The Raptors pulled off a triumphant Game 3 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, quieting questions about whether Toronto could make this series competitive. Behind 33 points from both Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, plus a Raptors rookie playoff record 22 points from Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto silenced critics who thought Cleveland would continue to roll.
However, if the Raptors want to do more than compete, if they want to upset the Cavaliers, they are going to need much more from one of their All-Stars, Brandon Ingram.
Brandon Ingram has been quiet throughout the series
In the regular season, Ingram was Toronto’s leading scorer at 21.5 points per game. Through the first three games of the series, Ingram has averaged a disappointing 12 points on a ghastly 39.4 percent shooting.
It is no wonder Toronto has struggled with its main bucket-getter producing so little. After Game 1, where Ingram scored a series-best 17 points but took only nine shots, he shared some frustrations with the media:
“Me shooting 9 shots is NOT going to win basketball games.”
His response was a dismal Game 2, where he put up seven points on 3-for-15 shooting, followed by a quiet Game 3 where he scored 12 points and again took just nine shots.
Toronto needs an effective Ingram to pull off an upset
Game 3 was a phenomenal performance from many Raptors players, but this team is at its best when Ingram is firing on all cylinders. To beat the Cavaliers four times in seven games, Toronto needs more from its leading scorer.
RJ Barrett has helped carry more of the scoring burden, averaging 26.3 points in this series. To beat a Cavaliers team with superstar-level talent and significant depth, Toronto will need Barrett to continue his effective play. But can they rely on him to keep producing point totals in the high 20s?
A more sustainable formula is balanced scoring from Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Brandon Ingram, with all three hovering in the low-to-mid 20s. All three players have shown the ability to do that consistently.
Expecting a big Game 4 from Ingram
At this point in the series, Ingram has heard the noise. He hears the fans and media talking about his performance. He is fully aware of his struggles.
You do not get to the NBA level without a top-tier competitive spirit. Do not let Ingram’s calm demeanor fool you. He is a fierce competitor and wants to prove he can help lead a team to playoff victory.