Official John Wall Appreciation Thread 2.0

Nivek · Post #1161 » by **Nivek** » Thu Feb 6, 2014 7:14 pm

I've thought for awhile now that the NBA could make the various skills competitions more interesting by having All-Stars do them. I think it'd be fun to require every All-Star to participate in one of the weekend competitions. Maybe come up with a couple more, if necessary.

Watching some young guy who's clueless about how to put on a show miss dunks isn't my idea of fun. I'd much rather watch Lebron miss dunks.

GhostsOfGil · Post #1162 » by **GhostsOfGil** » Thu Feb 6, 2014 8:09 pm

Full contest list:

Paul George
John Wall
Damian Lillard
Terrence Ross
Harrison Barnes
Ben McLemore

Legit group right there.

FAH1223 · Post #1163 » by **FAH1223** » Thu Feb 6, 2014 8:15 pm

GhostsOfGil wrote:Full contest list:

Paul George
John Wall
Damian Lillard
Terrence Ross
Harrison Barnes
Ben McLemore

Legit group right there.

Best group in a while participating.

TGW · Post #1164 » by **TGW** » Thu Feb 6, 2014 8:35 pm

Might be like the 2001 contest all over again....greatest dunk contest of all time.

AFM · Post #1165 » by **AFM** » Thu Feb 6, 2014 9:05 pm

I wonder if Wall will do that infamous dunk from last summer when he shut the building down.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGzC8w-48bw[/youtube]

tontoz · Post #1166 » by **tontoz** » Thu Feb 6, 2014 9:07 pm

I bet Wall's agent gave him a little push to do the dunk contest.

keynote · Post #1167 » by **keynote** » Thu Feb 6, 2014 9:49 pm

GhostsOfGil wrote:Full contest list:

Paul George
John Wall
Damian Lillard
Terrence Ross
Harrison Barnes
Ben McLemore

Ooh. Barnes is in it too? His lack of a first step keeps him from being a great player, but it won't hold him back here. He's got plenty of ups and plenty of strength; he'll be formidable.

I haven't seen McLemore play much.

Anyway, here are the verticals:
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/

Name: No-StepVert, Max Vert
John Wall: 30", 39"
Damian Lillard: 34.5", 39.5"
Harrison Barnes: 38", 39.5"
(Goerge, Ross, and McLemore are unlisted)

I forgot how ridiculous Barne's no-step vertical is.

Upper Decker · Post #1168 » by **Upper Decker** » Thu Feb 6, 2014 10:17 pm

AFM wrote:I wonder if Wall will do that infamous dunk from last summer when he shut the building down.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGzC8w-48bw[/youtube]

In game that's impressive, but it'd be pretty ordinary in a dunk contest. I'm a little skeptical about Wall's inclusion on the contest. I don't really consider him a flashy or electrifying dunker. Maybe he'll surprise me.

AFM · Post #1169 » by **AFM** » Thu Feb 6, 2014 10:37 pm

Maybe he can do it over a Kia.

fishercob · Post #1170 » by **fishercob** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 12:11 am

AFM wrote:I wonder if Wall will do that infamous dunk from last summer when he shut the building down.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGzC8w-48bw[/youtube]

Well that would be something seeing as there will be seats where that wall was.

stevemcqueen1 · Post #1171 » by **stevemcqueen1** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 12:50 am

He'll just have to bring in a wall as a prop.

Maybe he can get Blatche to let him bounce it off his head?

theboomking · Post #1172 » by **theboomking** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 1:15 am

I can't see Wall doing that well in this contest. I don't think he is a better dunker than George, McLemore, or Ross. I could see Wall placing 4th or 5th.

AFM · Post #1173 » by **AFM** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 1:59 am

fishercob wrote:
AFM wrote:I wonder if Wall will do that infamous dunk from last summer when he shut the building down.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGzC8w-48bw[/youtube]

Well that would be something seeing as there will be seats where that wall was.

Haha that's true Mr. Cob! Maybe he could bounce it off your big dumb face!

Post #1174 » by **nate33** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 2:36 am

keynote wrote:I forgot how ridiculous Barne's no-step vertical is.

I never quite believed the number because he also had an absurdly short standing reach for somebody of his height and wingspan. I think he tanked the standing reach in order to make his vertical look higher.

GhostsOfGil · Post #1175 » by **GhostsOfGil** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 2:37 am

Saw this on the gen board. A MUCH needed refresh makes this new format look interesting.

This year’s event will feature the participants competing as a team – three players representing the Eastern Conference and three players representing the Western Conference – in an above-the-rim two-round format.

In a significant first in the event’s history, the competition will tip off with a Freestyle Round where the dunkers for each conference will have 90 seconds to showcase as many dunks as they want. At the conclusion of the Freestyle Round, the panel of judges will then choose a winner by voting “East” or “West.” The winning conference will earn the advantage of deciding whether its dunkers will dunk first or second in the head-to-head battles that take place in the Battle Round.

The Battle Round will feature head-to-head matchups pitting East dunkers vs. West dunkers, with the judges choosing a winner for each battle. Upon losing a head-to-head battle, that dunker is then eliminated from the competition. The first team to win three battles will win the competition and be crowned 2014 Sprite Slam Dunk champions.

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-c ... u39jmfo.99

20MexicanosIn1Van · Post #1176 » by **20MexicanosIn1Van** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 2:42 am

I actually like that idea of team dunks. We can see some crazy double alley oops and things like that. Should spruce things up and give us something we've never seen before.

GhostsOfGil · Post #1177 » by **GhostsOfGil** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 2:51 am

20MexicanosIn1Van wrote:I actually like that idea of team dunks. We can see some crazy double alley oops and things like that. Should spruce things up and give us something we've never seen before.

I dont think it's team dunks but more like individual dunkers on a team. I like the idea of team dunks better but this is a step in the right direction.

stevemcqueen1 · Post #1178 » by **stevemcqueen1** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 5:25 pm

Yeah I like the changes. To me adding in an element of conference competition makes it more interesting.

I also just realized that it's basically a competition of the best dunking young PG, SG, and SF in each conference this season.

This year, I like the East over the West in this format. McLemore is a spectacular dunker and the best dunker on the West team, but I think Ross can match him. And I like George over Barnes for sure. And Wall should at least hold his own with Lillard.

Dark Faze · Post #1179 » by **Dark Faze** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 6:28 pm

Don't underestimate Barnes. He has a no step vert of 38 inches and never displays his athleticism because he's a straight line player. In this sort of scenario he's easily the most athletic guy on the court.

AFM · Post #1180 » by **AFM** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 8:31 pm

Dark Faze wrote:Don't underestimate Barnes. He has a no step vert of 38 inches and never displays his athleticism because he's a straight line player. In this sort of scenario he's easily the most athletic guy on the court.

No way he's more athletic than Ross. Let alone as graceful. Ross reminds me of VC, and not just because he plays for TOR.