It has been a rough two-game stretch for Ja'Kobe Walter recently.
Despite the Raptors picking up two huge wins to turn the corner in this series with Cleveland, Walter hasn't quite given Toronto the shooting boost they were probably hoping for. On the defensive end, he's still been showing up in that regard, but to go 0-for-15 from the floor overall and 0-for-11 from three sparks some serious questions about what's going on with the otherwise standout Raptors sophomore.
Those numbers at least suggest that Walter is getting the right looks and quality opportunities, but much like another Raptors wing in focus, Brandon Ingram, the shots just aren't sinking as they should be. That's why I recently noted that Toronto might need to reassess the Ja'Kobe Walter situation in the meantime given his glaring slump.
But the Raptors are also known for encouraging a revitalized spirit and mindset in their players, and not always rushing to pull the plug when the chips are down. As franchise star Scottie Barnes stated in a recent media scrum, he assured everyone that Ja'Kobe Walter is still very much viewed with confidence within the team.
Barnes was asked: "What do you see with Ja'Kobe right now? Obviously been one of the best shooters after the All-Star break, but he's struggling within this series. What's your messaging in him?"
Scottie Barnes lifts up Ja'Kobe Walter in recent media scrum
He replied: "We believe in him. We trust in him. They're closing out pretty hard, on every shot he's taken. He missed some easy ones, but you know, we still got the full trust, faith in him that he's going to make those shots. It's all going to come to show."
That's about as strong and encouraging a message as you can get from a franchise player to one of the young guns. Walter has received the vote of confidence from various members of the Raptors organization before, most notably Brandon Ingram on previous occasions. But right now, this is the exact morale boost that needs to be voiced out there to help ignite Walter's spirit.
The conversations haven't been about a talent or skill gap for Walter in the playoffs; instead, his shot has just fallen off at an untimely moment, raising a debate over how he will be utilized going forward. Still, this series could hinge on a big showcase from a guy like Walter or another underperforming talent like Sandro Mamukelashvili.
With the expectation that Walter will continue to appear in the starting lineup for Game 5 and beyond, it's only a matter of time before the 21-year-old sophomore can deliver his signature package: solid point-of-attack defense and reliable three-point shooting.
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