Everyone’s idea of what constitutes a “poster” dunk is different. Some consider a poster to be any jam during which a defender is on the scene. Others suggest that there has to be contact. Many take a more literal approach to the term and pass judgment based on whether or not the dunk would look good on a bedroom wall. The best definition I’ve ever been able to come up with is as follows: any dunk in which a defender is between the dunker and the basket while the dunker is in the air.
Even when utilizing this definition, determining what is and what isn’t a poster remains an imperfect science. What is the precise meaning of “between,” for instance? Must the defender completely obstruct the path of the dunker, or can he be off to the side?
When it comes time for me to make such a decision, I tend to become an advocate of the eyeball test. If it looks like the man got posterized, then he probably got posterized. In the case of Harrison Barnes vs Ersan Ilyasova, it looked like Ersan got posterized. Nastily.
Alternate angle.
Having considered the dunk a poster, I must now rate it. Let me just say that this is the most difficult type of jam for me to assess. It was absolutely spectacular — one of the most incredible dunks I’ve seen this season — but it wasn’t a straight up facial. In this particular forum, contact matters. A 9/10 is the highest score I’ve ever given to a “fly-by” type dunk, and that’s what I’m going to give this one.
Honorable mention to Paul Millsap.
Dunk rating on the Starbury Nastiness Scale:
9/10
Throwback Poster of the Day: Dwight Howard drops his shoulder into Primoz Brezec, crushes the rim like a tin can…
