The organizers of the 2010 Sprite Showdown Dunk Contest know what they're doing. The contest is set up for Friday night at the NBA Jam Session at the Dallas Convention Center. It will be broadcast live on the web before the rookie-sophomore game, but won't be on T.V. until Saturday -- and even then, it's on NBA TV. Yet it's almost guaranteed to get more buzz than the real shebang on Saturday night.

For one, LeBron James -- the mythical creature everyone wishes would have agreed to enter the dunk contest -- will judge the amateurs. Where LeBron goes, attention follows. (Darryl "Chocolate Thunder " Dawkins and Drake are the other two judges.) The broadcast circumstances, in which not many folks will watch live, but a few clips will make their way around the web, building excitement for Saturday's cable broadcast, is also a boon to the buzz factor. (I can already see myself hunting for Twitvids of the action late Friday night.)

Smith suffered a right shoulder strain during Friday's win over the Lakers and is questionable for Tuesday's game against Dallas, the Denver Post reports.

The injury was unreported before now and it didn't keep him sidelined for Saturday's game against Utah so it clearly acted up over the last 48 hours. The Post declared Smith the player most in danger of missing Tuesday's game against Dallas and said he'd be a game-time decision. With six players missing practice on Monday it's anyone's guess who Denver will put on the floor tonight and you'd probably be wise to go with another option over Smith until you know he's 100%, especially with the struggles he's had shooting when his shoulder was healthy.

Afflalo (ankle) did some work on the court Monday and pronounced himself ready to play Tuesday against the Mavericks, the Denver Post reports.

Afflalo worked out against the wishes of the training staff but clearly feels that the club needs him on the court as six players missed practice Monday due to an assortment of injuries.