Toronto Raptors: 3 Reasons the team can be successful this season

Scottie Barnes plays bigger role than the Toronto Raptors expected as season goes along

There will be a lot of attention paid to the progress Scottie Barnes makes this season even if the team wants to keep expectations realistic for the fourth overall pick.

His personality and work ethic were on full display during training camp and pre-season. Some will need to be convinced that he was the right pick instead of Jalen Suggs but if you look at what he did in pre-season, you can see why he was held in high regard.

His playmaking abilities could be a major bonus especially since he has shown that he can make strong reads. It might take some time for his shot to improve but the Raptors put a big emphasis on skill development and it won’t be long until Barnes starts to see progress in that department.

The mental hurdles he will have to overcome especially in the early part of the season is going to be a crucial part of his development. If Toronto isn’t where they want to be in the standings, the coaching staff will need to make sure Barnes is taking the right step forward.

Of course, his defensive upside is something the Raptors will exploit in the early part of the season as the team will hope to win more games because of their defence.

What are your expectations going into the season? Can the Raptors surprise people with the way they play? Let us know in the comments below.