Forgive me for a moment, as I attempt to point out a great, shining, silver lining. For the first time since a March matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James, Scottie Barnes was handed the role of closer, as the Raptors bent possessions in his favor to provide a platform for his talents. The Raptors allowed the Nets to shoot 60-percent from the floor over the course of the game. Allowed is maybe a bit harsh, considering that nearly 40-percent of Brooklyn’s overall attempts came from the mid-range and they shot 65-percent there – sometimes the shot makers kill you – but, alas they had to contend with that scoring. The Nets as a whole shot 70-percent in the final quarter, and that’s what Barnes had to try and lead his team up against on the other end.
He was very nearly perfect. It’s not that he scored every time down, made no mistakes, and led his team to victory. It’s that he shot 5-5 from the field, 7-7 from the free throw line, and continuously met the moment in front of him. You can make the case that this was the best quarter of his young career.
“He’s a hell of a player. If we didn’t know that already, you should know that now. He’s a hell of a player.” Fred VanVleet said of Barnes after the game. “That’s why everyone is so excited with him and why expectation is so high. And it’s good for him. There’s going to be ups and downs, there’s going to be challenges, but the magic is in making it through that and persevering and fighting through adversity, and he’s done that. Again, I’m going to be there for him when he plays like shit, and you guys will write all your articles and talk about him, and I’ll still be there putting my arm around him, and when he plays good, I’ll try to find ways to help him play better. He’s such a competitor and wants to win. When it’s good it’s great, and when it’s not, not so much, but we’ve all been through it, and nobody’s perfect.”
Those ups and downs that VanVleet is talking about are, of course, a part of Barnes’ season. Jayson Tatum spoke openly about changing game plans for the Raptors young star. Kevin Durant has lobbed compliments and insight Barnes’ way every time they’ve played – and that insight is typically about ups and downs. Not only has Barnes struggled this year and found his way past it, but he did just that in last nights game.
The young phenom started the game 3-13 from the field, and did so largely because of the static post-ups that he was being given. An uncomfortable play type for him, but something he tried regardless. If you’re thinking “hey, I’ve seen Scottie do really well in post-ups” you’re correct to some degree, but those are generally post-ups that come as a result of a bully drive – a drive that turns into a post-up. When Barnes is given a post entry pass, things don’t go well, but when he has a live dribble, is facing the basket and can shift his weight going downhill: he’s pretty damn good. This was one of my main observations last year when I did that deep dive on every possession of his.
“You get comfortable after your first year, but you realize you really got to put your foot on the gas and get even better in your second and third year.”
Kevin Durant on Barnes’ continued growth
To start this game, Barnes stretched his legs into situations where he doesn’t typically succeed. The Raptors certainly made sure he got his touches, and maybe that’s something they’ve been discussing more, but they weren’t necessarily the type of touches that allow him to thrive. The Raptors were buoyed early by VanVleet’s dazzling offensive performance and Barnes’ trial and error, with mostly error was a quiet footnote of the first 3 quarters.
“I think that you guys are waiting for him to hatch into some beautiful butterfly. I mean, that’s up to him. His development is totally up to him, however fast or long that takes is gonna be up to him, and it’s our job to try to support him in that and tell him the truth and keep him honest, and hold him accountable.”
Fred VanVleet on Scottie Barnes
You have to think, on some level, the Raptors being able to go to Barnes down the stretch is finally a bit of a reward in how they like to structure their offense. The Nets are pre-switching actions to gum up the Raptors favourite duo — Siakam and VanVleet — but they can’t pre-switch everything, cover all bases with top-tier defenders. Enter Barnes to feast on any matchup available to him. What started with a lazy, ho-hum finish in transition where the seas parted before him, started to become possessions where he was manually parting seas, stepping through them and dunking on the basket on the other side. Durant, Ben Simmons, Yuta Watanabe – all of them lost their possessions against him in one-on-one play. Some of it came after screening actions, and there were some attempts to ice and all that, but everything eventually flattened out before Barnes flattened them.
“Just really try to get a switch, find the right defender, and then try to attack from there.”
Scottie Barnes on his process late in the game
Bruising, punishing, boundless drives toward the bucket. Durant let him get too deep and make a hook shot. Then he tried to step in front, put an end to it, only to have Barnes displace him from the driving lane before finishing at the bucket. Words came after the basket, and a technical was called. Barnes shifted the game with his physicality, his live dribble, and his finishing touch. He forced his way to the line when shots weren’t there, and did so while assuming Siakam’s role as the ball-handler in the ghosted pick n’ roll. Not only did he keep the game close, but he tied it up at the line with 8 seconds to play.
One of the coolest aspects of basketball is the diversity in successes on the court. There’s so many ways to get a bucket or stop one. What might be even cooler, though? When everyone knows what’s coming, and it can’t be stopped anyway. Barnes was seeking the paint, and found it. Predetermined, but still unstoppable. Almost like a train. Do you hear that piercing whistle in your ear when he drives?
Have a blessed day.
