That was a taste of greatness last October, the chance to see Vladimir Guerrero Jr. flex his muscles on the biggest of baseball stages. He lit up the city and the country and brought his celebrity to a brand-new place in the sport.
It doesn't exactly work the same way for Scottie Barnes and the Raptors. The Raptors don't have the reach that the Blue Jays own from coast to coast. Baseball will usually trump basketball most days in this country. The first round of the NBA playoffs is not the World Series.
But here in Toronto, where players of prominence historically disappear at post-season time, the young legend that is Barnes is growing by the minute, by the day, and certainly by the game. And it has been magical to watch up close, the way it was magical with Guerrero and even Ernie Clement back in the fall. Magical to see Barnes flex his muscles, demonstrate the many facets of his unusual game, be great on a Sunday afternoon with NBA commissioner Adam Silver in attendance for a game that wasn't, frankly, all that great.
But Barnes was the show on this NBA Sunday. He pulled his own Nikola Jokic for the Raptors. He had that best-in-the-world look about him. He led his team to a rather stunning 93-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, leading his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and minutes played. He was Toronto's best offensive and best defensive player all at the very same time. He was their most physical player. He was their leader, on the court and during timeouts.
He may have been just first-rounding against the Cavs after two losses on the road, in a different kind that Guerrero Jr. was first-rounding against the New York Yankees last October. With the kind of play that makes you take stock of the moment, check your Apple Watch, see where you are, understand the circumstances, understand what it is that sport can deliver when special athletes do special things.
Barnes has been a Raptor for five seasons and most years, personally, have been better than the one before it. But the team hasn't necessarily been much to look at most of the time, not contending, not hitting expectations because there weren't really any real expectations.
Another step forward
This year, though, has been different. This year was another step for Barnes. He scored 33 points in Game 3, with the Raptors down 2-0, with the Raptors about to be semi-eliminated by the Cavs. In a wonky Game 4, where neither team could shoot and basketball looked to be brought to you by Kevin O'Neill, he lifted weights while the game was being played. The weights of those he happens to be teaming with.
"I expect more from Scottie Barnes," said Darko Rajakovic, the suddenly quotable Raptors coach. He was only sort of kidding when he said he expects more from Barnes. "He's 60% of the player he's going to be. He's going to be one of the best players in the league. He's already one of the best players in the league. What makes him so special, the grind and the fight and the attention to detail. Everything we preach night in and night out. We just never flinched."
He never flinched. The Raptors didn't look like much in losing the first two games of the series in Cleveland. Then they dominated the fourth quarter twice in a row at Scotiabank Arena — and suddenly this series is tied.
The Raptors trailed by seven points with just over three minutes to play in Game 4. The way both teams were shooting, that lead seemed insurmountable. And that was before the crowd at Scotiabank began the loud chanting of "MVP, MVP" for Barnes, a quaint shout of local implications but not necessarily league-wide agreement. This however, was a message brought to you by Barnes. This is really his first time in the playoffs as a person of massive importance. This is his first time leaving a calling card of any kind. Outperforming the Hall of Fame-bound duo of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell in the two Toronto wins.
And like Guerrero outslugging Aaron Judge in the American League Divisional Series, it meant something. That was the true playoff start for Vladdy. This is the true playoff start for Barnes. The Raptors aren't likely to be heading anywhere near the NBA Finals. But you have to walk before you can run. This will be at least a six-game series. That's already surpassing expectations for the growing Raptors.
Raps trying to 'prove everyone wrong'
The Raps look to "prove everyone wrong, that's the state of our team, every guy has a chip on his shoulder," said the coach. Coaches say that kind of stuff. It's always us against the world. Barnes plays now as if there is a chip on his shoulder.
"Scottie is an amazing friend, amazing father, amazing son, amazing teammate," Rajakovic said. In other words: amazing. "The biggest thing about him is how much he cares about his teammates. It's my absolute privilege to work with a human being like that … What's evident is how much he cares about this team and for this city and for Canada."
But it's also about learning about yourself, who you are at the toughest of moments, how you respond. "Being a winner," is what Barnes says he wants to be. "Trying to do more than I can do … How can I win. How can I help someone else."
He is just 24 years old, two and half years younger than Guerrero Jr. Four years younger than Auston Matthews and five years younger than William Nylander. Climbing the large mountain on the biggest stage. And still so many steps to go.
