Dunkers underwhelm, Saturday Night confuses

Terrence Ross jumped over a kid while doing a windmill after donning a Vince Carter jersey to recreate one of the great dunk contest dunks. Jeremy Evans foretold his own windmill over a painting of him doing a windmill over a painting by jumping over a painting of him doing a windmill over a painting.

Are you confused?

The West won All-Star Saturday Night… I think.

It was a night of, "Huh?" on Saturday night at Toyota Center as the league's annual showcase of talent in contrived games and competitions that made just slightly more sense than the contrived scoring system the league concocted to test some of the most talented players in the league.

The winners were Ross in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. Although some disputed the score of his first dunk. Ross made it in by default when James White and Gerald Green failed to make their attempts in the second round of dunking. Two beats one on made dunks… I guess.

In the West, Jeremy Evans, Kenneth Faried and Eric Bledsoe were able to put down some impressive jams but the format of the contest — with a player from each conference going to the finals — prevented the two best dunkers from actually competing for the dunk crown.

At least the Foot Locker Three Point Shootout lived up to the billing. Kyrie Irving won the contest, unseating Matt Bonner in the finals with an amazing final performance. Irving is really beginning to take over this All-Star Weekend. Another great performance Sunday and we might have to call this the Weekend of Kyrie.

That would be a nice thing considering how Irving has hit the scene this year and how many see him as a potential perennial All Star.

This one was still a head scratcher though. Nobody seem invested in the new East-West format for the Saturday Night competitions and the scoring for it was confusing as well. The pomp and circumstance seemed to be amiss. And everyone wanted that desperately to return.

It was a disappointing night. At least, I think it was. I am still a bit confused about what the fans in Houston witnessed tonight.

For more coverage from All-Star Saturday Night check out Jeff Garcia of Project Spurs look at the night's festivities.

About Philip Rossman-Reich

Philip Rossman-Reich is the managing editor for Crossover Chronicles and Orlando Magic Daily. You can follow him on twitter @OMagicDaily

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