The Toronto Raptors dropped Game 1 of their first-round series to the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-113 on Saturday. It wasn’t a close game by any means, but the score wasn’t the only story. After the game, Brandon Ingram raised eyebrows with a surprising comment about the Raptors’ game plan, seemingly throwing Darko Rajaković under the bus.
Brandon Ingram Calls Out Raptors HC Darko Rajaković’s Game Plan
After dropping Game 1 to the Cavaliers, the Raptors’ leading scorer had a lot to say, and he directly called out how he was utilized by his head coach.
“Coach wanted to use me as a screener,” Ingram said. “He also noticed that my man wasn’t coming off me, so he wanted me outside of the action a little bit and being a receiver. At the end of the day, me shooting 9 shots is not going to win basketball games. I’ve just got to figure out ways where I can still be effective while they’re doing whatever defensively.”
Ingram finished the game with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field in 36 minutes, but the most concerning stat is that he attempted just one field goal attempt in the second half. During the regular season, Ingram averaged 21.5 points on 16.7 field-goal attempts per game, so it’s understandable that he was frustrated after the game.
For what it’s worth, Rajaković took accountability after the game as well.
“We’ve got to do a better job of executing, freeing him up, playing to our standard of ball movement,” he said. “We did not do a good enough job of running our stuff with pace. We did not do a good enough job to involve Brandon. Some of that is on me.”
At least both the coach and the player are on the same page about the failed Game 1 plan.
The Cavs did their best to deny Ingram any touches the moment he came off screens, disrupting everything Toronto tried to build offensively, and it clearly worked.
“They tried to deny me the ball every time I went down the floor,” Ingram added. “Obviously they knew most of the stuff we’ve been running all year. That’s just a part of the playoffs.”
Ingram did get to the line 10 times, but made just 7 free throws. During the regular season, he recorded single-digit shot attempts in just three games, showing that it’s pretty rare for Ingram to be this uninvolved offensively.
Now, it remains to be seen if Toronto can make adjustments and get Ingram more involved in Game 2, which tips off on Monday at 7 p.m. ET in Cleveland.
