3 hot takeaways as Raptors choke away golden opportunity vs. Kings

3. Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes are back.

While Barnes did have some absolutely crushing turnovers late in the fourth quarter, it’s hard to get too mad at the only two players who showed up with the intention of playing well on the offensive end. Between VanVleet and Scottie putting up 66, Toronto may find the added offensive punch they’ve been lacking lately.

Barnes put up 27 points, dished out 10 assists, and pulled down seven rebounds. While he struggled against Orlando, he was one rebound shy of his fourth double-double in his last seven games. The frustrated VanVleet shooting tour dates could be a thing of the past, as he scored 39 points on 13-25 shooting from the field.

Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes looked alive for the Toronto Raptors.

While it’s sometimes difficult to analyze why a team might be struggling, the Raptors’ struggles on offense can seem very cut and dry. Toronto was getting next to nothing from their star offensive performers outside of Siakam. Have they turned over a new leaf against a few quality opponents?

Siakam’s struggles against Sacramento have to be, at least in part, due to the fact that he is continuously shouldering a frankly Herculean workload in the half-court. If Barnes continues to be efficient and VanVleet has rediscovered his penchant for timely shot-making, Toronto could gradually claw back out of this hole they’ve dug.