In the absence of the Raptors’ top two players, RJ Barrett has emerged as the team’s best performer.
And yet, the best has yet to arrive for the 24-year-old Torontonian. More will be expected from Barrett as he continues to shoulder an expanded role with Scottie Barnes unavailable for at least the foreseeable future following a right orbital fracture, while Immanuel Quickley inches closer to returning from his opening-night pelvic injury.
Since his own return from a right shoulder injury during the Raptors’ pre-season opener, he’s been playing at high level, maintaining a fearless approach when attacking the rim and not shying away from big moments.
In a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday, his pull-up three in transition did not drop in an eventual overtime loss. However, six nights later, Barrett drilled the exact same shot from precisely the identical spot in an overtime win over the Sacramento Kings.
It was Kings head coach Mike Brown who mentioned during his pre-game availability how he felt that second-year wing Gradey Dick was an early-season candidate as the league’s most improved player.
Barrett would easily qualify, as well. His leadership is undeniable, his will unquestionable, his ceiling still quite high if he continues to trend upwards.
But once Quickley returns, which seems likely at some point with the team embarking on a five-game road swing — beginning Monday night in Denver — the ball won’t be in Barrett’s hands as often.
And once Barnes is back, which won’t happen anytime soon, some kind of chemistry among the Big 3 must be developed.
In the meantime, Barrett has been the guy, stringing together three games of scoring at last 31 points. In that time, he has also dished off 26 assists, including a career-high 12 dimes in Friday’s loss to the Lakers.
Luckily, the Raptors were able to survive three missed free throws by Barrett in crunch time on Saturday night when they held off the Kings in an entertaining overtime game.
The win for Toronto ended a four-game losing streak and was the first by the Raptors since Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic inadvertently elbowed Barnes in the face following a missed shot.
After Monday’s tip in Denver, the Raptors head to Sacramento to play the host Kings on Wednesday night, followed by back-to-back games against the two L.A-based teams on the weekend.
The five-game trip wraps up in Milwaukee on Nov. 12 when Vince Carter is expected to provide his analysis on the TV broadcast.
It’s conceivable that the Raptors could go winless on this trip. In two away games early in the season — first in Minneapolis, then in Charlotte — poor starts doomed the Raptors.
At least at home, the Raptors have been entertaining by playing a scrappy and feisty brand of basketball, which is really all fans can expect. When wins such as Saturday night play out, it’s a bonus.
Barrett has been the ringleader but he hasn’t been a one-man show when the Raps have been competitive.
Jakob Poeltl is the team’s one legitimate post presence, a fact underlined by Sacramento’s late put-back basket in regulation that forced the extra period. Poeltl had fouled out in the final two minutes of regulation.
Dick, meanwhile, has shown an offensive flair and a play-making dimension, drawing comparisons by some to Kyle Korver.
Ochai Agbaji has shown flashes, including an efficient night against the Kings when he netted 21 points on 12 shot attempts.
Davion Mitchell has proven to be more than serviceable at point guard, though protecting the basketball has to be addressed. Against the Kings, Mitchell turned it over five times, but he also recorded five steals and seven assists.
As a team, the Raptors began the night by turning it over only once in the first quarter, arguably their best 12-minute segment of the early season. The night ended, however, with 19 turnovers.
Chris Boucher continues to flourish off the bench when his number is called.
First-round pick Ja’Kobe Walter made his debut on Saturday, albeit uneventful. The kid, to his credit, was active, but he’s a long way from emerging as a rotational player.
Some nice moments have been seen from the likes of a Jamison Battle and Jonathan Mogbo, who made his first start in Charlotte.
Jamal Shead needs to develop a jumper, but his ball-hawk defence is always welcome.
At 2-5, the Raptors could very well be sitting at 2-10 once they return from their trip. But as long as they compete and show signs of improvement by sticking together, the losing will be tolerated.
At the head of the proverbial snake, will be Barrett.
In this development stage of the franchise, fans must grin and Barrett, pun intended.