Raptors Are Learning Just How Much They Need Scottie Barnes

The Toronto Raptors entered the season knowing Kawhi Leonard's availability would be difficult to count on every night. What they may not have anticipated was how quickly Scottie Barnes would become just as important to keeping the team competitive.

Toronto's back-to-back losses to the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers offered a difficult reminder of that reality. The Raptors built leads of 22 points against Boston and 17 against Philadelphia, only to watch both advantages disappear. With Leonard sidelined and Barnes missing his fourth consecutive game, Toronto struggled to find the offensive direction needed to close either matchup.

The results leave the Raptors at 5-7 through 12 games, but the circumstances surrounding those losses make it difficult to draw a firm conclusion about what this team can be at full strength.

Toronto has already used seven different starting lineups, with no group starting more than three games together. Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley have also missed time, further complicating the team's efforts to establish a consistent rotation.

Still, Barnes' absence carries particular weight.

As noted by Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun, the Raptors are 6-17 without Barnes over the past three seasons — compared with 75-78 when he's on the court. That difference helps explain why his groin injury has become such a significant part of the team's early-season outlook.

Leonard's availability has long been a question mark for Toronto. At 35, managing his workload is part of the challenge, and the Raptors have to be prepared for stretches without him. Barnes, however, is the player expected to shoulder more responsibility when Leonard is unavailable. Without both forwards, Toronto has been left searching for a reliable offensive option in difficult moments.

There were encouraging individual performances during the two losses. RJ Barrett finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds and five assists against Philadelphia, while Quickley added 26 points. Against Boston, Jamal Shead, Allen Graves and Ja'Kobe Walter all provided productive minutes.

Those contributions show why Toronto can build sizable leads even with its stars out. The problem has been sustaining that production once opponents adjust. The Raptors scored only 32 points in the second half against Boston and allowed Philadelphia to outscore them by 11 after halftime.

SB Nation's Julian Apolinario argued that losing without Leonard is a challenge Toronto must learn to manage, but losing without Barnes makes it much harder to assess the team's potential. That distinction is important with the Raptors still trying to establish themselves as a playoff contender.

The Raptors now face another difficult test with two home games against the defending champion New York Knicks. Getting Barnes back would give Toronto a much clearer picture of where it stands. Until then, the team is still trying to answer a question that its current lineup may not be equipped to settle.