Amar'e Dunks On Celtics Erden, Electrifies MSG - video

 Amar'e Stoudemire rocked the rim at Madison Square Garden with a devastating dunk on Celtic center Semih Erden. The jam came off a smooth pick and roll with Knick point guard Raymond Felton. The play's execution may have made coach Mike D'Antoni forget about Steve Nash for good.
 Erden did his best Chris Bosh imitation and tried to escape the poster, but to no avail. Better to put a hand up and get dunked on than recoil and run away. Erden, fail.
 Stoudemire scored 39 points and extended his franchise record of consecutive of 30+ games to nine. The Knicks lost when Amar'e sank a three point shot 0.1 of a second too late. The loss snaps the Knicks winning streak at eight, their longest such streak since 1994.

 Moral victories don't mean much, but this game is a sign that basketball is back in a big way in New York City. Amar'e is playing better than any Knick since young Patrick Ewing and maybe even since Bernard King in the '80s. He's tied for the league lead in dunks with 53. He's third in the league in scoring (26.2 ppg), eighth in blocks (1.96 bpg) and tenth in double-doubles (12).
 The Miami Heat are up next. The Garden will be rocking in anticipation. Hopefully Amar'e will wreak thunder on Chris Bosh and the Knicks will stop the Heat's winning streak at ten.

Top 10 NBA Dunks of November

 Blake Griffin is exploding into his rookie year with dunks everywhere on anybody. Teammate Eric Gordon adds to the mix. Derrick Rose has some thunder. Russell Westbrook gets involved. There's even a Knick in the mix. Which dunk do you like the best?

How LeBron James Can Save Face

 LeBron James had a chance to be the dude everybody loved. Instead he chose to go play with the Miami Heat featuring Dwyane Wade and some sucker name Bitch Posh. It's not so bad that he chose to switch teams. It's how he did it, trying to be cute on smug, braincell killing interviews with Larry King and Jim Gray.

 Between his sideline boogie, indulgent commercials and grabs for off-court media attention, it has seemed like LeBron will do anything to be noticed and liked. Anything except the one thing we all want to see him do. 

 What should LeBron James do to save face and slow the hate? Participate in this year's slam dunk contest. 

 

 LeBron is one of the most outstanding dunkers in NBA history. His combination of size and power lead to rim rocking climaxes with more consistent fury than anyone before him. Yet he continues to shrink away from the biggest stage for all dunkers - the Slam Dunk contest. 

 During the off-season of 2009, he said he'd definitely be in the contest at All-Star break 2010. Instead he dipped his toes in the pool and skipped away like a timid, squealing 8 year old weakling. We were left with Nate Robinson claiming his third title in a forgettable night of dunks.

 Now is the time for LeBron to give back to the game which has made him a mega-millionaire by giving the fans what they want. Except it can't just be any slam dunk contest with guys like Birdman and Andre Iguodala. It's gotta be on some next level, everybody gotta watch, remember this night forever type competition.

 LeBron should challenge Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson to a showdown in this year's Slam Dunk contest at Kobe's gym, the Staples Center.

 Blake Griffin has been annihilating rims throughout his first month in the NBA. He dunks on people with zero remorse. He goes open court with it like a bigger, badder LeBron. And he always seems dazed afterward, like he's zoned out on dunk adrenaline. The rookie has crashed into the league with a vengeance. Who better to humble a wannabe king than Griffin? Or who better for a wannabe king to humble than a young buck like Blake?

 And then there's Superman himself, Dwight Howard. We know LeBron won't be getting an MVP award this year. Deep down, Dwight must want it to be his year. What better way to chip away at the reigning MVP than to knock him down at the Slam Dunk contest? As for LeBron, beating Howard would give him a win over the last truly stunning dunker in the contest. Dwight's Superman Slam put him in the stratosphere with Michael Jordan and Vince Carter. If LeBron can outdo Superman, how could we not start to forgive him for "The Decision"?

 

 Nate Robinson is the reigning champ and has won more Slam Dunk contests than any other player in NBA history. For LeBron to truly claim the crown, he must dethrone the champ. If Nate can beat Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard and LeBron James, he would be more than a novelty who won despite some suspect performances. He'd be the little guy who is the average man's hero. At 5'9", it's easier for us to want to be like Nate than giants like LeBron, Blake and Dwight. Nate's challenge is to be the all-time NBA David among the league's most powerful dunking Goliaths.

 Commissioner David Stern likes to throw wrinkles into the Slam Dunk contest - like guys have to do dunks based on past contest dunks or guys have to catch passes from teammates. This year, he should make it simple. Let's pay tribute to the greatest dunker of the late 90s, the last great leaping 2-guard. Vince Carter. Every dunker in this year's Slam Dunk contest has to do one of the dunks Vince Carter did when he won the dunk crown in 2000. 

 The judges - Kobe (Staples Center host), Vince Carter (of course), Michael Jordan (so he can hate on everyone and get booed for it), Dikembe Mutombo (just because he's mad cool and makes bugged out faces off good dunks) and Kenny Smith (TNT factor). 

 Let's make it happen. Start petitions. Tell your friends. Hit LeBron, Blake, Dwight and Nate up on twitter. We want to *witness* the Super Slam Dunk Contest of all time! Blake Griffin. Dwight Howard. Nate Robinson. LeBron James.

 

Blake Griffin Dunks On Knicks, Amar'e Shows Respect - video

 Blake Griffin continued his dunking dominance Saturday night against the Knicks. His latest monster slam was so nasty that Amar'e Stoudemire gave the rookie a nod during the next dead ball situation. 

 Griffin finished the game with career highs at 44 points and 7 assists. He also grabbed 15 rebounds. Stoudemire scored 39 points, his most as a Knick, and grabbed 11 boards. 

 The Knicks won 124-115 and finished their Western road trip with a three game winning streak. The Clippers have lost 9 straight. 

 If NBA commissioner David Stern insists on contracting a franchise, the 1-13 Clippers must be tops on the list. 

Andrew Bogut Gets Revenge On Amar'e Stoudemire

 Andrew Bogut suffered one of the most horrific injuries in NBA history last year when he dislocated his right elbow, broke his right hand and sprained his right wrist after crashing to the floor on a dunk. Amar'e Stoudemire, then with the Phoenix Suns, nudged Bogut while he was in the air, leading to the disastrous fall of the Milwaukee Bucks' center.

 "He completely dismantled his elbow and wrist," said NBA announcer Mike Breen. "He will not get full range of motion back. It'll never go back to 100%."

 Bogut's injury is arguably the hardest video to watch in sports. Right up there with Joe Theismann's leg and LeBron James' "The Decision". Yet the Australian center has no problem watching his own agonizing fall. According to Breen, Bogut's approach is, "I don't care. I want to see what happened."

 Tuesday night, Bogut faced Stoudemire for the first time since suffering his injury. The two players met at midcourt for the pre-game Captain's meeting. Stoudemire asked Bogut if he was doing OK as they shook hands. Bogut briefly responded in the affirmative and the two returned to their warmup rituals. 

 

 The Bucks jumped out to a big early lead and outplayed the Knicks throughout the game. After being elbowed by Bogut while fighting for a rebound during the third quarter, Stoudemire lashed out at him and the Bucks' bench, drawing a technical foul. 

 "It was intentional," Stoudemire said of Bogut's flying elbows. "I think they might have amped him up to play very physical out there. That might have been the way he reacted on the court."

 Either that or Bogut remembers being pushed by the same Amar'e Stoudemire, leaving his arm in multiple fragments of agony.

 Bogut capped off a late third quarter, ten point Bucks run by blocking Stoudemire's and running the floor for an Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oye Oye Oye, outback mega dunk.

 A shattered elbow paid back with a tech inducing elbow. A broken hand repaid with a block and a monster slam. Missed playoffs avenged by serving Stoudemire his most lopsided defeat with the Knicks, 107-80. Bogut shot 5-5. The avenging dunk was his final bucket of the night. 

    

Derrick Rose Posterizes NY Knicks - Video

 Derrick Rose punished the NY Knicks for playing matador defense with a dramatic, emphatic jam. I bet even Michael Jordan's statue outside the United Center came alive off this one. Arguably the most devastating Chicago Bulls dunk since 1998 when M.J. left the building.
 Rose eviscerated Toney Douglas before posterizing Danilo Gallinari.
 Somewhere Slim Chin is lubed up and shrieking, "Daaayum that's freaky nice. Fast don't lie."
      

Hakim Warrick Posterizes Raja Bell & Paul Millsap - Video

 Hakim Warrick simultaneously posterized Raja Bell and Paul Millsap of the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Warrick finished a strong pick and roll off of a pass from Steve Nash that led to the devastation of Bell and Millsap. Nash shook Al Jefferson and Deron Williams to set up the play.
 Phoenix misses Amar'e Stoudemire a little less now that Warrick has taken over as thunder dunker of the Suns. The Suns won 108-92. Warrick finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
    

Shannon Brown Flies Over Richardson

Shannon Brown had the most vicious nastiest awe inspiring almost dunk in NBA history last night. On the break, he just about jumped over Jason Richardson & threatened the rim with a flying jam that would have brought the Staples Center down.

Almost counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and human-leaping in-game dunks.

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Tony Allen's Monster Dunks

Want dunk highlights from this year's playoffs? Tony Allen is bringing them with thunder & mayhem.

Thursday night he put Antawn Jamison on a poster snuffing out the ounce of heart the Cavs forward had left. Yesterday he caught the whole Magic defense sleeping with a scorching alley oop from Rajon Rondo. 

Both dunks are 10s. Enjoy.