Official Scottie Barnes Thread - Part 5

[ForeverTFC]

Magic was one of the best ball-handlers of his time. Running point isn't just about passing. I'm not concerned with Scottie's passing ability and I think there is a good chance he gets that to a very elite level. It's the combination of a shaky handle and sub-par shooting that keeps him from being able to lead your team as a point guard. Luckily for us, he's young so we have hope.

[Federalies]

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[BargsBurner]

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fine i'll draft him 2nd round in fantasy again

[GP2]

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After Malachi Flynn dropped 73 points, I have learned that the term "Pro-Am" means nothing.

[Bruin]

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It’s so insane to think about the fact that Jokic put up that stat line in a Finals game lol

[ItsDanger]

These Pro-Ams are business promotion events featuring NBA players mixed with some "amateur"/rich guys. The stats mean absolutely nothing.

[720]

Magic was one of the best ball-handlers of his time. Running point isn't just about passing. I'm not concerned with Scottie's passing ability and I think there is a good chance he gets that to a very elite level. It's the combination of a shaky handle and sub-par shooting that keeps him from being able to lead your team as a point guard. Luckily for us, he's young so we have hope.

We should have been spending the last two years giving him those reps but instead we wanted to make the play in tournament and let Fred vanvleet stat pad so that he can get the max.

[WaltFrazier]

Even Magic threw a no look pass away for a pick six dunk, back in 81. I just saw it myself on Winning Time last night.

So Scottie can still be a PG

There is a lot more to being a point guard than throwing no look passes. Jokic does that so much throughout the year that people have come to expect it. Jokic isn't a point guard though and I don't see Scottie as one. He doesn't have to be a point guard to be a great player in this league though. In fact, it's probably best for him to not be a point guard.

It may not have come through that I was kind of joking , mostly based on some exchanges in the Winning Time thread.

[ATLTimekeeper]

He could have gotten those reps in high school or chosen a college program that would have let him be a starting PG. It's not like the Raptors weren't desperate for someone to run the offense when Fred was off the court, either.

Ultimately he's got to catch up on critical skills, and you do that in the summer. Seems like that's what he's showing right now. You can already see in limited highlights he's more comfortable shooting off the dribble.

[MiamiSPX]

I remember listening once to Jalen Rose talking about that first offseason after your rookie season. It's their first summer and time off as millionaires so it's quite common (and human) to not put in as much work as you probably should have. This was his totally unscientific take on the proverbial sophomore slump but I think there's something to it.

It seems Scottie is working on his game 50x more than he did last summer. He's all over the place in various gyms, pickup games, etc. It's good to see.

[Dalek]

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Average passer.

I like Scottie in the open court as a passer, and making basic reads on offense, but he needs more on-ball reps before I even put him ahead of Josh Giddey.

Once he is equal to or better than Giddey, then I think we can start believing in Scottie as a PG. Watching Giddey you can see him reading multiple options and making daring passes with much smaller passing windows. That is what stands out to me is that watching Giddey you see a tall PG, whereas with Scottie it still feels like a forward with some incredible passing:

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I agree that Giddey is the superior passer and playmaker. Giddey is special in that regard.

It is a really high bar to get to, but I think Scottie has some of the instincts and passing chops, but being a floor general is being able to read the whole floor and defensive scheme, and to direct the offense. Giddy seems to have that and his development in Australia and in the NBA is to give him the ball as a 1. Toronto needs to commit to that if they believe in Scottie and want him to be that guy.

Honestly, last year was such a bust for Scottie. He got hurt and missed time a bit, but the player development just didn't go well. It felt like Nurse was throwing him into a different situation from month to month. You are a wing now, or you are an undersized C, or you get some reps at the 1. Credit to Scottie for keeping with it, but you could tell he got disengaged or lost confidence at times. Playing for Nurse is like walking on eggshells.

Giddy despite SGA being so ball dominant, still found ways to impact the game - and the OKC offense was really fun to watch with him being free to play make. Toronto could stand to learn from OKC about how to develop your lottery pick. We only won one more game last season and look at all the success stories from OKC (Giddey, Jalen Williams, SGA all made huge steps as NBA starters).

[Dalek]

He could have gotten those reps in high school or chosen a college program that would have let him be a starting PG. It's not like the Raptors weren't desperate for someone to run the offense when Fred was off the court, either.

Ultimately he's got to catch up on critical skills, and you do that in the summer. Seems like that's what he's showing right now. You can already see in limited highlights he's more comfortable shooting off the dribble.

Scottie should be working with Olin Simplis (the guard whisperer) and doing runs with Chris Paul. Learn the trade and not just play pick-up. Raps could bring in Nash to consult with.

[anotherhomer]

i think people are expecting too much of Scottie

i get it, the success of this upcoming season and future seasons depend a lot on Raptors, but ya, try not to set yourself up for disappointment

[HumbleRen]

We should want Scottie near the basket, not away from it.

He can be the “Pg” in the open court and transition situations but when it comes to half court basketball or facing a set defence ? He’s a playmaking big.

I really hope he improved his ball handling abilities because that’s what allows Giddey and Simmons to play PG.

[will]

Scottish & Scoot, baybeeee!

[Potential]

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[anotherhomer]

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that tells me they want to pivot towards OG and Scottie

[canada_dry]

He could have gotten those reps in high school or chosen a college program that would have let him be a starting PG. It's not like the Raptors weren't desperate for someone to run the offense when Fred was off the court, either.

Ultimately he's got to catch up on critical skills, and you do that in the summer. Seems like that's what he's showing right now. You can already see in limited highlights he's more comfortable shooting off the dribble.

To be fair to him ive heard in multiple reports he chose his college based on promises he'll play pg. If im not mistaken He accepted a bench role afterwards (for betterment of the team ala manu) and still ran pg off the bench.

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[bstein14]

Scottie and his agent are going to want the Raptors to Pony up a $200+ million five year extension in 10.5 months. Will Toronto pay the kid or make him play out his fourth year and become a RFA.

[Zeno]

Scottie and his agent are going to want the Raptors to Pony up a $200+ million five year extension in 10.5 months. Will Toronto pay the kid or make him play out his fourth year and become a RFA.

That will depend on how he plays this year and also if we somehow have a delusion that we want to use capspace the summer after next. Unless we plan on trading Siakam,OG and Gary for rookie contracts though (or lose them for nothing), their extensions probably take the capspace angle out of it.