Scottie Barnes fuels Raptors resurgence — and Toronto looks like a playoff team again

For those sleeping on Toronto —- which plays next Saturday at Indiana — it’s time to wake up. The Raptors are the only Eastern Conference team with three players averaging more than 19 points per game, and Barnes, Ingram and Barrett form one of the league’s most underrated trios.

This roster looked promising on paper entering the season, but that’s been the case in past years and didn’t materialize. This time, it appears to be coming together, and expectations should rise as the group continues to gel.

Toronto should finish as a top-six seed

With Boston's  Jayson Tatum and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton sidelined with injuries, the Eastern Conference is wide open. The New York Knicks (7-4), Detroit Pistons (10-2), Cleveland Cavaliers (8-5) and Milwaukee Bucks (7-5) are dangerous but beatable for a Raptors team that has already defeated Milwaukee once and Cleveland twice.

With their window wide open, Toronto should be a player before the Feb. 13 trade deadline — whether that's for Memphis' Ja Morant, Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis or DeMar DeRozan (the former Raptor) or Dallas' Anthony Davis.

The rebuild’s training wheels are off. The Raptors finally have the talent, depth and direction to make noise, and the rest of the East is vulnerable. Add one more difference-maker in February and Toronto won’t just be a tough out — it'll be the team nobody wants to see in the postseason.