After missing Game 6, Brandon Ingram was also ruled out for the final game of the Raptors’ first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Playing Game 7 in enemy territory with two starters and two of your most impactful offensive weapons sidelined was a daunting task for the Raptors—a challenge that their roster simply wasn’t equipped to overcome, as Zach Lowe broke down on the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast.
“He [Brandon Ingram] was not exactly lighting the world on fire in this series, but there’s just a certain critical massive talent you need to beat a team like Cleveland four times in seven games, and as critical as you maybe want to be of the way Ingram had played, you’re just asking too much of guys like Jamison Battle and Mamu and Jamal Shead,” Lowe said.
He continued, “These guys were marginal NBA players going into the season, and you’re asking them to get you over the finish line on the road in Game 7 against a team that has four guys who have made All-Star teams pretty recently.”
The Raptors got solid production out of most of their role players. Jamal Shead stepped up in Immanuel Quickley’s absence and made big plays, like forcing an eight-second violation late in the fourth quarter of Game 4. Jamison Battle hit four 3-pointers to squash the Cavs’ chances of a comeback in Game 3. Those players can have big moments and win you a game or two, but they cannot replicate the gravity and impact of a star player—and they ideally shouldn’t have to, especially not in an elimination game.
Darko Rajaković said after the game that he didn’t want to try to find excuses for his team’s loss, but losing Ingram tested the Raptors’ depth in a way that would have made it difficult to win this game for any team in the same position.
Ingram’s presence changes the dynamic on the floor
Even when Brandon Ingram wasn’t making a ton of shots or overly involved in the Raptors’ offense, the Cavs had to pay special attention to him defensively because there was always the possibility that he might see a few shots drop and go on a heater to score 25 points.
Without that possibility hanging over the Cavs’ heads, they could focus on Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. The latter even acknowledged after the game that the Cavs made it difficult for him to get good shots, especially early in the game. Barrett had an overall inefficient game, shooting 9-25 from the field and 1-6 from three, which made it even more difficult for the Raptors to overcome the loss of not one but two starters and offensive contributors.
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