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Odds to win the 2013 NBA All-Star Dunk Competition

2013 Dunk Contest Gambling Odds

Darryl Dawkins was born too early (1957) for the NBA All-Star break dunk contest, but when his time is up the ability to throw it down will no doubt be in the first paragraph of his obituary.

Chocolate Thunder, who spent most of his career in the NBA underachieving for the 76ers and Nets but also had stints with the Pistons and Jazz before calling it quits in 1989, was more enamored with shattering backboards (he inspired the creation of the spring-loaded breakaway rims now in use) than improving his skills.

He also loved to name his dunks. His personal favorite was believed to be “Chocolate Thunder-flying, Robinzine Crying,” but mine was the understated “Dunk You Very Much.”

None of the entrants in Saturday’s All-Star dunk contest has anywhere near the charm of Dawkins or many of the participants of years past. Big names (Griffin, James) seem now to make one obligatory appearance, then watch from the sidelines as athletic players – most of whom don’t even start – get their day in the sun.

The contest is one torn ACL away from being abolished, but until that happens the NBA gamely marches on with players hoping to make names for themselves on a national stage that eludes them during the regular season.

This year the participants are Indiana’s Gerald Green, Toronto’s Terrence Ross, New York’s James White, the Clippers’ Eric Bledsoe, Utah’s Jeremy Evans and Denver’s Kenneth Faried. The odds (courtesy bovada.lv):

JAMES WHITE (5/4) – White has at least thought about this in advance, telling anyone who will listen that he has five dunks that he figures will get perfect scores from the judges. That alone should give him an edge.

GERALD GREEN (4/1) – It’s been six years since Green (then with the Celtics) won the contest in Las Vegas. Since then he’s banged around the league and is finally starting to figure out the game, getting serious minutes with Indiana. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

TERRENCE ROSS (7/2) – With basketball struggling in Toronto, would you put it past David Stern to have a few words with the judges beforehand and indicate how beneficial it would be to ticket sales if a Raptor wins?

ERIC BLEDSOE (5/1) – Way overvalued. With the Clippers already losing two of every three games they play without Chris Paul, Vinny Del Negro should be fired on the spot if he hasn’t already told Bledsoe to take it easy. Bledsoe tearing up a knee is not ideal route to a long-term contract, either.

JEREMY EVANS (8/1) – Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson and Nate Robinson are the only back-to-back winners, and neither MJ nor Robinson deserved their second wins. At least Evans should be rested – he gets all of five minutes a game in Utah, and even one dunk in a real game would help improve his scoring average (1.4 ppg).

KENNETH FARIED (8/1) – Faried’s courageous stand in favor of gay rights (he was raised by two mothers) is a huge step forward for the league and for equal rights for the LGBT community. He’ll have a lot of supporters.

PREDICTED WINNER: Green

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By Lawrence Paul

Lawrence Paul is back in the saddle as a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. He's got an AMAZING knack for predicting when a team will have a letdown! Stick with our resident gambling experts sports betting tips all season long!