ElimiNate

Near the end of his otherwise uninteresting profile of the increasingly overhyped Nate Robinson in this week's issue of New York magazine, Mark Jacobson makes an important point about the diminutive guard and, by extension, his frontcourt running mate, David Lee, both of whom will be restricted free agents this summer: "Fact is, both Robinson and Lee are sixth men on a team of seventh and eighth men."

I couldn't have said it better myself, particularly about Nate Robinson. When Nate burst onto the scene in 2005, I cheered on his histrionics and tantalizingly inconsistent play because, well, the Knicks didn't exactly have much else going for them at the time, and I honestly thought Nate had game, a belief that hasn't really changed over the years. As the team gears up for the future, though, it's becoming increasingly clear that Nate and his game don't exactly fit into the organization's long-term plans. Sure, Nate's an explosive role player, a quick spark off the bench. But he's not a building block—at least not for this team, which has failed to win more than 35 games in any year with him on the roster. What, exactly, has Nate shown over his tenure with the Knicks to warrant a second contract, other than two meaningless Slam Dunk titles and four years of losing basketball? For all his talents and razzle-dazzle, I'm afraid Nate is simply a luxury the Knicks can no longer afford.

Nate, Late Night

Nate Robinson appeared on the "The Late Show with David Letterman" last night, dunking over Biff Henderson, Letterman's stage manager. If I were Nate, I'd be a bit wary about turning into a circus act, but I have to give it to him: he's a natural showman and really does seem to thrive in the limelight. Since Nate seems intent on always being on, I can at least find some comfort in the fact that he didn't hurt himself and, in the three or four minutes he bantered with Letterman, came off better than, say, a contestant in Letterman's "Stupid Human Tricks" segment, and, thank God, Joaquin Phoenix.

Party Crashers

Further to my previous post about the potential renaissance of NBA's Slam Dunk Contest, I'd like to nominate both James "Flight" White and Keith "With Hops This Good, I Should Have a Nickname" Clark, both of the National Basketball Association's Development League, as participants in next year's contest against defending champion Nate Robinson and early favorite LeBron James. 

This is exactly the kind of athleticism that keeps the annual dunk contest relevant; it would be a crime against the league if it were to remain unnoticed.  

Keith Clark's third attempt, a 50. 

James White's answer, his second consecutive 50. 

Good lord. You can check out more of White's and Clark's incredible dunks here. Seriously, they're worth the look. Enjoy. 

(Via TrueHoop)

Color Me Impressed

Over the years, I've lost interest in the National Basketball Association's annual Slam Dunk Contest. Mostly because it's devolved into a series of sophomoric stunts, like Gerald Green's Cupcake Dunk or Dwight Howard's Sticker Dunk. Time was, the event was strictly about athleticism, like Michael Jordan taking off from behind the free throw line, or Dominique Wilkins' power windmills. Instead of coming up with more creative and more impressive displays of athleticism, twenty years down the line, the NBA's highest fliers are, for the most part, embarrassingly only concerned with kitsch, confection and capes. As a result, the contest has become, well, dull. 

Which is why Nate Robinson's final so-called "Kryptonite Dunk" over Dwight Howard last night is noteworthy and should excite fans of the long-forgotten art of dunking. Although it's been done before--even Nate's done it a few times-- five-foot-nothing Nate clearing the 6-11 Howard is an amazing athletic feat that at once followed in the spirit of the competition and, in the process, took it to new heights of athleticism and showmanship. Just as Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter and even Jason Richardson did before him, and after Julius Irving, Jordan and 'Nique. Add to that the news that LeBron will most likely participate in next year's contest (will he dunk on a 12-foot rim?) and we might be heading into a new and improved era of dunking.   

Nate the Great?

Not only did Nate Robinson put up 20 4th-quarter points last night to lead the suddenly playoff-bound Knicks over the Atlanta Hawks, but little Nate also laid claim to the 10th most popular jersey in the NBA. Robinson, seen here showing, contrary to popular belief, league-sanctioned jerseys are not reversible, beat out perennial All-Stars Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Ray Allen and Carmelo Anthony, whose respective jerseys came in at numbers 11, 12, 13 and 15. 

Robinson's isn't the only Knickerbocker jersey cluttering up fans' closets this season. David Lee, who recorded his ninth consecutive double-double last night--his 34th DD of the season--came in with the 14th best-selling jersey in the league. Not too shabby. 

Kobe, Kevin Garnett, LeBron, Chris Paul and Allen Iverson fill out the top five.