Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes furthered his Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) case on Sunday by clamping down on the DPOY odds-on favorite, Chet Holmgren, in his team’s 103-101 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With 33.9 seconds left in the game, the Raptors had a 101-99 lead over the reigning NBA champions. At that point, the 7-foot-1 Holmgren was isolated against the 6-foot-8 Barnes with a chance to tie the scores. Instead, Holmgren had his 7-foot jumper blocked by Barnes, who finished the defensive sequence by grabbing the rebound.
It was the sort of defensive play that voters will likely remember over the next few months when they pick their winner for the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.
Scottie Barnes for DPOY?
Per Oddschecker, Barnes is now fourth in most sportsbooks and has the strongest case to challenge Holmgren for the award. That’s because Victor Wembanyama, the odds-on runner-up, has already missed 14 of the San Antonio Spurs’ 46 games, and can afford to sit out only three more games to maintain eligibility for the award.
The third-placed favorite in most sportsbooks, Rudy Gobert, is expected to plummet amid the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ ongoing five-game losing streak. Furthermore, voters are unlikely to hand the Frenchman his fifth DPOY award, given his past shortcomings in the playoffs and the strong criticism he has encountered.
The DPOY award could come down to a two-horse race between Holmgren and Barnes. The momentum is definitely with the latter, who has been instrumental in leading the Raptors (29-19) to the third seed in the East amid a four-game winning streak.
Barnes currently ranks 15th in defensive win shares, while Holmgren is third on the list. However, a lot of these defensive metrics are team-based stats, which is why as many as seven Thunder players rank ahead of Barnes due to their collective impact.
The Next Kawhi Leonard?
Many analysts believe that Barnes has the capability of winning multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, emulating future Hall of Famer Kawhi Leonard, who is widely regarded as the best perimeter defender of his generation.
His teammates know they have a star in their midst.
“That was big time,” Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley said of Barnes’ block on Holmgren in Sunday’s win, via The Athletic’s Josh Robbins. “He’s been making big defensive plays all year. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a Defensive Player of the Year (award). Blocks, steals, communication — he’s big time for us.”
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic showered his young star with praise as well.
“Scottie’s defense was elite, blocking the shot against Chet Holmgren, getting the offensive rebound after the free-throw miss,” he said after the win.
Barnes is expected to make his second All-Star team as a reserve this year. He could potentially crack the starting unit if the NBA picks him as the replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is set to be sidelined for four to six weeks with a calf injury.
Raptors’ Scottie Barnes’ DPOY Odds Skyrocket After Thunder Win