Sports Illustrated's NBA Ultimate Fantasy Draft

Each All-time draft team was put through a Strat-O-Matic 72-game Season Simulation. Here are the records and the teams.

official link

Alex Wolff's team (third place 43-29)
C David Robinson (20)
PF Dave Cowens (40)
SF Michael Jordan (1)
SG Dwyane Wade (21)
PG Chris Paul (61)
6 Nate Thurmond (60)
7 Joe Dumars (41)
8 Dennis Johnson (80)
9 Robert Horry (81)
10 Terry Porter (100)
11 Ben Wallace (101)
12 Maurice Cheeks (120)

Joe Posnanski's (second place 45-27)
C Wilt Chamberlain (2)
PF Dirk Nowitzki (42)
SF Julius Erving (19)
SG John Havlicek (39)
PG Isiah Thomas (22)
6 Dwight Howard (59)
7 Dolph Shayes (62)
8 Mark Price (79)
9 Grant Hill (82)
10 Vince Carter (99)
11 Jerry Lucas (102)
12 Michael Cooper (119)

Chris Ballard (first place 46-26)
C Bill Russell (3)
PF Charles Barkley (23)
SF Dennis Rodman (43)
SG Reggie Miller (38)
PG LeBron James (18)
6 Chris Mullin (58)
7 Arvydas Sabonis (63)
8 Deron Williams (78)
9 Tiny Archibald (83)
10 Carmelo Anthony (98)
11 Shawn Marion (103)
12 Bill Laimbeer (118)

Lee Jenkins (sixth place 35-37)
C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (4)
PF Karl Malone (17)
SF James Worthy (44)
SG George Gervin (37)
PG Jason Kidd (24)
6 Pete Maravich (57)
7 Robert Parish (64)
8 David Thompson (77)
9 Larry Nance (84)
10 Lenny Wilkens (97)
11 Alex English (104)
12 Dan Issel (117)

Jack McCallum (tenth place 22-50)
C Wes Unseld (45)
PF Kevin McHale (36)
SF Elgin Baylor (16)
SG Scottie Pippen (25)
PG Oscar Robertson (5)
6 Ray Allen (56)
7 Dave DeBusschere (65)
8 Earl Monroe (76)
9 Pau Gasol (85)
10 Bill Sharman (96)
11 Jack Sikma (105)
12 Gail Goodrich (116)

Paul Forrester (fourth place 42-40)
C Shaquille O'Neal (6)
PF Bob Pettit (35)
SF Walt Frazier (26)
SG Dominique Wilkins (46)
PG Jerry West (15)
6 Elvin Hayes (55)
7 Kevin Johnson (66)
8 Tracy McGrady (75)
9 Artis Gilmore (86)
10 Kevin Durant (95)
11 Chauncey Billups (106)
12 Joe Johnson (115)

Ian Thomsen (eighth place 30-42)
C Bill Walton (14)
PF Alonzo Mourning (47)
SF Larry Bird (7)
SG Clyde Drexler (27)
PG Steve Nash (34)
6 Manu Ginobili (54)
7 Chris Webber (67)
8 Michael Ray Richardson (74)
9 Dikembe Mutombo (87)
10 Andrei Kirilenko (94)
11 Fred Brown (107)
12 Blake Griffin (114)

Phil Taylor (seventh place 31-41)
C Moses Malone (13)
PF Bob McAdoo (33)
SF Rick Barry (28)
SG Sidney Moncrief (48)
PG Magic Johnson (8)
6 George Mikan (53)
7 Penny Hardaway (68)
8 Spencer Haywood (73)
9 Billy Cunningham (88)
10 Mitch Richmond (93)
11 Charles Oakley (108)
12 Derrick Rose (113)

Chris Mannix (ninth place 29-43)
C Patrick Ewing (32)
PF Willis Reed (29)
SF Bernard King (49)
SG Kobe Bryant (9)
PG John Stockton (12)
6 Paul Pierce (52)
7 Chris Bosh (69)
8 Amar'e Stoudemire (72)
9 Rajon Rondo (89)
10 Brad Daugherty (92)
11 Adrian Dantley (109)
12 Kevin Love (112)

Richard Deitsch (fifth place 37-35)
C Hakeem Olajuwon (11)
PF Tim Duncan (10)
SF Kevin Garnett (31)
SG Allen Iverson (51)
PG Bob Cousy (30)
6 Gary Payton (50)
7 Sam Jones (70)
8 Connie Hawkins (71)
9 Bob Lanier (90)
10 Hal Greer (91)
11 Dave Bing (110)
12 Bobby Jones (111)


Playoffs link

(1) Ballard def (4) Forrester 4-2
(2) Posanski def (3) Wolff 4-2

Finals
(2) Posanski def (1) Ballard 4-3

The Lighter Side of the NBA Lockout

 As everybody knows, the NBA is now under a restrictive lockout that doesn't look like it will be resolved before the start of the NBA's 2011-2012 season. Most fans are panicked or depressed, and all are becoming less and less hopefull that the NBA owners and players will be able to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement any time soon. David Stern seems content to watch the players union squirm while he sports a cheap grin and digs in his heels. If both sides seriously wanted an NBA season next year, this debate should be able to be settled in a week at most by the two sides working together rather than acting standoffish and awkward. But both sides are too proud and too stubborn to relent with the stonefaced and short-sighted demands for respect. This means the season is cancelled.

Still, today the potential 2011-12 schedule was released as a tease by the NBA. Don't let this get under your skin, this is a tactic of the NBA owners to make people pine for the season and excite the players and make them want to fold. But the players won't back down from the owners and are settling into life without NBA contracts. And it's not all bad.

Players like Brandon Jennings and Kevin Durant have been hitting open runs. Players like Josh Howard and Mike Beasley are free from NBA drug testing. Players are free to perform stunts and feats of dangerous athletic manliness like Tony Parker's jetpack training. Players like Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Deron Williams, and Dwyane Wade have said they are open to playing overseas and traveling the world to make use of their freedom. Pure chaos and pure freedom.

Raptors guard Sonny Weems represents the opinions of many players who are pessimistic that there will be any NBA season at all and has moved towards signing a one-year contract with a foreign team that would keep him overseas regardless of wether the players and owners can salvage at least part of an NBA season. The Raptors basically told him not to worry about the upcoming season after they opted to draft Jonas Valanciunas in the 2011 NBA draft, a player who was still under contract in Lithuania for the upcoming season. The Raps are probably banking on there not being a season anyways, with an eye on the bigger picture.

During the last lockout and economic debate in 1998-1999 the two sides managed to carve out a 50-game season after the players gave some concessions. The owners risk losing a growing fanbase and turning fans off by what is seen as greedy millionaires.

But it's not all bad. Players are free from their NBA contract restrictions and this means freedom unseen in the NBA in a long time. Players can travel and play wherever they want, worldwide. Kobe Bryant said, "One thing about basketball is that it is a global sport now, so you can play anywhere you want to." Foreign leagues have grown in the past decade since the last lockout and now constitute a legitimate training ground for NBA-level talent. If the NBA wants to expand overseas and be the first truly "global" game of the big American team/ ball sports, this may be the best thing that could have happened.

New leagues are trying to attract NBA players to grow the game in their own country, such as the NBL of Canada which has targeted locked-out NBA players to help fill its rosters.

With players travelling overseas and spreading the love of the game and the excitement of the NBA to all corners of the globe, it can only be good for the game. Foreign stars in the NBA like Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Andrei Kirilenko have a chance to grow the game in their native countries. Maybe the NBA will have an influx of big point-guards from Turkey in a few years who were inspired by Deron Williams' play during this lockout season. Maybe the next Kobe will be some young kid from China who is touched by Kobe's brilliance during a Chinese league one-year tour. The lockout may stimulate worldwide markets for the globalization of the game and create legitimate fanbases across the world who are ready to support an overseas NBA team to play inter-league, regular-season games with NBA teams. Yes, if the NBA wants to expand into foreign countries, no season may be as important as the season that never will be; 2011-2012 will be remembered as the year the NBA truly went global.

And how about the Olympics? By next summer, after players have had a season to mature, grow, lead, train, travel, find themselves, become involved in foreign charities, be ambassadors for the NBA to a growing global audience, and wisen to the different styles of play across the world. The players will all return to their roots and travel home from afar to share their experiences and lessons in the international sphere for the support of their home nations (unless ongoing contract complications ruin that too). Nationalism will peak and fans will clamor for high-level basketball after a long, NBA-induced longing. The NBA should have their broken financial model solved and excitement will be back about the upcoming NBA season of 2012-13. The American fan audience will embrace their wayward sons as if they were a long-distance girlfriend they haven't seen in six weeks and hold them with both love and a strangely-detached reverence.

When the players return to the NBA, it will be a different game. Players will be in new places, stars will have aged and youngsters will have matured. Some players will have gracefully left the game and taken the lockout as an opportunity to hang up their kicks peacefully while the NBA was sleeping. Yao and Shaq have begun the trend and many veterans are sure to follow in their path as little-used veterans make room for new and exciting talent that will arrive both domestically and from abroad. Skill levels will have developed at strangely different increments for different players; their progress during the off-year depending on their individual experiences.

Basketball will still be happening across the world during the lockout on many levels and bringing excitement to communities that have never been so close to NBA-level play. Basketball goes on with or without an NBA season in 2011-12, and when it finally comes back it will be more multi-cultural, globally influenced and pointed in a new and exciting international direction.

The Trading Block part 2 of 2

Jose Barea
     The shortest player on the championship Mavs is able to control the tempo, make good decisions, draw defenders with cuts through the lane, and play point guard or shooting guard. His services will be sought after, but expect Dallas to keep him around. He fits well into Dallas' system and they're better together.

Tyson Chandler
      Pretty much every team in the league now wants Tyson Chandler and his defense, hustle, and ability to create second-chance opportunities. Third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, he is valuable playing in the frontcourt with Dirk Nowitzki where he offsets and compliments the former MVP's skill set. Rather than seek more money, say in Sacramento, Tyson should stay in Dallas where he found his niche as a player.

Glen Davis
     The Celtic we call "Big Baby" is now a second bench option to Jeff Green, and has considered taking his talents elsewhere. I could see him fitting in well in Philadelphia; a grinding, well-coached and under-rated team that could use Davis as a scoring option with or without Iguodala in the picture.

Andrei Kirilenko
     Forget triple-doubles, AK-47 used to be the guy to explode the stat sheet with the all-around great 5x5 stat lines. Still a great defender and good shot blocker, his veteran presence could go a long way on the perimeter in Oklahoma City. He wouldn't fight for time with Harden, allowing him to develop and could offset Durant with a defensive mentality. The Clippers could use his defensive presence and leadership on the wing as well.

Tracy MacGrady
     First of all, T-Mac has to get out of the quicksand that is the Detroit Pistons roster right now. If he really wants to spark his career he should sign with New Jersey and try to be a legitimate offensive weapon for Deron Williams and the Nets. He could also be useful for the Utah Jazz who could use some *cough* leadership, and more scoring from the perimeter.

Kenyon Martin
     K-Mart would be perfect in Boston. If Denver ends up re-signing Nene like they want to, they may not have the budget to keep Martin around. The Celtics still need frontcourt help, although Jermaine O'Neal performed admirably, and Martin would be rejuvenated with the veteran squad that eats, sleeps and breathes winning.

Yao Ming
     Yao is now an enigma. A former #1 pick that hasn't been 100% since late in 2005, Yao's strong fanbase continues to vote him into the All-Star game year after year. Though it has been rumoured Yao may never play again if things don't go well, a team like Sacramento may take it's chances on the big man and his marketability. Otherwise, expect him in Houston, if anywhere.

Nene
     Nene is thought by many to be the best free agent on the market and the Nuggets want to resign the resilient Brazilian centre. Nene may test the waters because there is a significant market for his talents, but may end up back in Denver. Teams like the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics would love the frontcourt versatility and rebounding he provides, but he could also anchor a young team and be able to reach more of his potential on a young team like the Golden State Warriors or Toronto Raptors who need his kind of help the most.

Lamar Odom
     Odom was linked to trade talk already this offseason, and maybe the Lakers are concerned his potential isn't being lived up to, and he faces constant distraction with his LA/ Kardashian lifestyle. He could stay in the Pacific and play for Golden State to take on more of a leadership role, where his diverse skills and fluid play could be best used. Washington also needs a player willing to come off the bench, play big at multiple positions, and mentor the young guys like Wall and Vesely.

Tayshaun Prince
     Prince is another veteran rotting away on the Pistons who need to go into rebuilding mode. With a similar skillset to Tony Allen or Shane Battier, he could be a good fit on the gritty Memphis Grizzlies. In Portland, Prince could provide length and defense on the perimeter on a Trail Blazers team that plays his style of basketball.

Zach Randolph
     Look for Memphis to lock up this player, who had a breakout year with the Grizzlies, but Randolph may test the temperature of interest out there after a strong season, just to see his relative worth. Many smaller-market teams would love to have exactly what he brought to Memphis (toughness and tenacity), such as the Wizards or the Bucks.

Michael Redd
     Redd is a former all-star and Olympian, who has seen his career curtailed by injuries. A great shooter, Redd is still valuable even if not as athletic as he once was. San Antonio does a good job with it's veteran revivals of shooters and Redd could buy into the role of veteran leader. New Jersey is also looking to stockpile weapons around Deron Williams. If Iguodala leaves the Sixers, Redd could be a good fit in Philadelphia too.

Jason Richardson
     Richardson could really shine with the Chicago Bulls. An athletic scorer and dunker, J-Rich has also led the league in three-pointers. If used the right way he could be deadly, but he is close to being "over the hump." He could use a good run at a title with a motivated coach and MVP Rose. With a defensive mindset the offensive punch next to Derrick Rose, J-Rich would look good in a Bulls uniform (almost better than Iguodala).

DeShawn Stevenson
     The Mavs want to keep a good thing rolling, but with the recent acquisition of Rudy Fernandez from Portland, Stevenson may be the odd one out. Barea started for him at the end of the finals, and Caron Butler is coming back as well to crowd the backcourt. He's one of those players the Nets would love to overpay.

David West
     West unexpectedly opted out of his deal in order to become a free agent. His stock is not at it's highest right now after a late season, season-ending injury that saw West miss the end of the regular season and the entire playoffs. It's not confirmed when he'll be 100%, and he's still rehabbing. He could fit into the system in Indiana or Milwaukee as a scoring power forward that either team could use to take them to the next level.

- Devin Gray

The Trading Block part 1 of 2

Andrea Bargnani
     Now that DeRozan is the face of the franchise, and the Bargnani experiment is losing the patience of Toronto fans, the Raptors may look to move their former #1 overall pick. Bargs was underwhelming as the team's primary option for the 2010-11 season, but with the lockout looming nothing is imminent. In Orlando, he wouldn't have to rebound next to Dwight Howard and could kill teams from range by straying out to the three-point line to receive kick-out passes from a double-teamed Howard. San Antonio has had a good history of starting low-energy, shooting centres next to Tim Duncan, and Denver or New Orleans could also be a good fit.

Andrew Bynum
      When Bynum took his Lakers jersey off while leaving the floor in Dallas after being ejected for a blow to JJ Barea that was called "bush league," I thought it might be the last time he removed the purple and gold. With calls to "blow up the team," the Lakers may take offers for their talented big man. Young, talented, injury prone, but oozing with potential when he's healthy, he's the kind of player Chris Paul needs to work with in the middle like he did with Tyson Chandler a few seasons ago (Okafor moves to PF), and it might entice Paul to stay in New Orleans. The Heat would love to have a centre of Bynum's quality to fill the lane, and the Raptors could move Bargnani to PF if they had Bynum to rebound, defend and grow with the young team.

Vince Carter
     Does Vince want to win? Or, does Vince just want to get paid? A team like the Bulls would give Vince the ability to cement his legacy on a championship-potential team. The Bulls would whip him into shape, unlike the Knicks where Vince would stay unmotivated (especially on defense).

Baron Davis
     Where can Baron Davis stay motivated? Not in Cleveland with new #1 pick Kyrie Irving. Davis was motivated when he was having fun with Blake and the kids in Clipperland. He may be similarily motivated working with the young core of the Raptors and sending lob passes for DeRozan, Sonny, and the Johnsons.

Monta Ellis
     His scoring could be used in Minnesota, which will need the points this season, or in Phoenix's aging backcourt that likes to run.

Rudy Gay
     After the Grizzlies cinderella playoff run this 2011 postseason, without leading scorer Rudy Gay, speculation was that the club felt they played, perhaps, better without him and he could be traded for another asset. Gay would be a great fit on the Lakers to replace Ron Artest with some real talent and potential. He could also help give some size and scoring punch to the Houston Rockets backcourt. Both the Rockets and Lakers have decent trading chips.

Rip Hamilton
     This mask-wearing veteran needs to find his way out of the mess in Detroit. He is still serviceable and could be a good veteran presence on the Chicago Bulls. He could start, but would also be happy to come off the bench as long as he is respected and given the minutes he deserves (something he didn't get in Detroit), and has a crack at another championship to keep him motivated.


Devin Harris
     The Jazz say they want to hold on to their point-guard they got in exchange for Deron Williams, and drafted Enes Kanter rather then Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker so it looks like they want to keep Devin in the picture. Utah is a good fit for the one-time all-star Harris, but Toronto would be able to provide him the minutes, and the touches, and make him a part of the franchise rebuilding project.

Dwight Howard
      Dwight is too good for any one team to hold on to him. I would love if he stayed in Orlando, but players move to find a winning situation midway through their careers if their drafting team can't impress them. Howard could do some real damage teaming up with Amar'e in the Knicks frontcourt, but without the rich getting richer, I think Howard would be a stabilizing presence on Detroit who could use a competent defender in the paint again.


Andre Iguodala
     This 6'6" forward-guard combo is athletic and plays tremendous defense. He helped team USA to a win in the World Championships last summer. It is rumored the Sixers are looking for trade partners. He has been linked to deals for Golden State's Monta Ellis, and LA's Lamar Odom. The best place for Iggy might be the vacant SG spot in Chicago, where his defense would shine and he would provide Rose with a second option. He could also fit with the LA Clippers to round out their young core, or on the NY Knicks where he would be able to run and also be a defensive compliment to Melo and Amar'e.

Steve Nash
     The Suns say they're keeping him, but that just seems like speculation. Not much is certain yet in terms of finances and the potential lockout so the Suns and Nash have agreed to stay tight-lipped until anything is resolved. Nash has been linked to a few potential trade scenarios, but they're just dreams. One has him rejoining former head coach Mike D'Antoni and running mate Amar'e Stoudemire in New York, where Nash has lived for years, to take over from Chauncey Billups. Miami also needs a crafty and reliable PG, and the rumors persist that Nash wants to come to Canada (and he does), he just wants to win a championship first.

Greg Oden
     This big man can't get a break. And now his contract is up. He owes Portland big-time for sticking with him, and he is acquainted very well with the team's medical staff so he should stay, but he would be a good experiment and a worthwhile chance to take for the Atlanta Hawks who are one piece away, the Toronto Raptors while they wait for Valencuinas, or the Detroit Pistons with lots of trading chips and not much to lose.

Tony Parker
     I hope he spends his career in San Antonio, and he's the youngest of the Big 3 of Duncan-Ginobili-Parker. The Spurs shouldn't break up their trio until Timmy retires. Parker has been rumoured to Toronto, and he'd be an interesting fix at 29 years old, where he'd also have the immediate impact Raptors fans are craving.

Josh Smith
      If the Hawks plan to go in another direction, this athletic but unrefined 6'9" small forward may end up on another roster. His poor shot selection and lack of rebounding focus make him expendable, but could be an asset for certain teams. New Jersey would be a spot willing to pay him, and he's a high enough impact player to keep Deron Williams happy. Smith may also be able to find his niche as a compliment to the loaded backcourt of the run-and-gun Golden State Warriors, or as a more-mobile option in the frontcourt for the Utah Jazz.

JR Smith
      This dynamic scorer needs to find a place that could use his scoring punch and can give Smith major minutes. His unpredictability would be exposed and he could develop as a player with the responsibility of being the go-to scorer on a young team like the Charlotte Bobcats or the Cleveland Cavaliers.

- Devin Gray

NBA Draft Preview

Pick 1 - Cleveland Cavaliers take Kyrie Irving
The Cavs were gifted with this pick in LeBron karma and have held it tight to their chest ever since. They have also seemed content to let Kyrie Irving rumours fly ever since. When Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones and Jared Sullinger dropped out Irving became the concensus #1. There hasn't even been an inkling that the Cavs would take someone else, even though Irving missed most of his freshman year at Duke. They will also eventually need a replacement for Baron Davis, and he would be a hilarious mentor for Irving.

Pick 2 - Minnesota Timberwolves take Derrick Williams
Derrick Williams is the best player in this draft. The Timberwolves have been teasing other teams with dangling the pick because they supposedly don't need him with Mike Beasley already at the position, but I think Minnesota needs to keep piling up assets. If they can't deal the pick for something they like they can always deal Beasley or Williams later.

Pick 3 - Utah Jazz take Enes Kanter
This pick will send the Cavs into a frenzy because they want Kanter at the 4th pick. The Jazz are rumored to be picking Brandon Knight at PG but with Devin Harris already in place I think they stay with the one-time All-Star and see what a full season can do for him. Enes Kanter is a big unknown after sitting out the full NCAA season because of ineligibility, but he wowed scouts at pre-draft camps with his quickness and athleticism for his size. He could end up the best player in this draft but that's a gamble.

Pick 4 - Cleveland Cavaliers take Jonas Valanciunas
The Cavs will need a big man with this pick and with Kanter off the board they will turn to a big Lithuanian to replace fan-favourite Zydrunas Ilgauskas who followed LeBron to Cleveland. The best players still on the board are Knight and Kemba Walker but the Cavs won't take 2 point guards in the top 5, the T-Wolves showed us all why not to do that in 2009.

Pick 5 - Toronto Raptors take Bismack Biyombo
With Knight and Walker still on the board this is a stretch pick, because the Raps could use a PG to spur their rebuilding. However Biyombo has a huge upside and big potential and would be a nice defender in the front-court for the Raps that they have been missing forever. I kind of hope they take Biyombo, but Kemba Walker would be nice too. Biyombo is a project but the rebuilding Raps can afford to wait.

Pick 6 - Washington Wizards take Kawhi Leonard
With John Wall already in place the Wiz will take an excellent all-around player in San Diego State's Leonard.

Pick 7 - Charlotte Bobcats take Tristan Thompson
Thompson from Brampton Ontario becomes the highest drafted Canadian ever, and will have to impress MJ if he hopes to not be labeled a bust.

Pick 8 - Detroit Pistons take Brandon Knight
Could move Stuckey who hasn't lived up to expectations.

Pick 9 - Milwaukee Bucks take Marcus Morris
The better of the Morris twins, he'll be a solid pro but his potential is somewhat limited.

Pick 10 - Sacramento Kings take Kemba Walker
Would allow Tyreke Evans to play off the ball at SG while somebody else handles the offense.

Dunk Vs: Part 5

JR Smith on Gary Neal vs JR Smith 360 Alley-Oop

Watch A Man Fly / Watch 360 Alley-Oop

     JR Smith is the ultimate NBA could-be. As erratic as can be, Smith shows flashes of brilliance and unstoppable offensive ability. Standing at 6'6", 220 pounds, Smith's ability to blast off the court makes him one of the highest risers in the NBA. Last year Smith scored 12.3 points per game and his career high is just 15.4. His athletic ability combined with his deft shooting touch (in 09/10 he had the second most three pointers in the NBA) should make him one of the top players in the NBA and a perennial All-Star, but he never seems to stay consistent. When Smith is on target he makes it all look too easy, like he's playing a pickup game with the other professionals and dominating. When Smith is not on target he is unbearably frustrating.

 

     Thankfully Dunk Vs judges a player based not on consistency, but on a sporratic moment of exceptional ability. JR Smith has produced many of these in his seven-year NBA career, but the two dunks I've selected are the two most noteworthy. 

 

     When Smith dribbles down the court with less than six seconds on the clock, a smart play might be a desperation three-pointer. But when the defense opens up, Smith finds the lane and takes off to the basket. Gary Neal gets in the way just enough to get blasted into oblivion, and send Smith even higher while legitimizing his hanging on the rim. His swinging on the rim causes the Denver home crowd to whip into a frenzy while Carmelo looks on and nods in approval. Gary Neal falls like a corpse, and JR asks the crowd to let him hear their fervor. This, combined with the announcer's call "We've just seen a man fly! Ride 'em cowboy!" turn this spectacular dunk into spectacle.

     While not a poster dunk on anybody, JR's 360 alley-oop in Minnesota is a stunning rarity in an NBA regular season game. This dunk is the type of dunk Nate Robinson would have to try twelve times in the dunk contest to nail it, and JR pulled it off during a game. Chauncey Billups sends a nice lob, and JR makes it more difficult than it needs to be. But JR has always been a showman.

     As powerful as the dunk on Gary Neal was, the 360-oop is some serious uncharted NBA territory. Like the Snyder/ Wafer Vs Wallace/ Nachbar matchup in Dunk Vs: Part 3 I'm going to argue for originality and creativity over straight bangin'. The dunk over and through Gary Neal is strong, but ranks higher than maybe it should because of the pageantry after the dunk and the announcer's legend-making call. A "360 alley-oop" just sounds cool, and when you see it you know that no announcer's call is needed to explain how spectacular the dunk was. JR's 360 alley-oop is what 360special is all about.

Winner: JR Smith 360 Alley-Oop

Sorry Gary

JR 360

Dunk Vs: Part 4

Blake Griffin on Timofey Mozgov vs Tyrus Thomas on Jermaine O'Neal

Watch Blake Griffin / Watch Tyrus Thomas

     This episode of Dunk Vs poses the question; "If people say it is a better dunk, is it?" It's hard to put any dunk up against the Griffin-on-Mozgov facial, if not simply because of Griffin's popularity. Blake's rookie season was filled with dunks, 214 of them in fact. Many of them are dunks that would make the career highlights of many decent dunkers pale in comparison to Blake's body of work in just one season.

     No dunk is more emblematic of Blake's season than this crush against the New York Knicks, in LA. LA has been Kobe's town in NBA recent history, but this game made Blake into an overnight celebrity. Both the dunk over Mozgov and the spinning dunk on Gallinari were sensational dunks, and this game's legacy depends on the combination of the two dunks.

     Yet, taken by itself, the dunk on top of Mozgov is a moment that stands alone in Blake's rookie season. It spawned a website, and made us question "what counts as a dunk?" yet again. Blake's throw-in is akin to Dwight Howard's superman dunk contest jam, where dunk is defined as "forcing the ball downwards and through the rim," not necessarily even touching the basket at all.

     Tyrus Thomas' dunk was almost immediately forgotten. More likely it was explained away. Thomas had been a rookie with alot of promise and athletic upside coming out of LSU, but had been a bit of a dud in the NBA and couldn't find any kind of consistency. He showed flashes, and they were often brilliant like this end-to-end play, but the optimism of this dunk being able to define a career wasn't the same as the Griffin dunk. It was as if people said "wow, great highlight, but show me that on a regular basis" and neglected to think of the event by itself, the way we can now on YouTube. There was a time when dunking on Jermaine O'Neal would have meant something, but even at this stage of his career he a more high-profile victim than Mozgov.

     Griffin's dunk is great, and Mozgov's "boost" sends Blake even higher in a Tom Chambers-like mounting. Just when you think Blake has topped out he keeps on rising and whips the ball through the basket with force while seemingly floating. I give Mozgov credit for standing in place, taking the punishment, and neither falling nor even reacting at all.

     Jermaine O'Neal wasn't so lucky as he gets knocked back, slides across the baseline on his butt, and his feet kick up a little bit. It is the full court effort that makes this play stand out initially, but that side-view of the dunk itself shows just how powerful Thomas' extension was.

     Both players are dunking on their home court, but Blake's sends the bigger shockwaves. Nevertheless, I'm going to argue Tyrus Thomas' dunk was better and you can debate me on this. Thomas gets the block on one of Toronto's big men, runs the floor with intent, and knocks his challenger to the ground. Blake's dunk was huge in the halfcourt, but is more of simply a vertical dunk than ploughing through a defender. Plus, he never even touches the rim. Thomas' dunk was underrated, and unloved because of his questionable "bust" status in the NBA. Let this moment stand alone, and for once allow that Blake Griffin isn't the undisputed dunk champ.

Winner: Tyrus Thomas on Jermaine O'Neal

Griffin

Thomas