With the NBA playoffs set to tip off this weekend, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes is excited to get to work and begin his first postseason run after a tremendous rookie campaign.
Barnes and the fifth-seeded Raptors (48-34) open up with the No. 4 seed Philadelphia 76ers (51-31) Saturday on the road. He missed one game this season versus Philly but averaged 13 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists as Toronto won three of the four overall meetings.
The fourth pick closed out the season strong after winning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month from February through April to become just the fourth player in Raptors history to win multiple times. He is ready for his opportunity to start things up.
“I’m excited. I’m just ready to play, really,” Barnes said on Friday after practice. “I haven’t played in a week and I’m just ready to go out there and play.”
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse this week said he expects Barnes to continue to play well in the playoffs. He cited Barnes’ growth throughout the season as a major reason why he believes that will continue. Nurse believes Barnes is playing more physically, which bodes well in the playoffs.
The challenge of performing at a high level in the playoffs can be daunting for first-year players, but Barnes is leaning on his veteran teammates for encouragement.
Those guys look composed but they already know we’re about to get into a dog fight. You can see that they’re mentally prepared by how they come into the gym and work out. You see that and it gives me the confidence to see they look like they know what they’re doing and are ready to play.
Barnes, like the rest of the Raptors, will be all over the Sixers’ scouting report. Doc Rivers on Tuesday offered high praise for Barnes and was a player the 76ers head coach watched film on last year during the pre-draft process.
He has certainly earned plenty of attention this season and will be a key focus of the Sixers as the two teams meet for Game 1. Teams often don’t have to game plan much for rookies, but Barnes has proven to be anything but a typical first-year player.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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