Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors could have thrown up their hands and admitted defeat when Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs took a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter. Through nothing short of a miraculous showing, Barnes and OG Anunoby willed Toronto to a win.
After a 30-point, 11-rebound, six-assist performance that saw him come alive in the second half, Barnes again showed that he has officially taken a massive leap in his third season. Scottie went from a toolsy young player figuring things out to a premier two-way option.
Barnes is averaging 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game in a performance that showed off exactly why the Raptors believe Barnes can be someone who leads the next era of basketball. An All-Star nod would be an honorable goal, but Barnes should have his sights set even higher.
The Most Improved Player race is still very much wide open, and the Raptors star may end up right at the forefront now that he has been put on display for the rest of the league. A closer examination of his performance shows that he should be among the favorites for the MIP award.
3 reasons Toronto Raptors SF Scottie Barnes is in MIP race
3. Better offensive game
Barnes’ per-game averages are impressive, and the fact he’s been putting up numbers like these at such a young age bodes well for what he could be in the future. The tape backs these numbers up, as Barnes is excelling despite having a ton put on his plate early on.
Barnes is connecting on 42% of his 3-pointers despite increasing his volume to 5.4 triples per game. Not only does this improved percentage show that Barnes has been able to fix his biggest issue from last year, but he’s turned it into a position of serious strength.
Scottie Barnes is leading the Toronto Raptors on offense.
Despite playing alongside a point guard like Dennis Schroder, who holds the ball and will pile up the assists, Barnes has been able to flex his playmaking muscles. Be it as a perimeter initiator or elbow operator, the Raptors have Barnes playing confident basketball.
The Raptors have given Barnes a very long leash, which is something that was not always the case in what was a very restrictive Nick Nurse offense that often relegated him to third or fourth in the pecking order. Rajakovic has gone all-in on Barnes, and he has rewarded his trust so far.
2. More complete on defense
Barnes has always been a curious study on the defensive end. While he could be an Anunoby-esque switchblade who does everything, his reps as a perimeter defender and small-ball big man have been all over the map in the last two seasons. In 2023, however, the results are taking a turn for the better.
Barnes has averaged 2.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game, the former number being one that he didn’t come close to reaching under Nurse. Rather than switching in a chaotic manner, Rajakovic is letting Barnes’ natural physical talents shine in a more traditional role.
Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes is improving on defense.
Barnes ranks eighth in the NBA in blocks per game this season, but he and Ausar Thompson are tied for the most blocks for any player 6-9 or shorter. Barnes being in such an elite class after just one year with Rajakovic and Pat Delany is a wonderful development.
Barnes went from a defensive negative to someone who was clearly piecing it together to a confirmed defensive dynamo who is using a new-look frame to wreak havoc against players like Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s not Anunoby, but he could be on his way.
1. Thriving in adversity
Think about everything that has gone wrong for the Raptors this season. Pascal Siakam is having his worst season in a half-decade, the spacing is still a problem due to the lack of shooters, and the bench is once again ranked among the worst in the entire NBA.
Despite all of that, the brilliance of Barnes has been so radiant that he led the San Antonio comeback and played a big part in helping Toronto eke out a victory in a low-scoring season opener against Minnesota. Imagine what will happen if Toronto corrects these errors.
Scottie Barnes is thriving despite issues with the Toronto Raptors.
Be it via a Siakam trade, some moving and shaking in the rotation, or the rest of the non-Barnes role players all turning into Steph Curry to aid with spacing, something needs to change. If it does, a player who thrived in a poor half-court offense like Barnes could really step on the gas.
While the Siakam problems need to be sorted out, they should come at the expense of a player in Barnes who is coming into his own as a scorer. He’s seizing control of this franchise in a way that has to make Masai Ujiri and the front office grin from ear to ear.