Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Scottie Barnes Says 360 Dunk Was a Response to His Teammates
Scottie Barnes was disappointed in Pascal Siakam.
It was just a few days ago that Siakam picked off an errant pass from the Detroit Pistons and took it end-to-end for a one-handed slam.
Boring, Barnes thought, as he sat on the sideline for the Toronto Raptors still recovering from his ailing left wrist injury.
"I remember last game when it was either O.G. or Pascal had a fastbreak dunk and I said do something with it, like that was weak, a simple, one-hand dunk," Barnes joked Monday following practice.
It's why he decided to show off his own high-flying theatrics Sunday evening when his fastbreak opportunity presented itself. A picked-off pass by Siakam set Barnes up with a one-on-zero opportunity and plenty of runway to take off.
"So when I got it, it automatically hit my mind that I told him that," said Barnes. "So I gotta do something. I really wanted to do a windmill 360 but I just did a 360."
It wasn't the most powerful dunk but if flair was what Barnes was going for, it was impressive. Moments later, though, O.G. Anunoby had a response of his own, using a fastbreak chance to throw down a far more powerful reverse slam with a pump fake mixed in.
"I think he wanted to do a 360 too but he didn’t want to be like me, he wanted to do something different," Barnes said of Anunoby's dunk. "He went for power."
As for who the best dunker on the team is, well, it depends on who you ask. Anunoby gave the honor to Barnes when the topic came up Sunday night. Barnes said he thinks it's Precious Achiuwa.
"He got a lot of power, he can do a lot of tricks, he’s very athletic," Barnes said. "I wouldn’t want to give it to myself. ... I don’t really got bounce like that. I got a 40-inch vert, but I don’t really know how to do the tricks."
Further Reading
Raptors hold off Wizards all but clinching spot in play-in tournament
Jeff Dowtin Jr. continues to force Toronto's hand as contract decisions lurk
Raptors get up close Look at how rough tanking can be in blowout of Pistons
