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New York Knickerbockers

Obi Toppin throws down sick between-the-legs fast-break slam … while trailing the Pacers by seven

December 09, 2021

The New York Knicks are the talk of the town, and like usual, not for anything good. After making the playoffs and seemingly turning the corner under Tom Thibodeau last season, the Knicks have stumbled back down to earth in 2021, starting 12-13 amid the benching of Kemba Walker and the increasingly deranged howls of Stephen A. Smith.

With all that as the backdrop, the Knicks touched down in Indianapolis on Wednesday hoping to avoid their fourth loss in the past five. Midway through the second quarter, they appeared to get the spark they so desperately needed, when Obi Toppin threw down one of the dunks of the year, a filthy between-the-legs slam on the fast break. By Thursday morning, it had gone viral. Take a look.

Now take a closer look. At the time of the capital-Y Yam, the Knicks were trailing by seven. This has been passed around Twitter like a triumph of basketball artistry when it is, in fact, a very dumb play. You’re losing a must-win game against a dreaded rival on the road staring a sure-thing bucket in the face and you do everything in your power to make it less of a sure thing? It’s a miracle Tom Thibodeau didn’t ascend right there on the spot.

If you want to be generous, maybe Toppin was just trying to hype his guys up. Fine, whatever. But it didn’t work, as the Pacers led virtually wire to wire, claiming a 122-102 victory. However you feel about the dunk is however you feel about the dunk, but I think we can all agree that “bing bong” has never felt so far away.