Just a week ago, it looked like Scottie Barnes was finding his groove - the kind of stretch that makes you think, yeah, this guy’s ready to make the All-Star leap. But then came two rough outings - and not just off nights. We’re talking full-on no-shows.
For the first time all season, the Raptors have been held under 100 points in back-to-back games. Unsurprisingly, both ended in losses - first to the Celtics at home, then to the Nets on the road. And for the first time this year, Barnes wasn’t just quiet - he was almost invisible.
That’s not something we’ve said often about the player Toronto is building around.
Now, to be fair, the Raptors did deal with a travel hiccup before the Brooklyn game - a mechanical issue with their charter delayed their arrival into the early morning hours. But fatigue or not, the NBA doesn’t hand out passes for late check-ins.
Every team deals with travel. What matters is how you show up - and Barnes simply didn’t.
This wasn’t just a dip in shooting percentage. It was a dip in presence. The same Scottie Barnes who had dominated Miami just last week - against a smaller Heat lineup that had no answers for him - looked disengaged and out of rhythm in both losses.
Against Boston, a team missing Jaylen Brown and still without Jayson Tatum (who’s out for the season), Barnes couldn’t get anything going. The Raptors, already undersized, looked overwhelmed. And Barnes, who’s supposed to be the tone-setter, couldn’t find a way to impact the game.
Then came Brooklyn - and it got worse. Barnes finished with just six points, his lowest scoring output of the season.
The team as a whole managed only 81 points, also a season low, and you could see the frustration on his face. The body language said it all - shoulders slumped, head down.
That’s not the Scottie Barnes we’re used to seeing.
Over these two games, he’s gone 8-for-25 from the field and just 1-for-8 from deep. Add in seven turnovers and only seven free throw attempts across his last five games, and you start to see a troubling trend.
He’s not attacking with the same force. He’s not demanding the ball in big moments.
And when the Raptors need someone to steady the ship, Barnes hasn’t been that guy.
Now, let’s be clear - this isn’t about panic. Every young star hits bumps in the road.
But what separates the good from the great is how they respond. Barnes has shown flashes this season - real, undeniable growth.
He’s been a playmaker, a defensive disruptor, and at times, the Raptors’ best player on the floor. But consistency is the name of the game, especially when you’re the face of the franchise.
The Raptors head to Miami next, where Barnes just recently had one of his most complete games of the year. That’s the version they need - the engaged, aggressive, do-it-all forward who can change a game even when the jumper isn’t falling.
Because if Barnes wants to be in that All-Star conversation - and more importantly, if the Raptors want to stay competitive - this can’t become a trend. The team needs more from their leader. And right now, Barnes needs to find a way to lead, even when things aren’t going his way.