Can Scottie Barnes Be An ELITE First Option In The NBA?

Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors became a tremendous pick n' roll ball handler last season. Samson Folk does a deep dive, watching every possession, to see exactly how Barnes improved and became a great offensive player.

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0:00 - Intro
1:07 - Last season possessions
2:35 - Scottie's stats
4:16 -- Comparing it to Nikola Jokic
6:23 - Pick-and-roll numbers

#raptors #scottiebarnes #torontoraptors #nba #wethenorth #commentary

[raptorsrepublic]

Does Scottie Barnes Make The All-Star Game again this season? 🤔

[TrevonHeath]

really want to see the team get a rim runner off the bench, koloko and scottie had great chemistry

[canadadry]

Hopeful for another leap from scottie. Good work Samson.

[LegPressWhizzer]

Finally had a chance to catch up on this and another great video from Samson. Really looking forward to Scottie's growth and honestly to the entire upcoming season. I know we're probably not going to win many games but it feels like it's going to be fun basketball to watch regardless and that's a pretty good consolation prize

[maxwellfolk]

Loved the point about how he’s made the upright dribbling into a strength. Who needs blow-by speed if you’ve got the length and strength to go over and through.

[Elliasstudios]

I think he can be, if he increase his midrange and rim/free throw scoring. Especially his last 5 - 2 mins in the 4th qtr. This year I got his ceiling at 2nd team all NBA, and his floor is 3rd team All NBA. 💯 #WeTheNorth

[jahwalks]

I like what you Sam, keep up the excellent work.
Go Raptors Go

[MikaiFrenchFry]

I think he can tbh, his passing feel is so elite

[apupoj]

SAMSON VIDEO I AM SITTING DOWN AND WATCHING / TAKING NOTES

[HKashaf]

Dude, definitely need more details. Longer essay 🙏
Best analysis of the Raptors!
Still working for the wrong company, I have been harping on this for three years now.
Looking forward to your next collaboration with Caitlin Cooper.

[sandiesideup]

Samson you’re setting me up for disappointment this season. I’m so excited lmao 😂

[maxcali]

Samson, I really appreciate the depth of your analysis—it adds a lot of value. However, I’d suggest being cautious when asking highly analytical questions during interviews with players and coaches. My concern is that it could unintentionally reveal strategic details that other teams might exploit when scouting our players. For example, asking about specific habits when a player has the ball or why they prefer certain movements in particular plays might give away more than necessary. While your questions provide great insight, they sometimes delve deeper than what the average fan—or even opposing teams—need to know. It might be worth considering a more general approach on certain topics to keep some of those nuances within the team.

[fifthbusiness]

Great analysis, Samson, as usual. My only quibble - and it’s a tiny one! - would that weird white ‘line-out’ text being used to list stats. It’s very hard to read. PS An aside, I’m hoping to see more post-up play across the league this year. It’s decreased so much in the past 5 years yet remains one of the most efficient plays (and I think Zack Edey is going to excel at that!).

[tylerwhitney]

He's basically LeBron lite. He's huge

[JamesMaes-us]

He does not have to be. He needs to be the engine not the finisher, but... when he does go off that's gravy. When you're a complete player who focuses on all the attributes of the game it's impossible to narrow your game down to scoring and this is exactly why I like his game. He'll put as much effort into his D as he will in scoring and that means that his O will take a bit of a hit. If you're looking for comparables look outside of basketball. He reminds me very much of Bryan Trottier in his style of play, if you don't know who that is look him up. Maybe Mark Messier without the nastiness. He plays the game like a true two-way centre.

[SP.]

Just like the PF changed,

the number 1 option has to change from best scorer, to best decision maker.
If your willing passer, looking for best shot, it makes it that much harder on the defence.

A Lebron, Jokic type of molds. Scottie is one of those guys. Even if the "experts" don't see it.

[robertreid]

Not at this point. Need to see more before I'd call him a first option, but hopefully that does develop in him. He has to have a consistant ability to create his own shot off the dribble and a be a bigger threat from 3 point line. That would definitely open up his game. He's not there yet, but hopefully that develops in his game.

[heyheykoolaid]

When I heard on react pod this was happening. I'm sorry I don't like to read about basketball.

[shannonferguson]

I don’t think so. I think he and RJ are elite 2nd options. IQ 4th option. If they have bench depth, and play together, this can be a good young team though.