Barnes is gearing up for his first NBA playoff series

Key Takeaways:

• Scottie Barnes acquired a reputation as a high-energy player on and off the court during his rookie season with the Toronto Raptors.
• Despite averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists this season, Barnes is a front-runner for NBA rookie of the year.
• According to the nurse, Barnes will continue to develop in the postseason, who agrees with Anunoby’s prognosis.

In his debut season with the Toronto Raptors, Scottie Barnes earned a reputation for being a high-energy player on and off the court.

Barnes will create his NBA postseason debut on Saturday when the Raptors host the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their first-round series. Barnes is known among his teammates for his selfless play and upbeat attitude, which he often emphasizes with a hug. Is Barnes, who has only played 74 games in the NBA, ready for the grind of the playoffs?

With a giggle, Toronto head coach Nick Nurse remarked, “I got a nice embrace from him this morning if that’s any clue.” “He’s good to go into Game 1,” says the coach.

Barnes, as expected, is ecstatic to be in the playoffs. The 20-year-old claimed he and his Raptors colleagues have been working hard all season to reach this stage.

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“I’m excited about my first playoffs with individuals I enjoy being around,” he said on Friday at the OVO Centre, Toronto’s practice facility. “I’m just ecstatic.” It’s been a fantastic season.

“We worked hard and prepared to get to where we are now throughout the season.” “Now, you just have to keep going.”

Barnes is a front-runner for NBA rookie of the year despite averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists this season. Barnes’ solid play has impressed the Sixers, with head coach Doc Rivers calling him “outstanding” on Thursday.

In Philadelphia, Rivers stated, “He was good on video, but he’s a lot better in person.” “You’d assume Scottie Barnes had been in the league for ten years if you didn’t know he was a rookie.”

OG Anunoby of the Raptors stated that it is not the quality of Barnes’ play that has impressed him but how far the rookie has progressed in just one season.

“As the year progressed, he improved. He’s keen to learn new things. He’s not scared, “Anunoby stated.

The nurse agreed with Anunoby’s assessment of Barnes, predicting that the young Toronto forward will continue to develop in the postseason.

“All we noticed was him getting stronger, extra physical, more lively, and giving more hugs,” Nurse explained. “(He) just kept getting stronger as we got closer, which is what success is all about.

“It’s a success, which leads to increased motivation, and I believe he epitomizes all of those qualities.”

This season, Barnes claims that playing has been his finest teacher.

“Every day, I’m getting better,” Barnes said. “I’m focusing on my reads, locating the X-outs (defensive rotation), and doing little things like that.” “Defensive schemes from various teams are being studied.

“This helps you be prepared since many teams do the same thing, but they have different things that go along with it. However, the majority of the stuff is the same. As a result, I simply identify it and then learn from it.”

Source: CTV news

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