It may have occur as a shock when the Toronto Raptors picked Scottie Barnes with the No. 4 in general choose, but it wasn’t quite tricky to comprehend their reasoning.
As a 6-foot-9 point ahead with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Barnes has the entire body for the prototypical flexibility that each individual NBA team is wanting for these times. His playmaking skill is way earlier mentioned ordinary for someone his measurement. He can defend a number of positions at a higher stage because of his power, duration and lateral quickness. His perspective, get the job done ethic and vocal management was raved about – with magnetic electricity that uplifts absolutely everyone all-around him.
It didn’t consider quite long to see all of those factors come to light, as the 20-year-old flashed every single side of his video game in his Summer season League debut as the Raptors defeated the New York Knicks.
It can be just a single exhibition recreation, but it can be challenging not to be encouraged by the show Barnes set on.
Likely for 18 details, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, two steals and one block with just a person turnover in 30 minutes of perform, Barnes loaded up the stat sheet by undertaking a minimal little bit of every little thing for his group in a get.
Right before dissecting his precise engage in, from the opening idea, Barnes was the loudest participant on the court docket. You could even hear him coming by the television audio at times, leading the Raptors Summer League crew like a seasoned veteran.
Scottie Barnes previously being a vocal chief on the courtroom! @Raptors | #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/xhwC5Ctzlf
– NBA Canada (@NBACanada) August 8, 2021
That previously checked one particular box of his pre-draft description, and the rest of his activity adopted match.
Early in the second quarter, Barnes flashed his skill to suffocate guards on the perimeter, applying each individual bit of his wingspan and physicality to set strain on a Knicks’ ball handler. He poked the ball absent, dove on the floor to appear up with the steal, then experienced the composure to uncover the suitable teammate to assist on a bucket in changeover.
He used the bulk of the match defending previous No. 8 overall pick Obi Toppin but was willingly switching out onto the perimeter towards players like the shifty guard Immanuel Quickley, keeping his individual against any assignment he took on. That is the form of versatility that head coach Nick Nurse will fall in like with, making it possible for him to get inventive with matchups and defensive schemes for Barnes.
Offensively, I was especially impressed with how aggressive Barnes was in searching for his personal shot. As a player who only attempted 8.6 shots for each activity in school, Barnes’ passing capability would typically trump his desire to rating for himself. That was considerably from the situation in his to start with NBA action, attacking the basket frequently, showing confidence in his shooting contact on pull-ups and floaters.
Barnes’ first soar shot endeavor basically resulted in an air-balled 3-pointer. It would have been very uncomplicated for him to get gun-shy right after that, but in its place, he stored firing. He knocked down a midrange jumper a number of belongings later on and once he bought his first 3-ball to drop, he allow out some emotion as that has been the place he is most seeking to boost at the next level.
Barnes shot 7-for-18 (38.9%) from the field and 1-for-4 (25.%) from 3 in his debut, but he skipped a whole lot of bunnies all over the rim, specially in the very first 50 percent, exactly where the very first-video game jitters may perhaps have been most widespread.
It is really exciting to observe that in his lone season at Florida State, 13 field target tries and 4 3-stage makes an attempt ended up the most he at any time took in a sport. He surpassed that shot complete in his 1st Summer season League game, looking substantially far more assertive on the offensive end.
He designed a ton of hustle performs on the glass, demonstrating his relentless vitality with a sport-superior-tying five offensive rebounds. His passing even now shone by, as well, with a brief-witted, off-hand, 3-quarter-court docket go for an effortless layup and an intelligent browse to find a cutting teammate when he was doubled out of a article shift.
Soon after the win, Raptors’ Summer League head mentor Patrick Mutumbo experienced this to say on the No. 4 all round decide on.
“He is talented, a ton of likely. I love his need to win. I enjoy his willingness to listen and also say ‘my bad’ or motivate his teammates. You will find a large amount of function to do with him but, guy, it’s remarkable the opportunity he has.”
Once more, it’s just one exhibition video game, but it really is tricky not to like what we observed from Barnes in his initially NBA action.
The subsequent time you can catch the young star is on Wednesday, Aug. 11 when the Raptors just take on the Golden Point out Warriors at 8 p.m. ET on TSN 1/4.
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