The vibes are definitely real.
Raptors fans live for this energy and excitement, and it was quite the affair on November 26 at home as the Raps hosted the Indiana Pacers for their final Group Play matchup of the Emirates NBA Cup, already securing advancement in the tourney last week. Toronto already took care of the Indiana Pacers on November 15, but Indy was able to hang tight this time around, only trailing the Raps by one point at halftime.
Of course, whenever Toronto sees Indiana on the opposing side, they also welcome a reunion with their former franchise cornerstone, Pascal Siakam. And while I'm sure there's no real animosity or tension between "Spicy P" and the Raptors, the competitive spirits and level of play always seems to be neck-and-neck, especially as we've come to see during Siakam and Scottie Barnes matchups. Siakam's tenure in Toronto had its ups and downs, and there were certainly some critics who questioned his ability to show up in crunch time and when the lights shine brightest.
Backdrop, Scotiabank Arena. Score is tied at 95 a piece, less than 20 seconds to go in the game. Siakam tries his trademark spin for a easy layup, but the Raptors' veteran center Jakob Poeltl is there to meet him at the basket for the block — now it's Raptors ball. As Jack Armstrong calls on the broadcast for Toronto to use their remaining timeout, the Raps choose to stay the course, and who better than "Notorious B.I.3" to answer the call?
Brandon Ingram is the Raptors' ultimate closer
Ingram charges straight at the ghost of Raptors' past, Pascal Siakam, with a clutch pull-up jump shot to seal the game, all in front of a roaring home crowd — and his girlfriend, Glorilla, right there cheering him on. Mark it in the books as Toronto's ninth-straight victory. Ingram had to let 'em know as he was flapping his gums, as Scottie Barnes and the rest of his squad came through to show him love: he is absolutely that guy for this Raptors team.
In the years since that coveted title year, trying to pinpoint who’s truly been the Raptors’ clutch maestro hasn’t led to any clear-cut answers. Sure, there have been some talented ex-Raptors who could call game on any given night, but that consistent clutch gene? That wasn’t exactly their calling card. Whether it was Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, or the aforementioned Pascal Siakam — all of those guys could sometimes crumble under pressure and show they’re not always reliable in clutch moments.
Last year, I wrote a piece on how I started to think maybe Immanuel Quickley was emering into that role. And while I respect IQ’s and the rest of team's ability to hit shots too, Brandon Ingram is still in a league of his own. Ingram didn't shy away from embracing the spotlight as he spoke with the media post-game, where he said the following about the game-winner: "Well, first, I knew he was in foul trouble. I knew he didn't want to be overly aggressive. So, he was at my mercy at that point. Just wanted to be super aggressive. I saw him, kept backing up, and I just kept being super aggressive and getting to my spots."
Getting to his spots indeed, Mr. "Notorious B.I.3". Raptors analysts and fans may remember the days when the team struggled, being near to the very bottom in clutch win percentage. But those gloomy times are behind them. Toronto now finds itself on the other side of the spectrum, ranking near the top of the league in that category.