RJ Barrett Makes Donovan Mitchell, James Harden Admission Before Game 3

RJ Barrett and the Toronto Raptors fell 115-105 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Losing back-to-back games at Rocket Arena means the Raptors head back home to Scotiabank Arena down 0-2, with two games on Thursday and Sunday to save their season. 

The former Duke Blue Devil excelled in Game 2, contributing 22 points, nine rebounds, and five assists on 10-for-13 shooting. His offensive output, next to two-time All-Star Scottie Barnes’ 26 points, accounted for all but 12 points from the Raptors’ starters on Monday night. While defense was a significant problem in Game 1, putting the ball in the hole was a struggle for Toronto in Game 2. 

Cavaliers’ superstar backcourt duo, 11-time All-Star James Harden and seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell, led the way for the home team, scoring at will yet again. The duo combined for 58 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, and six steals, proving to be too much to handle for the young, inexperienced Raptors. 

After the game, Barrett gave credit to the duo with a blunt, but simple statement. 

“To be honest, they’re a problem,” said Barrett. “They’re a problem. We gotta go watch the film and figure out how to fix that.”

Simply put, there may not be much the Raptors can do to disrupt the overwhelming experience these two superstars have. Harden is widely known as one of the greatest offensive players of all time; while his best scoring days are behind him, his ability to facilitate the offense and get the most production out of his teammates is comparable to the best in the NBA today. 

Mitchell, on the other hand, is a notable playoff riser in the prime of his career. His ability to score from all three levels seems easy with his combination of shooting off the dribble and finishing at the rim. With just one year left on his contract, he is continuing to prove that he deserves to be one of the highest-paid players in the league in real time. 

Another underrated quality of both players is their adept skill at drawing fouls. If the shots aren’t falling, they are able to manipulate the defense into being out of position and use it to their advantage. Their ability to seemingly take turns dictating the offense seems second nature, considering they have only played 26 total games together. That’s a credit to their experience as leaders and winners, something that the Raptors do not have at this point.