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Scottie Barnes is walking the superstar walk
Dec 3, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) tries to dribble around Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski/John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
When the Raptors traded Pascal Siakam to the Pacers last season, it was a bet on Scottie Barnes. A bet on him taking off with more room to spread his wings, what he could do with a more naturally-fitting supporting cast, and that he’d become the kind of franchise-fronting star that makes everything okay.
After getting hung up near the start line with a busted face, we’re seeing what a full steam ahead Barnes is capable of, and he has the Raptors looking like sharps. Since getting back from injury, he’s posting 24-9-8 a night on 57% true shooting.
Tuesday’s Cup-closing win over Indiana marked his high point of the young season, and arguably the peak of the Barnes-at-the-wheel era so far. As he compiled a career-high 35 points, six boards, nine dimes and two stocks on 13/20 shooting and 3/7 from deep, he walked around with that “it’s all gonna be OK” aura that superstars carry, even as Indy erased a 24-point 3rd quarter lead and made things hairier than they had any right to be in the 4th. Barnes was not losing that game.
“Scottie tonight he did score 35 points but for me much more important than that is the tone that he’s setting for the team,” said head coach Darko Rajakovic after the win, "... the poise that he’s playing with, how he’s picking up his teammates, the way he’s talking, the way he’s learning to manipulate the game.”
When he’s grooving, Barnes really is a puppet master, bending the defense to his will with a firm hand on the strings, shaking guys open with as little as a head fake or a hesi-dribble. Combine that careful traffic direction with bruising trips to the rim, and it’s a damn hard package to slow down.
“He’s becoming much, much better in the half court setting, to attack, to touch the paint, to score,” Rajakovic said when asked about the success he had plunging into the guts of the Pacers defense — the source of his two biggest buckets of the night; a powerful, contorting finish through some killer Siakam defense, and a running bank-shot floater over his old teammate’s head.
“I thought that he was outstanding tonight — I wish that one of his turnovers ended up as an assist, that would look much better on the box score,” he quipped to close.
Needless turnovers were definitely a thing, as Barnes himself copped to after the game. As is part of the deal with a guy still testing his bounds, there are still learning moments for Barnes, even in the games where he’s whipping ass. After subbing in late in the third quarter to settle things down, he got a tad tunnel-visiony — somewhat defensible, considering prior to that stretch the Pacers had shown zero capacity to slow down his drives, but counter to what makes Scottie tick. A Scottie Barnes that isn’t at least thinking about the pass as he’s calling his own number isn’t really Scottie Barnes.
“He’s such an amazing, instinctual player that he’s gonna find opportunities” said Rajakovic. “I thought he did a really good job today attacking with that force and reading what the defense is giving you.”
What the defense has often been giving with Barnes back and drawing all sorts of panicked defenders his way, is room for RJ Barrett to do what he’s done best since arriving in Toronto: punch gaps and connect on everything at the rim. Since Barnes’ return, Barrett’s putting up nearly 25-7-6 on 63% true shooting, and looks way more at home than when his game and the Raptors’ hopes were leaning a little too heavily on his slow-burning pick-and-roll creation in limited space.
I like playing with Scottie,” RJ Barrett said with a cheeky smile in his post-game. “We compliment each other, we don’t step on each other’s toes.”
Ultimately, toe-stepping and a sub-optimal support team led the Raptors to ship out Siakam last year, and put all their chips on the Barnes square. Right now, he’s walking the walk of a guy who’s gonna pay that bet out in a big way.
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Today on the podcast I went solo to break down the Raptors’ 122-111 win over the Pacers, with more thoughts on Barnes, Davion Mitchell & The Good, The Bad & The Hmm from the victory. Enjoy!
Dec 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) attempts to secure the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina/Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The first thing I saw when I woke up this morning was a clip of Rockets coach, Ime Udoka, stalking toward referee John Goble and subsequently getting himself ejected. Udoka was incensed over the refs not calling a foul on behalf of Alperen Senguin, who drove to the basket through multiple instances of contact (and shoving) from Kings big, Domantas Sabonis.
The next thing I saw was a report that Rockets forward Tari Eason had run up into the stands after the game’s final whistle to confront a fan who heckled him as he was exiting through the tunnel.
As my brain stirred with the smell of coffee and I read about martial law unfolding and quickly thwarted by protestors and the political opposition in South Korea, I toggled my basketball opinion from This seems serious to It’s really not, regarding all the emotions spilling out on-court last night. This is what, by design, the In-Season Tournament was made for.
This part of the NBA season typically saw a taper of audience attention. The piqued interest of the season getting underway wanes, partially due to the predominantly American audience choosing NFL football over mid-week basketball. The NBA’s Christmas Day slate of games sees a viewership spike but otherwise the “stakes” don’t feel compelling to the casual fan until All-Star, and then again as the playoffs approach. Team owners and the Board of Governors panicked and thus: The NBA Cup was introduced.
Domineering corporate interest aside, the happy side effect of the In-Season Tournament has been higher stakes across the board, and not just from prize incentivization for players (though Josh Hart admitting he just wants a watch is also pretty funny). Young teams, teams on the competitive verge, and teams that may have been considered write-offs to start the season have for the most part used their NBA Cup nights as test runways for playing on a bigger stage and at a higher level. It didn’t necessarily work out for all of them (I had high hopes for the Spurs), but a glance at the Cup’s quarter finals bracket reveals a varied and interesting field of teams.
It’s both preposterous and cool that Warriors vs. Rockets is now a potential Western Conference playoff preview, and that the same goes in the East with Bucks vs. Magic. The Hawks and Knicks will be reunited in their rivalry, and the budding friction between the Mavs and Thunder, through the pestering of Luka Doncic by players who’ve all taken a page from his offensive book, is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
Friction, in good competition, is inevitable. It’s also partially the point. Certainly, coaches shouldn’t make a habit of hounding refs around the court but friction and competition, and friction in competition, don’t need to be negatives.
Two great examples of the symbiotic relationship between the two came in last night’s slate of knockout games. First, with the always expressive Draymond Green unable to hide his disdain from the sidelines as Nikola Jokic grabbed his face after coming down from collision under the rim with 14 seconds left in the game. Green was less actually distraught than sporting a classic “I’m not mad, just disappointed” look.
The second came in the chippy, high-intensity Rockets-Thunder match-up, with Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting tangled up with each other when they both clamped down on the same loose ball. Neither let it go and they both went careening into the Rockets bench, with their teammates swirling behind. It eventually broke up in laughter because neither of them could keep a straight face, having as close a relationship as they do as teammates for Canada Basketball. When the refs swooped in en masse, Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander assured them they were cool, everything was fine, and the game continued.
These are games that have gone from weeknight skips, better to relive watching through their highlights the next day, to must-see matches. The stakes range from funny to secondarily furious, tense to over-the-top; are stakes that still only exist in the insular world of NBA basketball, but there are stakes. It’s early December, and we have stakes.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis The Toronto Raptors secured a 122-111 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the Emirates NBA Cup, with Scottie Barnes and Tyrese Haliburton as standout players. (Raptors HQ)
Analysis In a remarkable performance, Scottie Barnes posted a career night to lead the Raptors to victory over the Indiana Pacers. Insights on Barnes’ impact reveal his growing influence. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Tari Eason and Amen Thompson’s defensive abilities are unmatched. (Defector)
News LeBron James is in one of the worst outside shooting slumps of his career. Is playing in all 82 games still doable? (ESPN)
Milestone The 4x NBA All-Star and 16 NBA season vet, Paul Millsap, announces retirement. (ESPN)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Fantasy Basketball: Key Takeaways from Tuesday’s Games
Dec 3, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) falls to the ground after rolling his ankle against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA Cup game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas/Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kevin Durant’s Ankle Injury: What It Means for Fantasy Managers
Kevin Durant’s recent ankle injury is a significant concern for fantasy basketball managers. Durant, who has been a cornerstone for many fantasy teams, left the game after just 16 minutes, scoring 13 points with four rebounds. This re-aggravation of a previous injury could mean time on the sidelines, impacting his availability in the coming weeks. Fantasy managers should consider potential replacements or temporary fill-ins, such as Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neal, who might see increased roles in Durant’s absence. However, neither is a must-add in standard leagues, but they could provide short-term value in deeper formats.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Charlotte Hornets: Player Performances
In the clash between the 76ers and Hornets, Paul George’s resurgence was a highlight. Despite playing 37 minutes, George’s performance—29 points, eight rebounds, and six three-pointers—showed signs of his former All-NBA self. However, with a back-to-back game on the horizon, his availability remains uncertain, making it crucial for fantasy managers to monitor his status closely.
Tyrese Maxey’s shooting struggles continued, but his ability to contribute in other areas, such as free throws and defense, keeps him relevant in fantasy lineups. Meanwhile, Kelly Oubre Jr. delivered a solid outing with 14 points and four three-pointers, making him a viable short-term option.
Charlotte Hornets’ Frontcourt Dynamics
The return of Mark Williams was a notable development, albeit with limited minutes. This situation presents a sell-high opportunity for Nick Richards, who posted an impressive 22 points and 14 rebounds. While there’s a chance Richards could outperform Williams, the Hornets’ long-term plans likely favour Williams, making Richards a potential trade candidate for savvy fantasy managers.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Raptors podcasts.
Monday — Raptors fall to Rockets for 7th-straight loss, but the sky ain’t falling Sean goes solo to talk about the Raptors’ 114-110 loss to Houston, Scottie Barnes’ recent struggles and why they’re probably nothing to be too alarmed about, Ja’Kobe Walter’s career-high and more!
Dec 17 — Raptors comeback vs. Chicago falls short; Jakob Poeltl hurt Sean and Vivek Jacob recap the Toronto Raptors 122-121 loss to the Chicago Bulls, discuss what Jakob Poeltl’s injury means and more.
Dec 16 — Raptors Trade Season Primer! Sean is joined by Joseph Casciaro (The Score) to preview the NBA’s trade season from the Raptors perspective, from Jakob Poeltl being too important to trade, to what the Raptors can get for their pending free agents and more!
