The Toronto Raptors have to be very concerned that they can't buy a win against a top-10 opponent in the NBA. Their troubles against the best teams in the league continued on Wednesday, as they let a very winnable game against the San Antonio Spurs slip through their fingers with a choke job in the fourth quarter, as they ultimately lost 110-107 at home.
The Raptors are now 4-15 against teams with top-10 records, and this could be their most crushing defeat yet. Most of their losses against tough opposition were not very close, as their opponent had their way against Toronto. But this was a game in which they led by double figures in the fourth, but allowed the Spurs to attack them in the final frame, with even Victor Wembanyama struggling with his shot all night.
A possible reason for the Raptors' poor performance in the end was Scottie Barnes being less than 100 percent healthy. A multipositional destroyer who can play against smaller defenders, Barnes was reportedly playing "on one leg" and he was "playing through pain" as head coach Darko Rajakovic told TSN's Josh Levenberg after the game.
This is a concern with 23 games left in the season amid the Raptors' battle for position in the East, as they will need a healthy Barnes to be a threat, as without him, they could be completely disappointing against the best teams in the league.
Scottie Barnes is the Raptors' best player
A lot was said about the Raptors' acquisition of Brandon Ingram and how he has given Toronto a legitimate weapon to rely on in crunch time. While Ingram has been very good, people shouldn't make the mistake of thinking of him as the Raptors' best player, as that honor still belongs to Barnes.
Barnes can legitimately defend one through five, and while his offensive game isn't great on the perimeter, his two-way play is incredible. According to PBP stats, his net rating is plus-6.1, which is the best in the team.
