Jeremy Lin, Couch Would Have Been Dunk Contest Props

In the post-Nate Robinson era of the NBA Dunk Contest, we all agree that basic leap-over-the-prop dunks are the worst, correct? I mean, even Blake Griffin's Kia dunk was like, "Oh neat, I guess." But that dunk should have ended the trope once and for all. Unless, someone is going to jump over a river or Yao Ming, there's nothing left to do.

Yet Iman Shumpert, before he pulled out due to injury, planned to use the leap-over-the-prop trope this season. The prop would have guaranteed Shumpert victory, because the prop was going to be Jeremy Lin laying on a couch.

Marc Berman has that news, via P&T. Needless to say, it would have been a wholly boring but totally successful idea. I'm glad it won't happen, and not just because it opens the door for the hyperathletic Jeremy Evans. A little part of the dunk contest died when Griffin's Kia dunk did higher scores than JaVale McGee's amazing two three balls, one cup piece. The Couch Dunk would have further devolved the prop trope and the contest itself ... especially when it earned all of the fan votes.

(The best prop dunk ever remains The Birthday Cake. That should have been the last dunk ever. Not just in the dunk contest, but in all of basketball.)