Rockets' Gerald Green feels he could still put on a show in a dunk contest

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NEW ORLEANS - In a blatantly missed opportunity, no one put a birthday cupcake on the rim in Smoothie King Center to invite Gerald Green to blow out the candle. If they had, however, he said he could have celebrated his 32nd birthday by reprising his 2008 dunk contest slam in that arena when he blew out a candle perched on the rim.

He would still like the chance.

While that might have been nice for him to know, it also represented the progress he has made working his way into game shape since signing with the Rockets Dec. 28 and immediately driving their shorthanded offense with his shooting.

"I could do it," Green said. "If I could get in the dunk contest, if anybody asked me, I would probably get in. Two weeks ago, I was just back from sitting on the coach. I had to get those things (his legs) back going. I think they can get even better.

"I think I can do that (stuff). I could blow out two candles, one on one side of the rim, one on the other. Back then, I could blow out one and glide to the other side and blow out the other. Now, I would do the same thing (as 2008), but blow out two candles."

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