from New England to be on point.

Pick:  Patriots, 30-20

Key to game for Broncos:  Stay out of 3rd and long situations.  The Steelers dared Tebow to throw last week and got continuously burned by the deep ball.  The Patriots defense will mix it up alot more and play soft coverages to minimize big plays and keep Tebow in the pocket.
Key to game for Patriots:  Get points on the board early.  New England didn't do a good job in stopping the run in the first meeting (gave up 252 yards rushing, 8.1 yards per carry) and playing from behind could spell disaster.

2012 NFL Playoff Preview: 'Small Thing To A Giant'

Miller anchors a Broncos D that is praying for more Tebow magic.

AFC Wildcard Playoff
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
Sunday, January 8th, 2012 - Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Tim Tebow magic has lost a little bit of its dazzle in the past few weeks (lost last three games of the season) as the Denver Broncos (8-8) had to depend on an Oakland Raiders loss to get into the playoffs after controlling its own destiny.  But if there were ever a time for the Broncos to revive that it would be Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Ben Roethlisberger will likely still not be 100-percent after suffering a severe high ankle sprain Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns.  Running back Mewelde Moore is ruled out and Rashard Mendenhall tore his ACL in the season finale and was placed on injured reserve.  All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey is nursing an ankle injury and is also ruled out.  The Broncos defense has to hold the crippled Pittsburgh offense to a low score so come 4th quarter Tebow can do his thing.

Pick:  Broncos, 16-13

Key to game for Steelers:  Keep Roethlisberger upright.  He clearly is not fully recovered from his injury and will not be the same guy that we're used to seeing scrambling out of the pocket and throwing on the run.
Key to game for Broncos:  No turnovers.  Troy Polamalu and James Harrison are ballhawks on that Steeler defense and must be accounted for on every single snap.

Cruz has to play big for the Giants to win.

NFC Wildcard Playoff
Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants
Sunday, January 8th, 2012 - Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The NFC East was wide open this year and the New York Giants played its way in to the playoff field after handling division rival Dallas Cowboys in the final week of the season.  The Giants (9-7) have been for the most part inconsistent through out the year (lost four in a row after starting 6-2) but much like the team that won the Super Bowl in 2008, they are playing good ball at just the right time.  Eli Manning has put up great offensive numbers (4,933 yards, 29 TDs, 92.9 QBR) despite his receiving corps leading the NFL in dropped passes.  His go to guy is the biggest threat on the field for either team in the form of wide receiver Victor Cruz.  The Massachusetts alumn broke the Giants team record for receiving yards in a single season (1,536) and has been the game breaker in several of New York's wins this season.  The defense has had to deal with multiple injuries in the secondary but the pass rush has been solid all year, including a breakout year for second-year end Jason Pierre-Paul (16.5 sacks).  If the Giants get enough help on offense from running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, and the defensive secondary holds up they should be in good shape.  The Atlanta Falcons have been under the radar all year after being many experts pick to go to the Super Bowl in 2010.  Matt Ryan and rookie receiver Julio Jones head a potent Falcon offense, but its the defense that will be the biggest question mark in this game.  The Dirty Birds (10-6) have to give themselves a chance to win without having to score a touchdown on every drive, and they won't be able to do that if they are playing from behind and the Giants pass rush gets to pin their ears back.

Pick:  Giants, 34-17

Key to game for Falcons:  Stop the run first.  Force Manning and the Giants into third and long situations will take most of the guessing out of the defensive gameplan.
Key to game for Giants:  Stop the run first.  Michael Turner is back and healthy for the Falcons who will look to him to soften up the Giant pass rush.  Stuffing the run will bring up third and long situations and will allow Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka and Osi Umenyora to do their thing.

2012 NFL Playoff Preview: 'To the Dome'

Johnson should be ready no matter who is playing QB.

AFC Wildcard Playoff

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

Saturday, January 7th, 2012 - Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX

This game will be decided by which rookie quarterback has the best performance despite not being at full strength.  Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has been the starter for every game this year and has put any conversations about Carson Palmer leaving town to rest.  Dalton has started all but one game for the Bengals (9-7) and has kept his team in every game; outside of a 35-7 thrashing at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers Week 13, Cincy's widest margin of defeat is eight points.  Dalton enters the game coming out of the flu.  On the other side, Houston Texans rookie quarterback T.J. Yates didn't get his first start until Week 13 versus the Atlanta Falcons after starter Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinart went down with injuries.  All Yates did was lead the Texans (10-6) on a 4th quarter game-winning drive to knock off the Falcons 17-10 and then the next week he tossed the game-winner against this very Bengals team in Cincinnati for a 20-19 victory.  Yates threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns in that game, despite missing Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson, who missed most of the year due to injury.  But Yates seperated his non-throwing shoulder in the last game of the season and it remains to be seen how it will effect him in his first career playoff game.

Pick: Texans, 20-15

Key to game for Bengals:  Get six points in the redzone and not three.  Tight end Jermaine Gresham should pose missmatches on linebackers and tight ends while receivers A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson occupy space on the perimeter.
Key to game for Texans:  Pound the ground game early and often with running backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate.  Success with the rushing attack will take pressure off of Yates and should open up playaction and possible big plays for Johnson and tight end Owen Daniels.

All the Saints have to do is stick to the script.

NFC Wildcard Playoff
Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints
Saturday, January 7th, 2012 - Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

The Saints literally limped into the playoffs last year (six starters DNP in the Wildcard loss to the Seattle Seahawks) after coming off of a Super Bowl winning season.  This year should be different for New Orleans as they head into the playoffs with the number one offense in the National Football League, in decent enough health, and riding a eight game winning streak.  Drew Brees has put himself in position to pass some guys on the list of all-time great quarterbacks after breaking Dan Marino's single season passing yards mark this year, and he already has one Super Bowl victory under his belt.  And with tight end Jimmy Graham (one of the six injured players that didn't play in the playoffs last year) and running back Darren Sproles playing at high levels, the Saints (13-3) look like they will cruise to the NFC Championship Game.  Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions are no strangers to putting up big offensive numbers in the confines of a dome stadium either.  Stafford started all 16 games this year for the first time in his three year career and had highs in passing yards (5,038) and touchdowns (41).  Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson also had a career year with 96 catches for 1,681 yards and 16 TDs.  Detroit hopes that its defense can play well enough that it doesn't have to get in a shootout.  The Lions (10-6) will have the best defensive player in the game for either team Saturday in the form of nose tackle Ndamukong Suh.  It might not matter though if his teammates don't help him create enough distractions to slow down Brees and a healthy Saints offense.

Pick: Saints, 38-31

Key to game for Lions: Limit mistakes.  In the regular season matchup between these two teams, Detroit missed two field goals and Suh committed a personal foul at a crucial point in the game.  The Lions ended up losing that game 31-17.  Can't afford to give away points and yardage to New Orleans; they're just too good.
Key to game for Saints: No looking ahead.  New Orleans knows its a good team and overlooking the Lions at a possible matchup with defending Super Bowl champions Green Bay Packers could make for another bitter offseason.