Well the video of Lebron getting “dunked on” inevitably failed to live up to the hype……

(go ahead and scroll to the :30 second mark)

As far as I can tell he didn’t actually get dunked on.  This is the 2009 equivalent of MJ stepping over to help on John Starks and half-heartedly trying to make a play on the ball.  People continue to claim Jordan got “dunked on.”  Even Ho’ Grant didn’t really get dunked ON.  Starks slid by him, was forced into a tough finish, and came through.

In my mind, for a defender to be truly posterized, the dunker has to go up and over, absorb serious body contact, and throw it down with anger and hatred in his eyes.  If I were a poster maker, these would be my 3 requirements.

In the Starks case, Grant was posterized but really only 33.3% dunked on.  Starks finished with authority but didn’t really go over Grant or take any body contact.  Ho’s biggest fault here is simply not fouling the shit out of him (Down 3 points with :47 seconds left in a playoff game?  If that situation doesn’t call for a hard foul I don’t know what does).

In Lebron v. Jordan Crawford, none of my requirements are met.  Crawford had a nice little drive, but wasn’t coming down the lane with the intention of challenging King James.  Like MJ in The Dunk, Lebron stepped over late and did what he could to prevent a bucket, but ultimately wasn’t even in “getting dunked on” position.

Anyway, my whole point here is that the definition for being “dunked on” is used waaaay too loosely.  There are only a few plays a year that really qualify for poster status.

Which brings me to my Top 10 All Time Posterizations…..click on the title for video:

10.  Tracy McGrady on Sean Bradley

Poor Sean.  Most NBA players in the league from 1993-2005 dunked on Bradley, but this was the best of the bunch.

9.  Kobe on Yao

8.  Baron Davis on Andrei Kirilenko

I can’t decide which is better…

7.  Kevin Johnson on Hakeem

Almost the same dunk as Boom Dizzle’s, but instead of dunking on Kirkilenko, KJ took it over the leading shot blocker in NBA history

6.  Michael Jordan on Kelly Tripucka

Yes I know this screenshot is terrible, but somehow no picture exists of this dunk.  You really need to watch the video to appreciate it (scroll to the 2:10 mark).  The epitome of being posterized.

5.  Kobe on Dwight Howard

Disgusting

2.  Tom Chambers on Mark Jackson

I wish there were a better picture of this one.   Easily the most underrated dunk of all time.  Also possibly the highest a white man has ever jumped….

3.  Lebron James on Damon Jones

Bear in mind Jones was facing Lebron at the beginning of this play.

MOVE BITCH, GET OUT THE WAY

2.  Scottie Pippen on Patrick Ewing

My favorite part of this dunk is Pippen shoving Ewing to the ground, standing over him, then talking shit to Spike Lee and getting T’d up.  Awesome.

1.  Vince Carter on Frederic Weis

Wow.   KG’s face says it all.

A Real Look at Lebron Getting Dunked On (Barstoolsports.com)

You Got Dunked On (YouGotDunkedOn.com)