Toronto Raptors Quarterly Awards for 2016 Season
By Demar Grant
Dunk of the Year
Jakob Poeltl Divides Tim Hardaway Jr. by Zero
This is the Toronto Raptors we’re talking about so we have to give away a Dunk of the Year award. Jakob Poeltl has only played a handful of minutes for the Raptors so far but he has seen spot minutes at substitute Center. This dunk comes in the famed garbage time, when Poeltl gives us a daily reminder not to leave any game early because you have no idea what may happen.
A strong nomination for this category was DeMar DeRozan’s dunk over Tristan Thompson but Poeltl has something DeRozan doesn’t have. Poeltl is a big man, although young, he’s not known for athletic prowess and to see him takeoff from outside of the paint to throw it down over Tim Hardaway Jr is like watching a stone golem sprout wings and jet engine.
The best part about the dunk (other than Poeltl turning Hardaway Jr. into “that dude Poeltl ended”) was the crowd and team reaction — just watch the bench after he hits the deck.
This was also the exclamation point on a very pronounced Raptors victory and it was a huge moment for a rookie that isn’t going to see a lot of floor time this season.
Rule # 32: Enjoy the Little things
Other Nominees: DeMar DeRozan rends Tristan Thompson, Patrick Patterson soars and lands over Kris Humphries