For the second time this season, the injury bug has bit Scottie Barnes

Article content

First came an inadvertent kick from a teammate to the left hand.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Then came an inadvertent elbow from an opponent to the face.

The latest set of unfortunate circumstances involved landing on a foe’s foot.

It would be pushing the envelope to the extreme by suggesting Scottie Barnes is injury-prone. Perhaps he’s an unwitting victim of bad luck.

Then again, his inability to elude the injury bug does merit a conversation.

News-wise, Wednesday did provide a bit of clarity and an encouraging sign when the Raptors announced their anointed franchise face had indeed suffered a right ankle sprain, a diagnosis confirmed when further imaging was conducted.

Per the club, Barnes will be re-evaluated in one week.

On the surface, expecting Barnes to be back within two weeks is a stretch.

Consider the set of events that unfolded Monday night when the Raptors were playing host to the New York Knicks.

Article content

It was the lone game on the NBA schedule as the teams waged a very entertaining and thrilling tip won by the visitors.

Midway through the third quarter, Barnes attempted to block Karl-Anthony Towns in the paint.

Barnes landed on KAT’s foot, a common play in basketball.

When Barnes left the game, he was unable to put any weight on his foot.

When seen Tuesday, he was sporting a walking boot.

There’s no tear, which is always good.

Even an amateur doctor can conclude a sprain ankle to a man of Barnes’ size will mean an extended stretch of inactivity.

Big picture, this isn’t going to disrupt the Raptors’ plans to showcase their young pieces.

Actually, Barnes’ injury will provide additional time and touches for the likes of a Jonathan Mogbo and a Ja’Kobe Walter.

Article content

Article content

Maybe Chris Boucher will actually see the floor and be able to launch high-arcing corner threes.

With Kelly Olynyk returning form his back ailment, Boucher, the team’s longest-tenured player, became the odd-man out when Dallas and New York came to town.

Immanuel Quickley’s injured elbow is far more clouded in doubt with no timeline on a possible return even remotely being mentioned.

Still, some will have you believe Toronto’s starting point guard may not be available until the all-star break.

Naturally, only time will tell.

What is known is that Barnes was averaging career highs of 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 14 games.

He was shooting 46% from the field, while posting seven double-doubles, including one triple-double.

Article content

When Barnes was on the receiving end of an accidental elbow from Denver’s Nikola Jokic in the fourth game of the season, Barnes suffered an orbital fracture.

He would miss 11 games, a stretch that would see the Raptors go 2-11, including a seven-game losing streak.

On March 1 against visiting Golden State, Barnes suffered a fracture to the third metacarpal bone of his left hand.

Season-ending surgery was required as Barnes missed 22 games.

Barnes suffered the injury toward the end of the first half of Toronto’s loss to the Warriors.

To refresh everyone’s memory, as Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga was cutting to the basket, Quickley attempted to defend the play.

He inadvertently kicked Barnes in the left hand after a collision.

Article content

Three separate incidents, three accidental sequences and one big question surrounding Barnes’ durability.

Clearly, the Raptors are far better when a healthy Barnes is in the lineup.

Until Quickley is back and all the pieces are healthy, no one can say with any degree of certainty what this unit will look like and how this unit will mesh.

For the record, at no time have the Raptors had their five-man starting group active. It hasn’t happened since last March.

A byproduct of not fielding your ideal lineup because of injuries is the amount of man games lost to injury or illness.

When it comes to this dubious department, the Raptors are among the league leaders trailing the New Orleans Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies.

Mercy is never part of the NBA’s equation and basketball life for the Raptors must move on.

Article content

In their case, they move on to Miami for a Thursday night date against the Heat.

The Jimmy Butler trade rumours have begun, which seemed inevitable given Miami has turned into a middle-of-the-road team that requires a makeover.

It’s clear the Heat must pivot to have any chance of returning to the ranks of title contenders.

The Raptors’ pivot was triggered last season when OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam were traded.

Life without Barnes won’t be easy, but life with Barnes didn’t exactly translate into consistent winning.

Sustained winning is not in the cards with the Raptors, even at full strength.

More than anything, missing two integral pieces in Barnes and Quickley must be viewed as an opportunity.

Witness the emergence of Gradey Dick when he had a stretch of playing at such a high level.

Article content

Witness the growth of RJ Barrett, who was asked to make plays with the ball knowing Quickley and Barnes weren’t available.

The two players to watch closely in the wake of Barnes’ latest setback are the two rookies in Walter and Mogbo.

The small sample size suggests Walter has the highest ceiling, but Mogbo’s activity and versatility can’t be overstated.

Without Barnes, expect the chemistry between Barrett and Jakob Poeltl to strengthen.

Ideally, the Raptors need a healthy Barnes in order to get a more complete assessment of their team.

If there is a blessing in disguise it’s the next-man up approach and the amount of responsibility players such as Barrett will embrace.

Without Barnes, more shots will be heaved, players receiving more minutes.

Without Barnes, the Raptors won’t be better and wins will be at a premium.

This season was never about winning.

In a weird and perverse way, Barnes’ injury may actually serve the Raptors in the long run.

Like anything, we’ll soon see, as will the Raptors.

Article content