Ingram makes home debut as Raptors cut down Nets

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The video board at Scotiabank Arena showed live coverage of Game 5 of the ALCS Friday night, pitting the Blue Jays against the host Seattle Mariners.

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The small crowd, as expected, was more fixated on the baseball game than the upcoming matchup between the host Raptors and Brooklyn Nets.

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It was the sixth and final preseason game for the Raptors, who will officially mark the start of the post-Masai Ujiri era next week when the team begins its 31st NBA season.

For Brandon Ingram, this will be his first season with the Raptors.

While most exhibition finales make little or no sense, Friday had a different flavor that at least added spice to the event.

After all, this was Ingram's first game with the Raptors in Toronto.

Unsurprisingly, the night was dubbed “Welcome to Brandon Ingram Night,” a slogan that must have kept the team's frontline staff up all night.

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Ingram was the first player introduced.

During the first timeout of the game, an introduction video featuring Ingram was presented.

Among the interesting tidbits, Ingram revealed how he loves to read and thinks Snoop Dogg would be the perfect person to play Ingram in the film.

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When asked how his new teammates would describe him, Ingram's answer may surprise many.

“A mystery,” he said.

It's no secret what Ingram can bring to the Raptors, who will begin the regular season in an Eastern Conference that can best be described as wide open.

Anything short of a playoff run should be viewed as a complete disaster for the Raptors.

Any slow start to the season and you can bet that cries for a coaching change will be heard, knowing that Championship head coach Michael Malone remains unsigned and appears content to call games as a broadcaster – for now – until the team comes calling.

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One of the players Malone coached in Denver was Michael Porter Jr., a starter on the Nuggets' 2023 title team who the Nets acquired last offseason.

Brooklyn's recovery begins anew.

Heading into his third season with the Raptors, head coach Darko Rajakovic has the best roster he's been given, as well as the deepest.

For the first time since Ujiri chose a rookie head coach known for his development, Rajakovic will coach under the weight of expectations.

Below are three takeaways from overnight starting center Jakob Poeltl, who was forced out of the game with lower back tightness, as the Raptors held on for a 119-114 win that night.

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1. Leading BI

There is no doubt that Ingram will be Toronto's best offensive player.

What to make of his home debut, albeit against the backdrop of pre-season preparations, is not so easy.

He can hit the ball off the dribble, put the ball on the floor and get to the line.

Against the Nets, Ingram found himself on the perimeter, usually on the right wing, on what could best be described as a quiet night, at least from a scoring standpoint.

Nothing of note happened, but it should be noted that Ingram has looked impressive in the preseason.

It's also worth noting that Ingram only played in 18 games last season due to a high ankle injury.

It's also notable that Ingram hasn't played more than 64 games since his rookie season in 2016-17, when he was taken second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Three years later, he was traded to New Orleans for Anthony Davis, who would team with LeBron James to earn the Lakers a championship in the 2020 COVID season.

The Raptors are not expected to win a title this coming season, but they should compete for a top-four finish in the East.

A lot depends on Ingram's health and whether franchise player Scottie Barnes lives up to his nickname.

2. Barnes burner

It's no secret that Barnes hasn't done well during pre-season, but it's worth knowing that such exercises are useless.

Still, it was nice to see Barnes engaged and attacking the rim against the Nets.

Within nine minutes of the first quarter, Barnes showed off his immense skill and potential.

Barnes played nine minutes and 13 seconds in the first period, finishing the first quarter with a plus-11 rating and scoring 13 points on five of six shooting from the field.

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He added three steals and one block, the kind of performance the Raptors will demand from Barnes, the kind of performance the Raptors should demand from their anointed star.

3. Bench brigade

The first two reserves on Friday were Grady Dick and Ochai Agbaji, followed by Sandro Mamukelashvili, a new Raptor who has quickly endeared himself to the fans.

The fourth player used off the bench was sophomore point guard Jamal Sheed.

Keep in mind that the Raptors' strength is their starting unit.

How this five-man lineup plays will largely determine how far the Raptors go in the upcoming season.

First-round draft pick Collin Murray-Boyles (ninth overall) is suffering from a right forearm strain and was unable to take the field Friday night.

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Earlier in the day, the Raptors announced the signing of Julien Reese, an undrafted center from Maryland whose sister is WNBA star Angel Reese, who earlier this week became the first professional athlete to walk the runway at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Reese's time with the Raptors was short-lived as the team waived him after the game.

Next

The Raptors have a few days to prepare for next Wednesday's regular-season game in Atlanta against a new Hawks team before hosting Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks next Friday night. Barring a roster change in the coming days, the Raptors will begin the regular season with a roster opening.

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