Dwight Howard ambled out for the pregame shoot-around and was all smiles. He was fresh from a great performance at the all-star game in Vegas, but everyone seemed only interested in asking about his dunk. You know, the one with the sticker? If you haven't seen it yet, check it out http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5saBDOE6Sc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbenchrenaldo%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F
Howard said he actually put the sticker up higher than the 12'6" that he announced on the placard after the dunk. He said when he practiced, he hit 12'6" on the backboard, but in the contest he got up much higher, according to the tape measure.
It was an impressive dunk, but my suggestion was that he would have scored big points if on his next attempt he scraped the sticker off the backboard.
But anyway . . . word is runner-up Nate Robinson actually had the potential contest-clincher. But the Garden brass wouldn't allow it. Get this, apparently N8 the Gr8 planned to do a Vegas-themed dunk, with him jumping over a Playboy bunny working at a blackjack table. He practiced it on Friday at nearby Western High School. MSG Network cameras caught the dunk -- which was successful in practice. MSG officials were said to be concerned about N8's safety. (Do you think perhaps they were also concerned about the buxom blackjack dealer's safety, too? The Garden has had enough lawsuits for one era.)
It would have been a show-stopper, no doubt. Even stingy Michael Jordan -- whom TNT commentator Kenny Smith dubbed "the Russian judge" -- would have to give that one a 10.
Word is, Michael loves the blackjack table.