Slam dunks are a common occurrence in the NBA, as are guys getting posterized. Yet many seem to believe that Roy's destruction last night of Cheikh Samb is an Epic Dunk™ and this opinion is shared by many who aren't Blazer homers.

But how does it rate, really?

First, it's useful to divide dunks into several categories--unguarded, lightly guarded, and contested. Unguarded dunks are those in which the defense cannot contest the shot--there is no defense present, the defense is sufficiently out of position that they cannot make a play, or the defense intentionally lets the guy score (to avoid a fould).

With lightly guarded dunks, there is a defender in the picture--but he cannot effectively challenge the shot. Many times the weakside help comes too late. Or its Shaq or some other dreadnought center throwing it down over a guard who is powerless to challenge the shot. Many cheap "posterizations" come this way; when a guy regarded as a good defender (say, a Tim Duncan) gets posterized, usually it's because he was out of position and made an attempt to protect the basket, but was too late.

But the best in-game dunks come against a set defense--where a defender (or two) is in position to challenge the shot, and the offensive player throws it down regardless--using superior skill or athleticism to beat the defense. Roy's throwdown over Samb was of this type--Samb was easily between Roy and the basket, and was offering defensive resistance. Roy just went over him anyway.

(Bayless' dunk last week was also against defense--but of a different category all its own. Rex beat a guy off of the dribble-drive and got to the hoop uncontested; but the final shot wasn't contested by a shotblocker. It was also a thing of beauty, but of a different sort).

Many consider the finest posterization of a big man by a guard to be the "Dunk of Death", where Vince Carter literally jumped over French stiff Frederic Weis during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Vince's gonads literally went over Weis' hair on the way to the hoop. Brandon's dunk over Samb wasn't quite as wicked--but it came close.

So, it is asked--how doesRoy v. Sambrate in the history of in-game dunks? Be honest.