"Eight straight for the boys up north, ladies and gentlemen. This is the first time we've seen the Toronto Raptors embark on this long of a winning stretch, since back in the 2021-22 campaign, when they logged eight in a row from January 29 to February 10 of that year. Of course, at that time, the Raptors were just getting a taste of their soon to be crowned ROTY, Scottie Barnes, and still revelling in a core that featured Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., and OG Anunoby."
"But we are in a new era of Raptors basketball, and as the November 24 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers proved, the "Notorious B.I.3" experience was on full display. While his Raptors tenure to date has been satisfactory already, Brandon Ingram recorded his season-best performance against the Cavs, securing 37 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Ingram was out there purely to hoop, shooting an impressive 30 times, converting 50 percent from the field, and firing the three at a high rate - going 5-for-11 from beyond the arc."
"No one on the Cavs' side could quite match the offensive spark that Ingram provided on this night. In fact, Cleveland's star guard Donovan Mitchell struggled with his efficiency against Toronto, shooting just 6-for-20 from the field, while backcourt mate Lonzo Ball also had shooting woes, finishing 3-for-15 from the field. The initial fears or criticisms about Brandon Ingram's fit with the Raptors centered around the idea that everyone is tall and versatile, leading to the concern that they might have too many similar players. And while that sentiment holds some truth, especially given similar physical profiles and perhaps even shared weaknesses, absolutely no one else on this team can do what Brandon Ingram does."
The Toronto Raptors have posted an eight-game winning streak, their longest since early 2022. The current roster differs from the prior core that included Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., and OG Anunoby. Brandon Ingram delivered a season-high 37 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal against the Cleveland Cavaliers, shooting 50 percent on 30 attempts and hitting 5-of-11 three-pointers. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and Lonzo Ball struggled with efficiency in that game. Concerns about roster redundancy exist, but Ingram contributes unique mid-range scoring and rim penetration that no other Toronto player currently replicates.
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