The lengthy wait to look at Scottie Barnes play basketball once more is over. Significant basketball? Basketball in a sport that resembles NBA motion? Effectively, give it one other week or two. However Barnes obtained his first sport motion since March 1 on Friday, and he confirmed slightly little bit of all the pieces you bear in mind, and even a few of what you’ve been hoping for.
Barnes wasted no time making his presence felt towards the Washington Wizards, opening up every half with massive performs that despatched the Wizards scrambling for fast timeouts (68 and 57 seconds into the respective halves).
Within the sport’s opening few performs, Barnes used a Jakob Poeltl display to seek out his method right into a bucket within the paint, then walked right into a pull-up mid-range jumper with a newfound smoothness and quickness of mechanics, then related with Poeltl on a pleasant transition feed. It was 6-2 Raptors in a blink, and whereas the remainder of his first stint didn’t go fairly as effectively – Barnes picked up three fast fouls and was charged with a couple of early turnovers – he seemed calm, robust, and decisive at each ends of the ground.
Within the second half, Barnes picked off a move and took it for a bucket the opposite method. Just a few moments later, he appeared upset at a no-call on a Corey Kispert contest of certainly one of his photographs, and so Barnes got here again on defence, jumped a passing lane, and took it the opposite method to get his bucket again. And sure, he did so with the Scottie Stutter, that transfer the place he’s alone on the break and stops, seems again at no defenders working again, after which slowly dunks it.
The one factor Barnes didn’t get to point out in his 20 minutes was his 3-point shot as he missed all 5 of his makes an attempt from outdoors. Even nonetheless, the consolation along with his mid-range package deal was encouraging, and we all know 3-point capturing will come and go over the course of the yr; it was his first actual (effectively, virtually actual) motion in over seven months. Barnes went 7-of-10 contained in the arc (for 16 factors), obtained to the free-throw line a few instances, and picked up eight rebounds, usually pushing the tempo in transition after coming down with them.
It’s an excellent factor Barnes seemed enjoyable, as a result of all the pieces else was a bit ugly. Or so much ugly. The primary quarter noticed the 2 groups mix for 18 fouls, 23 free-throw makes an attempt, 19 turnovers … and simply 12 made area targets. By the top, each groups had surpassed 20 turnovers. The Wizards veterans by no means seemed notably interested by defence, and the Raptors kids by no means seemed notably able to making the most of a reasonably regular weight-reduction plan of open threes.
There’s loads of work nonetheless to do for everybody. On Friday, a very powerful factor was that Barnes was in a position to be part of that work, and he seemed just like the main pressure the group will want him to be.
Oh, the Raptors misplaced 113-95. They’ll need to settle this with Washington within the common season after splitting the exhibition pair.
Scouting notes
• Chris Boucher was the primary participant off the bench once more, and he as soon as once more delivered on the chance. His place within the rotation could also be because of a mixture of teammate availability and, on Sunday, wanting him to get a pleasant ovation in Montreal. If he performs like this, although, it’s going to be arduous to play different choices forward of him.
Boucher went 7-of-10 and hit three triples in 19 minutes, main the group with 22 factors and including seven rebounds. He’s at all times infectious along with his vitality, and we’ve seen a sharper model of Boucher to this point this yr. Somebody a bit extra assured of their defensive task and with an improved sense of spacing and timing for cuts or corner-to-corner runs to get open.
• Bruno Fernando shot 2-of-9 and struggled at instances with Jonas Valanciunas, who’s a fairly good take a look at in the event you’re attempting to judge a giant on your remaining roster spot. Lack of end apart, Fernando fights arduous for rebounds and has good palms low in his defensive house. His inside monitor on the ultimate roster spot could be a bit safer if a few of these put-backs and post-ups discovered their method in. (I’ve much less religion {that a} play the place Shead is the screener/curler and kicks out to Fernando for 3 might be a dependable a part of the playbook.)
• Jonathan Mogbo continued to point out flashes, whereas not taking part in very effectively total. The passing imaginative and prescient is basically intriguing, as he makes reads in transition or low on the ground that lots of younger forwards don’t. Proper now, the savvy and size of NBA defences – and him not commanding as a lot consideration on the ball – is making these passing home windows really feel very tight for him. It’s one thing that some G League time may assist with, even when he’s within the NBA rotation at instances.
He additionally had a pleasant screen-switch-seal-dunk sequence that confirmed a few of his ability versatility. You may see what’s there, it’s simply going to take a while.
• Davion Mitchell solely scored three factors on 1-of-3 capturing however dished six assists in his 27 minutes and did an excellent job because the offence’s main non-Barnes operator. He was a bit underrated as a pick-and-roll passer, I believe as a result of he didn’t fairly play on the tempo the Kings wished to. There’s extra there as a playmaker than he at all times obtained to point out.
• Jamal Shead, in the meantime, had a really tough capturing night time, 1-of-8 from the sector and 0-of-5 on threes – however remained a pest on defence and exhibits an excellent knack for punching rapidly into the paint in a method the Raptors’ different guards don’t (apart from D.J. Carton, although he had a tough one capturing, too).
• Raptors bigs appear to be emphasizing the “Gortat display” early on. A Gortat display is when the massive – often one who is just not a lob menace — units his preliminary display, then when he rolls to the paint, he screens his personal man (the opposing massive) if he’s in drop protection. Completed successfully, this could create a brand new or bigger driving lane for the ball-handler and forestall the would-be rim-protector from being in place to contest a shot.
Guards who wish to snake within the lane, particularly, can profit from this secondary screening motion low to the basket.
You, a Raptor fan, absolutely recall being indignant when Marcin Gortat would get away with this transfer with the Wizards; Raptors bigs must tread fastidiously, as these screens are sometimes solely borderline authorized.
• Nonetheless many positives there could also be with the offensive course of, the group goes to want any person to step up as a shooter. Gradey Dick was 2-of-5 from outdoors, and whereas the inside-the-arc verve is sweet (he had an important pump-fake-into-middy going neglected of a dribble hand-off), Toronto wants that 40-percent mark to be an everyday one.
Exterior of Dick and Boucher, the Raptors shot 2-of-22 from long-range. (A kind of got here from Jamison Battle, too, and he’s doubtless 905-bound.) Clearly, the Raptors had been taking part in down a couple of guys who can hit threes, however it doesn’t determine to be a energy even at full well being.
• The Wizards don’t have a ton happening for them, however they do have quite a lot of good younger shooters. Corey Kispert belongs on an excellent group as a high-end function participant earlier than later, Kyshawn George seems like an actual prospect with a mixture of energy and capturing and Alex Sarr is no less than going to have the ability to shoot out of the gate. Bilal Coulibaly is a fairly enjoyable defender, too.
Harm updates
• Immanuel Quickley remained out because of the sprained thumb he suffered in exercises earlier than coaching camp started. Whereas it was initially hoped it wouldn’t value him a lot time, as of Thursday Quickley nonetheless had not been cleared for full contact, so he’ll find yourself lacking no less than half of the pre-season. Contemplating the chemistry between him and Scottie Barnes might be the one largest factor I used to be anticipating on offence this pre-season, that’s slightly disappointing. Hopefully, Quickley is a full-go by the season opener in 12 days.
• RJ Barrett (shoulder) didn’t play and is out for no less than the rest of the pre-season. Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder) has been on the shelf with an analogous harm since simply earlier than camp and is but to get into sport motion. Bruce Brown (knee) stays and not using a clear timeline however isn’t notably shut.
The restoration vary for a sprained AC joint can differ wildly, and we don’t have sufficient data to peg down a agency timeline for Barrett or Walter. If these two and Brown are all out for the season opener, Rajakovic has an fascinating beginning lineup determination to make – Dick was the presumed favorite for the fifth starter function, and the cascade impact of a number of wing/guard accidents may open up a chance for Mitchell to begin in a two-guard lineup (with Shead trying able to dealing with among the backup function). Agbaji could be one other chance.
• Kelly Olynyk and Garrett Temple had been with the group and in warmup gear however formally listed as inactive. That is virtually absolutely a case of vets not needing all 5 video games to tune up, giving the group an extended have a look at different gamers.
• Jordan Poole left the sport within the first half after taking an inadvertent hit to the pinnacle from Kyle Kuzma however returned within the second half. Malcolm Brogdon (thumb ligament surgical procedure) and Saddiq Bey (ACL from final yr) had been the one different inactives for Washington.
WNBA Finals word
Sport 1 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday was an all-timer, each for excellent performs and missed alternatives. Our Liberty practically survived a tough Sabrina Ionescu sport and had been a Breanna Stewart free-throw on the fourth-quarter buzzer from successful. Ultimately, Napheesa Collier and the Lynx received out in additional time, making the most of that second life (which adopted a wild four-point play to get there within the first place).
Sport 2 ought to be a banger, particularly if their respective sides get stronger capturing nights from Ionescu and Canadian star Bridget Carleton (who had a quiet opener scoring-wise however stays an element together with her gravity). Collier and Jonquel Jones each turned in glorious Sport 1s, one thing that may most likely be constant all through the collection; from there, the Liberty really feel like a deeper and stronger group, however dropping Sport 1 at house in a best-of-five Finals places you in an instantaneous back-against-the-wall scenario.
The transfer to a seven-game collection subsequent yr is a really welcome change.
Javon Freeman-Liberty is again … with the Bulls
The previous Raptors guard was launched by his Turkish group this week, liberating him to signal a take care of the Chicago Bulls, per a supply. (The kind of contract was not instantly out there data, because the deal is contingent upon FIBA clearance.)
It’s a cool subsequent step in Freeman-Liberty’s story. A Chicago native, he began his professional profession as a walk-on with the Windy Metropolis Bulls of the G League, finally getting seen on the following Summer season League and incomes a two-way take care of the Raptors. The Raptors finally transformed him to an NBA deal that prolonged into this season however, dealing with a partial assure set off within the contract, opted to waive him in July.
Freeman-Liberty appeared for 2 video games with Manisa, and now will attempt to get again to the NBA through Bulls’ camp and probably the G League as soon as once more.
What’s subsequent
The Raptors up the issue stage on Sunday with a go to to Boston to play the defending champs (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet). They’ll get a second have a look at the Celtics again at house on Tuesday for his or her lone pre-season sport at Scotiabank Enviornment (additionally on Sportsnet). The pre-season wraps with a street sport towards the Nets on Oct. 18, then we get began for actual again in Toronto on Oct. 23 towards the Cavaliers.
On a programming word, The Raptors Present returns Tuesday – now with Matt Bonner alongside me — and might be day by day for the rest of the yr, 11 a.m. – midday ET on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet+, and wherever you get your podcasts. Bobby Webster might be becoming a member of us on Tuesday, with Ochai Agbaji and Jonathan Mogbo becoming a member of (through pre-tapes) later within the week.
