Should the Raptors be worried about Scottie Barnes' preseason?

"Es Baraheni dropped a fantastic video the other day discussing whether Scottie Barnes' preseason should be worrisome for the Toronto Raptors. He didn't sound the alarm, but he gave context as to why Barnes' high rate of jumpers (and missed jumpers) this preseason is a continuation of his approach last year. Context is good. Still, I'm not overly worried about Barnes' mindset or shot selection."

"But I am worried about the Raptors' intended usage of Barnes himself. There have, more or less, been two extremes thus far through his career. To start, he had virtually no plays called for him, and he found his own way to success through athleticism and intelligence. He was overqualified for that role. Last season, he was a high-usage primary initiator, and he was perhaps underqualified for that role. At least in comparison to other high-isolation players at or around his isolations per game (Devin Booker, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, etc.)."

"To start Toronto's game against the Boston Celtics, Barnes does the following on the first five offensive possessions of the game: screens and cuts (doesn't touch the ball), runs in transition (doesn't touch the ball), sets a half-hearted pin-in screen from the corner (doesn't touch the ball), stands in the corner (misses the 3-pointer when it comes to him), and stands above the wing while Brandon Ingram isolates (doesn't touch the ball). Meanwhile, the Celtics race out to an 11-4 lead over those same few minutes."

Scottie Barnes' high rate of jumpers this preseason mirrors his approach from last year. Barnes' mindset and shot selection do not appear deeply concerning, with last year framed as experimentation and this year framed as more focused. Barnes remains an effective driver, rim finisher, and offensive rebounder. The primary concern centers on how the Raptors intend to deploy him. His career has seen extremes: early minimal play-calling that suited him and last season's high-usage primary initiator role that may have exceeded his qualifications. Early lineup usage and new pairings require time for acclimation.

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