Raptors star wasn't joking about wanting to win (his defense is taking another leap)

Look, I know you're looking at the title and thinking, "Hey, but the Raptors lost to the Celtics last night," and I totally get that. However, the Raptors team that suited up on February 25—especially Scottie Barnes—were trying their hardest to rally back and get the win; it just wasn't enough this time around against the defending NBA champions.

Both teams' lack of an interior presence was strongly felt as the Celtics used forward Torrey Craig at the five spot, while the Raptors opted for small-ball option Jonathan Mogbo to anchor the paint. Nevertheless, it was a competitive game, and once again, Raptors fans were treated to a lockdown masterclass courtesy of their 23-year-old franchise cornerstone.

Barnes has been on quite a tear of late, successfully shutting down the efforts of some of the Raptors' opposing stars known for their ability to torch Toronto in matchups. Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns had difficulty finding an answer with Barnes glued to him, being relegated to 15 points on 5-for-15 field goal shooting.

This time around, it was Jayson Tatum who fell victim to the Barnes Box (Like the "Dorture Chamber," get it?). Tatum still had a decent night in the box score, recording 19 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds, but his 7-for-18 shooting performance tells a different tale.

Scottie Barnes is a defensive headache for his opponents

With his length and size, it should come as no surprise that Barnes is a stout defender; however, this aspect of his game often gets lost in the shuffle and is overlooked by many casual NBA fans.

Barnes was asked this question by Raptors media member Aaron Rose during a recent practice scrum, as referenced in the X post attached below:

Once again, the season hasn’t produced a tremendous result, nor have circumstances favored the Raptors or Barnes, as injuries have plagued them all year. The wins haven't been consistent enough to make any significant noise in the Eastern Conference landscape. Moreover, the Raptors franchise as a whole tends to be overlooked in mainstream NBA coverage and recognition, so it’s no surprise to me that not many people are aware of Barnes's increased defensive effort.

Not too long ago, in another piece I wrote, I referenced how Barnes expressed to the media that he has no regard for fans who want the team to tank their lottery odds. He simply goes out there with the intention to win and nothing else. His recent five-game stretch of playing all-out basketball is a testament to these comments; Barnes didn't just say that to save face.

Snooping around X, I found it quite funny to see the discourse surrounding Barnes in the Celtics fan community. The overall conclusion of each post centered on him "doing too much" or "trying too hard for a pointless regular-season game."

Obviously, to the casual Celtics fan watching, that type of mindset is infuriating. However, for Raptors fans, that is exactly the kind of mentality you want instilled in Barnes. He plays hard no matter what, even given the team's measly record. I've said it over and over: the Raptors were built on fighting spirit.

Rewinding back to the defense conversations, I don't know if Barnes can justify a spot on an All-Defensive team just yet—especially considering the Raptors' mediocre record—but he's on pace to make it there. A good chunk of the rhetoric around Barnes highlights how versatile and dynamic he is as a player, but people tend to forget that defense was also his calling card, and that element of his game still holds value in the NBA. It's just hard to view someone as a stellar defender if the team isn't winning, and that thought process makes 100% sense to me.

But with the Raptors on the verge of a revamped direction, thanks to newcomer Brandon Ingram, I've already examined how another leap from Scottie Barnes into superstar territory is absolutely critical for the success of that trade gamble paying off.