Robinson edges Howard to take dunk contest

Basketball Betting Lines

02/14/2009 - Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York's Nate Robinson earned 52 percent of the fans' votes to edge defending champion Dwight Howard, of Orlando, in the 2009 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Howard's final two dunks received a great roar from the crowd and appeared to give the big man the upper-hand in the competition. The first dunk had Howard stationed behind the hoop at the right corner. He ran in towards the basket, threw the ball off the side of the backboard and caught it before slamming home a one-handed beauty. His second attempt was a dunk from the foul line, though some aura was taken away as replays showed his foot to be over the line.

Robinson's first dunk in the final round saw the 5-foot-9 guard, wearing an all green Knicks uniform, throw a lob pass from the left wing, run up and catch it with two hands before bringing the ball between his legs and then over his head for a reverse slam. Robinson's second effort was a one-handed slam over Howard.

After the fans' votes were tallied, Robinson was deemed the slam dunk champion, a title he also claimed in 2006.

J.R. Smith's first dunk, where he threw himself a pass while standing at mid-court and then caught it and slammed it down with a windmill, earned him a score of 43. Smith's second dunk saw his Denver teammate Sonny Weems throw a pass from the stands that he caught and turned into a two-handed slam, which garnered 42 points for a total of 85.

Rudy Fernandez' first dunk was a behind-the-back pass off the backboard into a one-handed slam, and it earned him a 42. His second effort, with help from Pau Gasol of the Lakers, garnered him another 42 for a total score of 84. Gasol tossed the ball off the back of the backboard and Fernandez came running from the right side, caught it and threw down a one-handed reverse slam.

Portland's Fernandez and Smith failed to make it out of the first round.

Robinson offered a windmill dunk for his first dunk and used teammate Wilson Chandler for his second. The latter had Chandler on his hands and knees as Robinson ran in and used him as a step for a one-handed slam. Robinson's first-round total was 87, good for a trip to the second round.

Howard displayed a one-handed slam on his opening dunk and recruited teammate Jameer Nelson for the next. The spectacle that was Howard's second dunk had officials bring in a new backboard and hoop -- which were set a bit higher at 12 feet -- and then the 6-foot-11 Howard came out of a phone booth donning a Superman cape. The act was an homage to last year's event when he won while wearing a Superman cape.

The actual dunk was set up as Nelson threw a pass off the backboard that Howard caught before slamming a two-handed dunk home. His first two dunks were both scored at a perfect 50, setting up the dramatic final round.

In the Three-Point Shootout, Miami's Daequan Cook outlasted Orlando's Rashard Lewis in a tie-breaking round to take home the title.

Toronto's Jason Kapono, who had won this event the previous two years, went first in the second round and tallied 14 points, but was then eliminated as Lewis followed with a 15-point showing. Lewis nailed the go-ahead basket on his last shot, the multi-colored "money-ball" worth two points.

Cook then matched Lewis during his turn, dramatically sinking four of his final five shots to force a tie-breaking round.

Lewis went cold in the extra round, tallying just seven points before Cook racked up 19 points to take the title.

Atlanta's Mike Bibby (14), Indiana's Danny Granger (13) and San Antonio's Roger Mason (13) were all eliminated after the first round, while Cook (18), Lewis (17) and Kapono (16) all advanced.

Kapono failed in his attempt to become the third-ever player to win three straight Three-Point Shootout titles, as Boston's Larry Bird (1986-88) and Chicago's Craig Hodges (1990-92) are the only two to accomplish the feat.

Chicago's Derrick Rose, with a time of 35.3 seconds, edged Devin Harris' 39.7 seconds in the finals to take the Skills Challenge.

The Skills Challenge is made up of a course that includes various dribbling, shooting and passing obstacles.

Rose finished the first round with a time of 33.3 seconds, and New Jersey's Harris finished the course the first time in 36.9 ticks.

"It was amazing," said Rose. "This whole experience being here, I never thought that I would be playing in the All-Star Weekend or be a part of it."

Cleveland's Mo Williams and San Antonio's Tony Parker were knocked out in the first round.

Utah's Deron Williams won this event last year following a repeat championship showing from Miami's Dwyane Wade in 2006 and 2007.

With a time of 58.4 seconds, Team Detroit beat Team Phoenix in the final round of the Shooting Stars competition.

The stars competition is made up of NBA, WNBA and former NBA stars attempting to make baskets from six different marked spots on the court.

Slightly edging host Phoenix's time of 1:15 in the finals, Arron Afflalo, Bill Laimbeer and Katie Smith gave Detroit its second Shooting Stars title in three years, as it also captured the 2007 crown.

"I'm sure we made a lot of Detroit folks very proud tonight," said Smith.

San Antonio, comprised of Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Becky Hammon, and Los Angeles, made up of Derek Fisher, Michael Cooper and Lisa Leslie, were knocked out in the first round with scores of 1:06 and 1:16, respectively.

Phoenix appeared it was in position to edge Detroit in the finals, as Leandro Barbosa, Dan Majerle and Tangela Smith hit each of Phoenix' first five shots to put the team on the final mark -- a half court shot. But Phoenix struggled with the finale and failed to capture the title as its time exceeded Detroit's.

This same San Antonio trio captured the 2008 Shooting Stars title.

The festivities were a prelude to the 58th annual NBA All-Star game, scheduled to take place Sunday at US Airways Center at 8:30 p.m. (et).

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

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