J.R. Smith Replaces Rudy Gay in Dunk Contest, Turns to Chris Andersen for Help

To borrow a phrase from Kenny Smith, All-Star Saturday is almost back before it even starts this year.

First, the excellent choices for the already excellent H-O-R-S-E contest. Then, the news that J.R. Smith will replace Rudy Gay in the Dunk Contest. I was mega-down on this year's field, and that was before the fans inexplicably added Rudy Fernandez. I would've preferred losing Fernandez, or Nate Robinson, over Gay, but I'll take it. Smith is an classic acrobatic, lithe guard, whose appearance in the contest is vastly underrated.

The real question, though, is whether Smith going to have enough time to prepare. For that, we turn to the Rocky Mountain News:

"I don't think so," Smith said his late naming being a disadvantage. "If you're a really good dunker, you should be able to come up with something on the fly."

Smith said he already has some ideas, but they're "top secret."

I think those ideas might be contradictory, but amen to both of them. Dunks should be creative, not homework assignments with audience input. And I want to be surprised by them.

One funny detail: Smith is apparently consulting teammate, and two-time dunk contestant, Chris Andersen. As the News puts it, J.R. should "make sure it's from what he did in the 2004 contest, not the 2005 one." It's funny, Andersen's 2005 debacle has all but eclipsed his Jack-approved 2004 showing. It's also funny that Smith and Andersen started together on the Hornets, then fell into NBA purgatory, and now are very productive, even key, members of the Nuggets. Though I doubt the league would ever see fit to invite the Birdman back to the Dunk Contest -- for multiple reasons.

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