The Toronto Raptors recently saw a six-game winning streak snapped at the hands of Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns. While Fred VanVleet kept playing at an All-Star level and Pascal Siakam had one of his best days, the team was unable to overcome such a deep, composed Suns team.
With Toronto sitting at 20-18 in a season where many viewed them as a potential lottery team due to their influx of young players, the fact that the Raptors have been able to be in the fight this long has been very impressive. However, they aren’t necessarily firing on all cylinders.
While VanVleet going nuts and Scottie Barnes making a Rookie of the Year charge has helped paper over some noteworthy cracks in this roster, Toronto is operating without a ton of bench consistency. Is the squad’s star power enough to distinguish them from the rest of the play-in contenders in the East?
The Raptors have been pulling off wins despite some concerning trends surrounding some of the more visible players on the roster. Should the Raptors be concerned about these issues? Should they continue with how they’ve been operating and hope that these recent runs of form turn around?
Should the Toronto Raptors be concerned about these 3 trends?
3. The logjam in the paint
The Raptors may not have a true starting center in a lineup that features Siakam at that spot, but they have an abundance of bigs on their bench. In addition to Chris Boucher’s blend of shot-blocking and interior finishing, Precious Achiuwa is proving his worth as a rebounder and Khem Birch is providing rock-solid defense.
The Raptors are teetering on a very fine line between a positionless, physical defense and a lineup full of non-shooters that can’t keep pace on offense. Can three players all playing the same position coexist on the bench? So far, the results have been fairly encouraging for Toronto.
How will the Toronto Raptors divvy up bench minutes?
Boucher has been exceptional as a high-energy big, Achiuwa continues to rebound and defend at a solid level, and Birch provides a traditional back-to-the-basket center. This may seem like a too many cooks situation, but none of them have been bad enough to warrant being completely taken out of the rotation.
While the Raptors could look to move Boucher, an impending free agent, before the trade deadline, Nick Nurse still seems capable of making sure all of these players get ample playing time. The bigger problems lie elsewhere on this roster.
Verdict: Patience
2. The lack of a backup point guard
The Raptors have one of the best point guards in the league in VanVleet, but their backups are…nonexistent at the moment. Toronto is barren at the moment that Barnes and Siakam are getting some legitimate minutes running the show when VanVleet makes one of his infrequent trips to the bench.
Malachi Flynn was supposed to be the backup to VanVleet given his solid rookie season, but he has regressed to the point where he is even struggling in the G League. Dalano Banton had the role locked up early in the season, but he’s been dropped from the rotation after hitting the rookie wall.
The Toronto Raptors need to give Fred VanVleet some rest.
VanVleet is near the top of the league in minutes per game, and that overuse may just wear him down at a very inopportune time late in the season. The Barnes and Siakam minutes at point guard are fun and unique, but will they be sustainable against some of the best teams in the East?
If the Raptors are going to look to make additions at the trade deadline, making sure that they get someone who can be a trusted VanVleet should be the top priority. Unless Flynn or Banton and up back in the rotation, it’s fair to wonder how far this bench can take this team.
Verdict: Panic
1. Scottie Barnes’ offensive funk
After roaring out to a fantastic start to his pro career, Barnes has slowed up just a bit now that defenses are starting to get a bit more film on him. While he is still impacting the game on both ends, he hasn’t been as clinical on the offensive end since the calendar flipped to January.
Despite playing 33 minutes in five games since returning from the health and safety protocols, Barnes is averaging just 9.6 points per game. He is shooting just 39% from the field and has not scored more than 13 points in a game. The stats belie the fact that Barnes is still making plays for this team.
Should the Toronto Raptors be concerned about Scottie Barnes?
Barnes’ new role is honestly not dissimilar from what Marc Gasol was doing during his Toronto tenure. He’s still making waves as a passer and on-ball defender, and the return of players like Anunoby and Siakam has cut into his shot attempts. Barnes should be fine as far as his long-term potential is concerned.
With four other starters that demand the ball, Nurse has chosen to sacrifice touches for Barnes in order to make sure all of those players can get their shots up. If required, Barnes has proven to be a quality offensive player that is capable of carrying this offense for a night or two.
Verdict: Patience