Brandon Ingram’s presence has been a major offensive boon for Raptors

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What went right, what went wrong for the Raptors, whose five-game road trip includes a tip-off Tuesday night against the woeful Brooklyn Nets.

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Toronto has a 5-5 record, which includes a 2-2 road record and a 3-3 road record.

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Is the glass half full or half empty?

Below are the five areas discussed above.

Brandon Ingram Impact

He didn't play a single game when the Raptors acquired the versatile scorer from the New Orleans Pelicans, but Ingram played in all 10 of the team's games.

His influence on the attacking side is unquestionable.

What's questionable is his defense.

Keep in mind that Ingram has never been known for his blocking ability, but he should find a way to be present on defense, especially in close games when stops are needed.

Although the Raptors played several close and competitive games, no game was decided by final possession.

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As their .500 record shows, they've had some good chances in games decided in the final two minutes and a few bad ones.

Ingram took a lot of pressure off of Toronto's other scorers.

Some defense will help, but keep in mind that the Raptors have endured a four-game losing streak in which opponents simply scored at will.

There is no one on Toronto's roster with the offensive versatility of Ingram.

His defensive flaw must be masked.

It will be interesting to see how head coach Darko Rajakovic handles Ingram in a one- or two-possession game.

Conventional wisdom is that Rajakovic won't have Ingram on the floor when a stop is needed, but he will be on the floor when a bucket is needed.

Growing Up Scotty Barnes

He found himself in a no-win situation Saturday night when the Raptors forced Barnes to guard Joel Embiid in Philadelphia.

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Barnes is a versatile defender, but he didn't have a chance against Embiid.

Barnes ultimately fouled out when he picked up his sixth foul in the fourth quarter.

Overall he was good.

His three-point shooting has improved, but he needs to attack the rim more aggressively and draw fouls.

With Ingram, Barnes doesn't have to handle the ball as much, which is good.

What Barnes needs to do is play the ball better and become a more active rebounder.

Toronto began its journey with a win over the Atlanta Hawks, overcoming a double-digit hole.

The Raptors have lost the rebounding battle, an area that will improve as Barnes becomes more active.

How to keep Poeltl healthy

Jakob Poeltl is the team's only legitimate player.

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He missed the Sixers game because it was the final set of a back-to-back and his absence was very obvious.

Poeltl's lower back stiffness limited his effectiveness.

It goes without saying that the Raptors desperately need him, but they also need to get Poeltl more involved on the offensive end of the floor.

When he does get a rare touch, Poeltl lacks confidence.

While free agent signee Sandro Mamukelashvili has performed well, he is not Poeltl, just as Poeltl is not going to waste 3-pointers like Mamukelashvili did in his early game with the Raptors.

In a fantasy world, these two could become NBA powerhouses together.

The reality is that Mamukelashvili is a reserve player who needs to be used from time to time.

The key is Poeltl, who has not yet appeared.

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He deserves the presumption of innocence after his back problems.

CMB is ok

The Raptors may have found a gem in first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles, who has held his own and been outstanding at times since his rough debut in Dallas.

The child has a good sense of play and gains self-confidence. A sure sign of this growth is evident when he takes a defender off the dribble.

As long as he shows improvement, the sky seems to be the limit for CMB.

If he were a few inches taller, he would be overweight.

Then again, if he had been a few inches taller, there was no way the Raptors would have been able to select him ninth overall.

He started three games for Poeltl.

It's clear that CMB needs to be on the court with as many starters as possible.

The Raptors have done a solid job of utilizing CMB so far.

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The ball seems to find him on offense.

His shot is pretty clean and he has already shown the ability to get beyond the three-point line.

He is on track to become the Raptors' top draft pick since Barnes was taken fourth overall.

Hits and misses

Jamal Sheed has had his moments where he looked better at point guard than the incumbent Immanuel Quickley.

The good news is that IQ looked better offensively, posting back-to-back double-digit performances heading into Tuesday.

R.J. Barrett has been very effective, but questions remain about his long-term future with the Raptors.

Grady Dick played very well in the season opener, but his play waned.

His performance Friday night in Atlanta gave hope.

Jamison Battle and his awkward shot can be a weapon, but the Raptors are best used to use him in spurts.

The biggest disappointment was Ja'Kobe Walter, who was not there yet.

Like Dick, Walter got lost in the shuffling of the lineup.

Dick can shoot and spreads the floor in his presence.

The Raptors need to find a way to get Walter more involved.

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