The Raptors will have to manage without the services of their best player, Scottie Barnes, for at least three weeks.
Injuries are a part of life in the NBA, an opportunity for others to step up when a key asset is unavailable.
In the case of the Raptors, who have gone on record as saying they’re in the midst of a rebuild, the injury to Barnes — who sustained a fracture to his right orbital bone during Monday night’s loss to the visiting Denver Nuggets — must not be viewed as some catastrophic development.
He will, after all, return.
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It’s a not a torn knee ligament or some other kind of long-term setback that would really have a profound impact on the Raptors.
With 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Barnes took an elbow to his eye from Nikola Jokic. There was absolutely no intent, no malice, just one of those basketball plays when a big such as the Joker is carving space.
When Barnes left the game, he was one assist shy of recording a triple-double.
Barnes missed the final 22 games last season when he hurt a finger in a home loss to the Golden State Warriors on March 1. The forward also missed the pre-season opener in Montreal earlier this month because of personal reasons.
Ideally, a healthy Barnes is much preferred. The Raptors, though, have not been healthy from the moment they opened training camp.
RJ Barrett (shoulder) made his regular-season debut Monday and nearly drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer in an overtime loss to the Nuggets.
Much has been made of Barnes’ all-star nod last season, but it came as an injury replacement.
No one on the Raptors roster is capable of filling the role Barnes must embrace as an offensive initiator whose court vision is second to none, a versatile defender and an absolute beast when posting up smaller defenders.
Monday’s defeat probably was the ideal way to lose, knowing more losses will eventually lead to more ping ping balls being available in the draft lottery next spring.
Against Denver, the Raptors were competitive and entertaining while losing.
Without Barnes for the next few weeks, the Raptors can’t be as entertaining, but his absence will allow minutes for the team’s younger players who require extended time on the floor to develop.
If there’s a silver lining to the Barnes injury, it’s the simple fact players not accustomed to shouldering a burden will now be forced to step up.
The Raptors were in Charlotte on Wednesday to face the host Hornets for an evening tip.
Barnes did not accompany the team and remained in Toronto.