This is the thread where we will discuss Dwight Howard's All-Star weekend. Posts about his performances in the All-Star game or the Dunk Contest should all go in here. I'm predicting that Dwight wins the dunk contest because he has said he has something special up his sleeve. Hopefully he plays well in his first All-Star game as well but I'm not expecting too much since it's usually a game that's dominated by the guards. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to see a few blocks and a couple nice dunks but other than that I expect Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to most of the scoring. Anyways, Go Dwight! Here is a good article about how Dwight hopes to use the All-Star game to increase his popularity. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">For most players, the NBA All-Star weekend is a relaxing time to party-hop, strut their stuff and --- oh, yeah --- play a little hoops. The actual competitive events are often an afterthought. Unless you are on the cusp of breaking into the big-time. For Magic center Dwight Howard, 21, it's a whirlwind of chances to raise your Q rating and become a household name. "This is big for us," Howard's agent, Aaron Goodwin said. Howard is in the dunk contest, and --- unlike other young stars -- he is not taking it lightly. He actually campaigned to be in it, while the likes of Kobe and D-Wade didn't give a thought about entering. For Howard, the dunk is a prime-time hourlong commercial. For him. For adidas. Adidas already has his picture plastered next to Kevin Garnett's on the side of the Lexor Hotel in Vegas. As for the game, Howard's dream would be to get the ball a few times and show what he can do, wow the glitzy crowd with his mind-boggling athleticism at 6-11, 272 pounds. He was like the kid tagging along the Team USA last summer. The All-Star weekend is his time, his time to introduce himself to everybody outside Orlando. He's the new kid, Shaq Lite. He has the kind of charisma that could, oh, appeal to some major corporations who will be wined and dined at the event. Dwight Howard hopes that big grin ends up coming into your living room often, pitching all kinds of products. Goodwin has been patiently waiting for Howard's game to catch up before he unleashes what he believes to be a total package. Now it has. If it goes the way Camp Howard hopes, Dwight Howard, when he returns, will no longer belong to just Orlando. He'll belong to the world. </div> Source In other news, Jameer Nelson is sick and may not be able to accompany Dwight to Vegas to help him in the Dunk Contest. I'll post if any updates are released.
Jameer isn't going to be able to help? Didn't his "secret" move involve Nelson to an extent? Sucks for both of them. Still, can't wait to see Dwight in the dunk contest.
Yeah, Jameer was supposed to help. Dwight left today and as of last night they weren't sure if Nelson was well enough to go. Updates should be coming out later today. Here's the article: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Magic point guard Jameer Nelson said after Wednesday night's game that he was too "dizzy" to play and didn't know if he could accompany teammate Dwight Howard to Las Vegas today to help him in the all-star slam dunk contest. "I don't know. I hope so," Nelson said. Nelson missed two days of practice with flu-like symptoms and sat out the game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Nelson went over to Howard in the locker room and wished him well. "I'll see you in the morning?" Howard asked. "You're going." Howard plans to have Nelson either throw him passes in the dunk contest or team with him on some other idea to impress judges.</div> Source
He might bring Hedo along if Jameer can't go. Turkoglu made the inbounds pass that gave us the win over San Antonio and after that game in the locker room, Hedo was joking and saying, "Now ask him who he wants to take to Vegas!" and Dwight laughed and said, "Hedo, baby!" If Nelson is too sick, he might go with Hedo.
Yeah, I can't even imagine what Dwight has in store. In Brian Schmitz's blog, he said that everyone has been telling Dwight to bring the backboard down or tear the rim off. If he can do that, I will be amazed.
that would be insane...i have a feeling that dwight will win, i dont know why, it's just that the things' he's saying sound like 10's, all of them...i mean if he can kiss the rim and do a windmill (i think that's what they said) that's an automatic 50, dunking with someone on your back is simply incredible, another 50...the scary part is that those might only be 1st round dunks, i can't imagine what he has in store for the finals
On ESPN Insider today, there was an article saying that Dwight asked permission from the NBA to raise the rim to 12 feet during the dunk contest but they said NO! This pisses me off because I think it would make things more exciting. Apparently, Nate Robinson also asked if he could raise the rim (that'd be quite a sight) and they told him no too. Why is the league so strict? These guys are trying to get creative, have fun, and put some life back into this thing and the NBA has to **** all over them. Pretty stupid if you ask me. EDIT: I found this interesting as well: There is a Statue of Liberty replica outside of the New York, New York Hotel in Las Vegas and the NBA chose to put Dwight's All-Star jersey on it. I think that's pretty cool because the NBA chose him over 23 other All-Stars and he isn't even starting. Obviously the league is trying to market Dwight and I think it's awesome that he's getting some respect and attention. This could really be Howard's coming out party this weekend and I hope he does great! Here is a link to the picture of the replica with his jersey: http://www.nba.com/gallery/allstar2007/070215_6.html
On ESPN Insider today, there was an article saying that Dwight asked permission from the NBA to raise the rim to 12 feet during the dunk contest but they said NO! This pisses me off because I think it would make things more exciting. Apparently, Nate Robinson also asked if he could raise the rim (that'd be quite a sight) and they told him no too. Why is the league so strict? These guys are trying to get creative, have fun, and put some life back into this thing and the NBA has to **** all over them. Pretty stupid if you ask me. EDIT: I found this interesting as well: There is a Statue of Liberty replica outside of the New York, New York Hotel in Las Vegas and the NBA chose to put Dwight's All-Star jersey on it. I think that's pretty cool because the NBA chose him over 23 other All-Stars and he isn't even starting. Obviously the league is trying to market Dwight and I think it's awesome that he's getting some respect and attention. This could really be Howard's coming out party this weekend and I hope he does great! Here is a link to the picture of the replica with his jersey: http://www.nba.com/gallery/allstar2007/070215_6.html
hmm 12 ft thats interesting..u never know..stern may change his mind and let him do it. This also lets me know dwight is def thinking creativity and wants to win this
<div class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Damn, sitting on the rim? At least your expectations aren't too high. </div> Yeah Swish, I was thinking the same thing. How about this?? A 720 dunk. He said he's been working with Dee Brown former dunk champ himself and they've been practicing some crazy ass dunks. A 720, possible double between the legs, raising the rim to 12 feet, kiss the rim, putting money on top of the backboard and getting it. These dunks would be insane.
Stern is a little ************ for not letting Dwight raise the rim. Let these guys do their thing... man. chill out.
