TORONTO — On the surface, the numbers for Brandon Ingram in this first-round series are jarring. A two-time All-Star and Toronto’s designated “top shot-maker,” Ingram has been held to a pedestrian 12 points per game—ranking fourth on the team. He’s shooting under 40% from the field and has been uncharacteristically turnover-prone, leading many to wonder if the lights of the postseason are beginning to flicker.
But if you ask the Raptors’ locker room, there is no panic. In fact, they’re calling his performance “outstanding.”
The ‘Gravity’ Theory
Head coach Darko Rajakovic isn’t looking at the box score; he’s looking at the defensive map. According to Rajakovic, Cleveland’s obsession with stopping Ingram is the very reason why Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett are currently feasting.
“I see that he’s doing an outstanding job for us,” Rajakovic claimed after Saturday’s practice. “He’s creating a lot of gravity for a reason, and then that’s opening up a lot of stuff for the whole team.”
By “top-locking” and blitzing Ingram, the Cavaliers have effectively sold out to stop one man, leaving lanes wide open for others. It’s a “nice to have” scoring approach from Ingram, rather than a “need to have,” provided the rest of the roster continues to capitalize on the space he creates.
Patience in the Paint
Center Jakob Poeltl echoed the sentiment, noting that the Raptors’ success depends on taking what the defense gives.
“When they send like, two or three guys at him, somebody else got to be able to step up and make use of that room,” Poeltl said. So far, that “somebody else” has been Barrett and Barnes, along with a spark-plug performance from Jamison Battle in Game 3.
The Ingram Stat-Check (3 Games):
- Scoring: 12.0 PPG (Season avg: 22.1)
- Efficiency: <40% FG
- The Silver Lining: Toronto leads the series 2-1 despite the slump.
The Defensive Concerns
While the offense is a matter of “gravity,” the defensive end is where the real work lies. Ingram has struggled with missed assignments, falling asleep on baseline cuts, and failing to box out—areas where he excelled during the regular season.
Ironically, Ingram has found himself watching from the bench during some of Toronto’s most successful runs in the series. It’s a humbling position for a max-contract player, but Ingram remains composed.
“I tell myself to keep going. I’ve been in this situation a bunch of times where shots weren’t falling,” Ingram said. “Keep communicating, don’t let it spiral down to the defensive side of the basketball.”
The Verdict
The Raptors head into Sunday’s Game 4 with a chance to put a stranglehold on the series. If Ingram finds his rhythm, the Cavs are in deep trouble. If he doesn’t, the Raptors are betting that his mere presence on the floor—the “gravity” he commands—is enough to pull Cleveland’s defense apart.
Can Ingram find his scoring touch on Sunday, or will he continue to play the role of the ultimate decoy?
