"With Scottie Barnes emerging, the vibes became all the more tenuous. He was a mighty-mite sealed in a Ziploc. A talented, yet pesky annoyance to the elders. Barnes - like all younger generations - was burdened both by the weight of a history he had no part of and by expectations set by others. His true self - with all it's eccentricities, brilliance, and spiritedness - chafed against a pre-established hierarchy."
"The franchise, eventually, reset surrounding Barnes with an influx of young talent. Where he went they would go. What he was to become, so would they. That took time. Much to be figured out. A brand new roster to configure. A new hierarchy to establish. A new style of play to implement. Scottie Barnes needed to discover who he was as a player. As the player. To face the responsibility of the moment and understand the consequences of what that meant."
"With the difficulties came the impatience and frustration. The looks of contempt at missed passes or blown open shots. The sulking jogs back down the floor. The random possessions taken off on defence. Questions arose - fair or not - if shifting the team to Barnes was a wise decision. It all looked so muddled. But expectations were rushed. This was a long process."
Scottie Barnes carried generational burdens and external expectations that clashed with an established team hierarchy. The franchise reset around Barnes, adding young talent and committing to follow his development. Building a new roster, hierarchy, and style of play required time and experimentation. Barnes faced the responsibility of becoming the team's primary player while adjusting to increased usage. Injuries and adaptation to Head Coach Darko Rajaković's system hampered development, and efficiency declined amid rising usage. Frustration and visible signs of strain surfaced across possessions and reactions. The struggles were painful but necessary for adaptation; Barnes was learning from those challenges.
Read at Raptors Republic
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