Clutch free throws latest superstar sign from Raptors’ Scottie Barnes

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Today’s Raptors notebook is heavy on statistics, because there were just too many good ones not to get to four games through Toronto’s series with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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We’ll start with Scottie Barnes, who was nothing short of spectacular throughout Toronto’s two home wins, which evened the series and had shown flashes of brilliance even in the opening two losses.

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Barnes entered Monday tired for third in playoff scoring at 25.8 per game (only Kawhi Leonard and Vince Carter have averaged more as Raptors during a playoff run, and RJ Barrett at 24.3 points per game so far is right behind Barnes). Barnes is also one of four players averaging seven made free throws per game, he’s tied for third in attempts, indicating his willingness to get to the line, while still making about as many three-pointers as players like LeBron James, Karl-Anthony Towns, Derrick White, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama. Barnes is also tied for fifth in assists per game and he’s fifth in combined points + rebounds + blocks + steals + assists.

The impact Barnes has had offensively for the Raptors is obvious, but his all-world defence has been less straightforward. Barnes has been the driving force of too many Cleveland turnovers to count, but has often not been rewarded with a block, steal, deflection or loose ball collected for his efforts. Ask any Raptor though, and they’ll let you know who has led the charge.

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“Over the past year, I learned that Scottie Barnes is a real dog,” Jamal Shead told a few reporters after Game 4. “He should have been in that defensive player of the year conversation a lot more, going from top 20-ish defence (for Toronto last year) to a top five defensive (finish), all because of him. And I think we follow him, and I think he’s a great leader,” Shead said.

“I think people will downplay Scottie a little too much and how important he is to this team, this defence, and just what we do,” Shead said.

“I think our defence is predicated on a lot of what he does, and we just follow it. But he deserves all the credit. He deserves everything that he didn’t get. And I think everybody’s eyes are open a little bit more now.

ON TO THE STATS

Now for those stats. Let’s start again with Barnes. One of the reasons many weren’t sold on him as a potential NBA star was the weak three-point shooting he displayed in his lone season at Florida State, along with his 62.1% free throw shooting there (often talent evaluators will overlook weak outside shooting if a prospect is steady at the line, indicating they might be able to improve shooting elsewhere). Barnes has improved in the NBA, he went from 73.5% as a rookie, to 77.2%, to 78.1%, to 75.5%, before soaring to an excellent 81.5% this regular season.

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But Barnes had gone just 19-for-25 from the free throw line through the first four games and then just 5-for-8 through three quarters in Game 4. All Barnes did from there was go 6-for-6 late to help seal the victory. That was superstar stuff.

Now a not-so-good Raptors stat:

Ja’Kobe Walter in 25 games after the all-star break: 9.7 points per game on a near NBA-best 47.6% three-point shooting

Ja’Kobe Walter in 4 playoff games: 5.3 points per game on 18.2% (4-for-22) three-point shooting, including 0-for-8 in Game 4. No player with at least as many three-point attempts as Walter in these playoffs has a lower made percentage.

How about a wild Donovan Mitchell number, courtesy of ESPN:

Mitchell has 11 playoff games with at least 38 points, including two with at least 50. But Mitchell also has 14 games where he’s shot 33% or lower and has never advanced past the second round.

Another revealing Cleveland one: James Harden had nine turnovers over the first two games of the series, both wins, but 15 over the last two, both losses. Harden has the sixth-most turnovers in NBA playoff history, but also just moved into sixth place in assists.

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A FEW MORE

Collin Murray-Boyles joined Barnes and Jamario Moon as the only Raptors rookies to notch a playoff double-double.

Darko Rajakovic is only one win away from tying Sam Mitchell for fourth on Toronto’s post-season wins list. Nick Nurse and Dwane Casey are way out in front, but Rajakovic could catch Lenny Wilkens (eight wins) if Toronto continues to rise next season (or surprises this year).

Toronto’s 34% effective field goal percentage in Game 4 was the lowest by a playoff winner since Seattle in 1978.

Winning the final two minutes of the four quarters by a combined 30-6 was the difference. Cleveland shot just 3-for-22 in those minutes.

This was the fifth-lowest field goal percentage by a Raptors opponent in a playoff game.

On X: @WolstatSun

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