Every time Andrea Bargnani stepped on to the floor Friday night it was to a round of jeers.

And every time he stepped off the court, fans seemed to sigh in relief.

With a possible playoff berth in the balance, Bargnani’s play of late — timid shooting and flat-footed, almost lazy defence — has Raptors fans questioning his commitment to winning.

And some fans are just waiting for the off-season.

“He seems to have a fragile psyche, so let’s encourage him to play it out so we can get something good in a trade,” said Paul Emerson of Aurora, during the Raptors’ 93-81 loss to Indiana.

During a two-minute stretch in the second quarter when Bargnani looked lost on defence, pounded in the paint by Indiana Pacers centre Roy Hibbert, fans shouted for coach Dwane Casey to bench the former first overall pick.

However, some fans think extra love for Bargnani is what is required.

“He seems timid out there, like he’s scared,” said Emerson. “The fans are booing him, but I don’t think that’s what he needs.”

Scarborough resident Andrew Mosey wants the Raptors to squeak into the playoffs, so support during bad play is even more important than during the good.

A majority of fans — and the Raptors bench — seemed to sense that when the crowd erupted on Bargnani’s first field goal.

“The last thing he needs is the hometown crowd booing him,” said Mosey, who has had Raptors season tickets for 12 years. “He’s lost his shot and his confidence. I’ll cheer him on more because I want to make the playoffs.”

Sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, one spot from a playoff rung, the door is closing on the Raptors. Bargnani is needed, Mosey said, if the team is to make a late push.

“We’ve got the team to do it but, I don’t know, we’re far behind,” he said