I'm just not understanding why the NBA has always,
always felt a need to change the format of the dunk contest virtually every single year. The first big, random change I recall was turning each player's round into a 90-second routine, like figure skating, leading to tired players and rushed dunks (Rider '95:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvyttJXWLaw). Then there was the dreaded wheel in '02 which led to Steve Francis being required to complete a Stansbury, one-foot Statue of Liberty 360. This coincided with the reduction of possible contestants from 6 to 4 (despite more players wanting entry). This then led to the infusion of props leading to the current baffling decision to remove real judges and have just one round. Unbelievable.