WOZ Weblog: Raptors obtained an enormous bounce again from Scottie Barnes and cherished each minute of it

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Toronto Raptors Sports activities NBA Basketball

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Make no mistake, the Raptors lastly hitting a bunch of three-point photographs was a welcome improvement throughout Friday’s win over Cleveland, however there was a good greater storyline:

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The bounce-back of sophomore Scottie Barnes. It’s been well-documented that as an alternative of constructing a soar in Yr 2, the reigning MVP rookie of the 12 months has been inconsistent. One night time he appears to be like near the man we noticed a 12 months in the past, the following he appears to be like listless and inconsequential.

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Coming off maybe the worst sport of his profession (if not, it was fairly shut) in New York Metropolis, Barnes performed the aggressor from the beginning in Cleveland. He went proper on the Cavs, regardless that they’ve a big measurement benefit. Barnes mainly pitched a tent down low, taking 14 of his 16 photographs within the paint, together with all 4 makes an attempt within the first quarter. He additionally obtained to the free throw line 3 times in that quarter and 5 occasions in all, greater than he had gotten there within the earlier three video games mixed.

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Barnes performed bully ball and obtained what he wished. He additionally arrange 4 three-point makes, three of them in a primary half that noticed the Raptors soar out to a giant lead.

It was precisely what the Raptors wished to see from Barnes, who has all of the expertise on the earth, however wants to claim his will on video games as a way to present it.

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What made the efficiency extra spectacular was the truth that Barnes had been taking pictures simply 36% on the highway on the season, averaging simply 10.9 factors. He matched that within the first quarter alone.

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In case it wasn’t apparent, O.G. Anunoby makes an enormous distinction for this crew. Even in a season the place he’s slumped together with his taking pictures, he’s nonetheless made main strides offensively and is an integral a part of the offence. After all he’s additionally the crew’s greatest defender, a clampdown nightmare for the league’s greatest scorers. That features Donovan Mitchell, who has had a brutal time making an attempt to navigate round Anunoby this season. Cleveland’s off to an excellent begin at 22-12, however three of these losses have come by the hands of the Raptors. Anunoby isn’t the one purpose why, however he’s the main purpose.

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This 15-18 begin is one sport worse than the 16-17 the earlier two Raptors groups went.

Pascal Siakam leads the Raptors in factors, rebounds, assists, turnovers and fouls per sport. The attention check exhibits he’s doing all of it. So does a look on the stats.

It’s attention-grabbing to see former Raptor Yuta Watanabe taking pictures an NBA-best 53.3% on three-point photographs, minimal 60 makes an attempt. Flynn’s proper there too, rating sixth at 46.2%, simply forward of Canadian Andrew Wiggins. And should you double the makes an attempt to a minimal of 120, Wiggins really ranks third.

Canadians are completely going off this season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been an All-NBA shoo-in, Wiggins has been nice when he’s performed, RJ Barrett has had two massive video games in a row and there’s many extra thriving.

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Again to the Raptors, Malachi Flynn’s ascension is much-needed contemplating no person else on the roster has been wherever near his accuracy. Even after the breakout night time towards Cleveland, Siakam and Anunoby are at 35% (the identical because the injured Otto Porter), Gary Trent and VanVleet are shockingly at 34% apiece (each are profession 38% three-point shooters) and Juancho Hernangomez, Barnes and Chris Boucher have actually struggled from exterior.

Nick Nurse rode the starters onerous (except for Hernangomez) and didn’t even go to Boucher in any respect towards the Cavs. That’s going to alter when the schedule begins again up once more. If Flynn continues to play effectively, we lastly are beginning to see the define of a fairly good rotation. It might effectively go VanVleet, Anunoby, Barnes, Siakam and Treasured Achiuwa beginning, with Trent, Boucher, Flynn and both Porter or Thad Younger getting important time.

THREE STARS:

1 Scottie Barnes

2 Pascal Siakam

3 Fred VanVleet

H.M.: Darius Garland, O.G. Anunoby

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