Strictly Hoops: Cerebral PnR Scottie & Darko thoughts

·1 hr 32 min·5 clips

After a dark Raptors loss, Scottie Barnes is excelling in the pick-and-roll, and CJ Miles shares his early impressions of coach Darko Rajakovic.

The episode begins by setting up the contrast between the Raptors' disappointing home loss to the Bucks and the positive individual development of Scottie Barnes. The hosts meticulously break down the game's turning point, highlighting how Damian Lillard exploited pick-and-roll defense, particularly against centers like Jakob Poeltl and Chris Boucher, to score 30 points and dish out assists. They note the Raptors' chronic lack of spacing and catch-and-shoot threats, exacerbated by the absences of OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. The discussion then shifts to Scottie Barnes' offensive growth, with specific praise for his patience, size, and decision-making as a pick-and-roll ball handler, leading to a 29-point, 9-rebound, 7-assist performance. Former NBA player and show regular CJ Miles offers his perspective throughout. He discusses first-year coach Darko Rajakovic, noting his positive energy, attention to detail, and willingness to make in-game adjustments like benching Poeltl to start the second half. Miles emphasizes the difficulty of breaking old playing habits and the time required for a new system to take root. The hosts also explore broader NBA topics, including Tyrese Haliburton's elite playmaking, how video games like NBA 2K can aid court vision, and the league's crackdown on taunting, which Miles criticizes as stifling competitive fire. The episode concludes by touching on the Raptors' upcoming schedule and the long-term project under Rajakovic.

As heard by us

A rough night opens the door to a clearer Scottie Barnes conversation.

The piece opens on the Bucs loss and then finds its footing in Scottie Barnes in the pick-and-roll, which is the clearest stretch of the conversation.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you want a Bucs-game postmortem that ends up on Scottie Barnes pick-and-roll work, press play.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Raptors Over Everything