Scottie Barnes finished the regular season on a high note. He recorded a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists alongside 1 steal, 3 blocks, and a +/- of +35 against the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets may not be the toughest opponent out there, but a triple-double is still impressive.
Barnes led the Raptors in rebounds, assists, and blocks, and finished third in scoring behind RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram, doing a little bit—or rather a lot—of everything. That’s exactly what makes Barnes so special. He isn’t just a talented scorer or a great playmaker; he is the most versatile two-way player on the team.
He does so much for the Raptors that Darko Rajaković found it difficult to describe his impact after the win over the Nets.
“It’s hard to put it in words,” Rajaković told reporters in the postgame media availability. “He had a triple-double in the third quarter there. From assists, playmaking, rebounding, blocking shots, defending, you name it. I think he’s slowly but surely growing into an all-around player offensively and defensively.”
Barnes may not be a traditional number-one option or someone who looks like a go-to scorer on a championship team, but, at only 24, he is already becoming a do-it-all star on both ends of the floor. That’s a great player to build around. The Raptors may have to make some changes this offseason to go from a playoff team to a contender, but one thing won’t change: Barnes is the homegrown key to the team’s future.
Barnes will be key to any success the Raptors find in the playoffs
The Raptors got lucky with their first-round matchup. That’s not to say that Cleveland is an easy opponent or that the Raptors will enter the series as the favorite to win, but they have at least a semblance of a chance against the Cavs whereas the Knicks looked ready to demolish them in a short and brutal first-round series. The Raptors beat the Cavs several times during the regular season but never got to face the team after it traded for James Harden.
The Cavaliers are solid defensively, but the real danger is their ability to put points on the board. They finished the regular season fourth in points per game and with the sixth-best offensive rating. Donovan Mitchell is a big reason for the team’s ability to churn out points. He averages almost 28 per game. Harden also averages over 20 points per game, and Evan Mobley is third in line with 18.2.
The Raptors will need Barnes to lead the charge defensively with his versatility, strength, size, and athleticism to have a shot at beating the Cavs, while also contributing a ton offensively.
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