Raptors: 3 areas where Scottie Barnes has dramatically improved

1. Aggression

The worst thing that a rookie can be when they are on the floor is passive, as looking timid and overwhelmed by the NBA game is never a good sign. No one has had to tell Barnes to puff his chest out, as he is willing to take more shots than he ever did under Leonard Hamilton with the Seminoles.

Barnes has a usage rate of over 20% in three of his five games coming into his duel with the Magic, and he proceeded to take 14 shots. He made nine of them, finishing with 21 points. He’s not just sitting back and getting putbacks, either, as he has been running the floor and eviscerating the basket.

The Toronto Raptors have seen Scottie Barnes take games over.

Barnes’ aggression has manifested in three different ways. He’s owning the offensive glass, showing a willingness to shoot after a turnover or miss, and flying to the rim using the downhill speed and athletic ability that made him a top recruit and prized prospect in the draft.

This combination helped Barnes create the highlight of the night when it took him just three dribbles to go coast to coast and finish off this Raptors possession with a thunderous slam. If he’s pulling out rare athletic feats like this in his sixth NBA game, the sky is the limit for Barnes and the Raptors.