Rajakovic on Ingram: ‘He’s doing an outstanding job for us’

Darko Rajakovic is fully confident in Brandon Ingram.

“I see that he’s doing an outstanding job for us,” he said of Ingram’s Game 3 performance after Saturday’s practice. 

“I think the way (the Cavs) decided to guard him, it’s opening up a lot of stuff for us.” 

In the playoffs, Ingram has been driving just as much as he did throughout the regular season (10 drives per game). Though he has struggled in this series, he still shot 55.6% from the field in Game 1 and 3, albeit on an ultra-low shot diet of nine attempts per game. Because he draws so much attention, according to Jakob Poeltl, he’s created advantages for his teammates.

Ingram has only shot 2-for-6 from downtown in the playoffs, but six Raptors have already proved they’re a 3-point threat, including Jamison Battle, who’s sizzling-hot 3-point shooting in Game 3 stretched the Cavs’ defence. Scottie Barnes and R.J. Barrett are shooting an unsustainably-high 54% on 4.3 and 60% on five attempts per game, respectively, throughout the playoffs. In Game 3, Mamu and Ja’Kobe Walter shot poorly, but the Cavs know the two are dangerous from deep. Jamal Shead went 5-for-6 in Game 1 when the Cavs dared him to shoot. Ingram could be 3-point threat No. 7.

If Ingram keeps attacking the basket, takes mid-range jumpers within the flow of the offence (instead of iso-heavy ones deep into the shot clock), and starts taking 3s, he could have a big impact tomorrow. In the regular season, he shot 38% from downtown (4.6 attempts per game), and 41% on catch-and-shoot 3s. His driving and 3-point shooting could help thin out the paint.

As the Raptors look to tie the series tomorrow, Ingram’s individual box score won’t matter, but how he impacts winning will.

“I know one thing. That he’s creating a lot of gravity,” said Rajakovic. “That’s opening up a lot of stuff for the whole team.”

Ingram’s delicate dance, his “stylistic compromise” with his teammates is about to be put through its biggest test yet.

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