A sluggish outing from Scottie Barnes is raising eyebrows, as Michael Grange of SportsNet suggests it could be a potential issue for the Toronto Raptors moving forward.
However, head coach Darko Rajakovic believes Barnes’ underwhelming performance is largely a result of lingering effects from recent injuries.
Playing in just his second game since returning from a sprained ankle, Barnes managed only six points on a tough 2-of-15 shooting night.
Notably, he missed all seven of his initial three-point attempts, setting a tone of frustration early on.
“As you can see, he’s not being himself,” Rajakovic explained. “He’s banged up, he got hit in his hip the last game, [there’s] his ankle, and there’s been a couple of things bothering him. He’s still not himself, he’ll be better.”
The player’s health appears to be a key factor in his recent struggles, with Rajakovic expressing optimism about his ability to bounce back as he regains his rhythm.
Nevertheless, the performance highlights the challenges facing both Toronto’s wing and the team as they navigate through injuries and attempt to maintain competitive play.
If Barnes can recover fully and return to form, it could be a major boost for a Raptors team that depends on his versatility and energy on both ends of the court.
Barnes has averaged 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 16 games this season.
Atlantic Notes: C. Johnson, Raptors, Barnes, Embiid, Maxey https://t.co/jadF1cDHtJ pic.twitter.com/9tmHrrxYKC
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