3 Reasons the Toronto Raptors can be back in the playoffs next season
The Toronto Raptors are not expected to be going places next season.
In fact, they're on track to be in the dreaded "middle" of the standings, not good enough to make the playoffs and not bad enough to acquire the best odds for the NBA Draft Lottery. They have a lot of money committed to a team that's currently projected as "meh" for next season.
What if that's not where they landed, however? What if the Raptors came out next year, defied the projections and made it into the playoffs? Stranger things have happened, to be sure. Let's look at three reasons why that unlikely outcome is far from far-fetched.
Scottie Barnes is a rising superstar
Every team wants to think that their young player is on the fast track to superstardom, but Scottie Barnes actually is. He was a deserving All-Star last season and only improved as the year went on. Many rising stars who put up high-volume scoring numbers get the early recognition, but Barnes is the kind of star that will drive winning far beyond the box score.
He was an offensive fulcrum last year and wore the mantle well, scoring at his best rate but also playmaking and setting up teammates extremely well. What's more, and crucial to his growth as a star, he improved significantly as a shooter. Barnes shot 39.1 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and 34.1 percent overall, and he looked much more comfortable shooting from outside, increasing his shot volume from 2.9 attempts to 4.9 attempts per game.
Where Barnes is truly special, however, is when you add in his defensive impact; he goes from point forward to two-way monster. He was an incredible weakside shot-blocker, rotating crisply and using his wingspan and power to make any foray into the paint a losing move for opponents. His combination of steals, blocks, assists and 3-pointers per game had never been matched in NBA history.
If the Raptors make the playoffs next year, it will be because Scottie Barnes took the next step and became an All-NBA level talent.