{"id":12129,"date":"2026-04-20T20:52:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T20:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/12129\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T20:52:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T20:52:07","slug":"former-nba-star-calls-out-toronto-raptors-brandon-ingram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/12129\/","title":{"rendered":"Former NBA star calls out Toronto Raptors’ Brandon Ingram"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paul Pierce did not hold back when discussing Brandon Ingram’s Game 1 comments following the Toronto Raptors’\u00a0126-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ingram shot lights-out for Toronto in the first half, scoring 17 points on five-of-eight field goal attempts, but he immediately cooled after halftime. He\u00a0did not make a single basket in the second half and attempted only one shot.<\/p>\n

When reporters asked Ingram about his second half, he responded that\u00a0Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovi\u0107 wanted to use him off-ball on screens — a\u00a0move that did not work.<\/p>\n

“We need to figure out ways where I can still be effective while they’re doing whatever defence,”\u00a0Ingram told reporters. “At the end of the day, me shooting nine shots is not going to win [us] basketball games.”<\/p>\n

On the most recent episode of the No Fouls Given podcast<\/a>, featuring Pierce\u00a0alongside former Raptors guard Danny Green, the Boston Celtics legend questioned Ingram’s leadership after his quiet second half.<\/p>\n

Paul Pierce, Tony Allen, and Danny Green went OFF after listening to Brandon Ingram\u2019s postgame comments. \ud83d\ude33<\/p>\n


\nPP: \u201cFor him to go to the press conference and say coaches made me a screener, or me getting 9 shots, that has nothing to do with coaches[\u2026] you a number one (option),\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/cOJbzIiPPp<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/KksYHeqLGf<\/a> \u2014 Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) April 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

“For him to go to the press conference and say coaches made me a screener, or I’m only getting nine shots, that has nothing to do with coaches. You a number one (option), you are an All-Star \u2014 that\u2019s not their fault,” Pierce said of Ingram’s post-game comments.<\/p>\n

“Is Brandon Ingram ‘the guy’ on this team? Is he ‘the guy?'” Pierce continued. “Get the rebound and bring it up and do something with it. Say something in the timeout!”<\/p>\n

Green agreed with Pierce’s comments, saying he wasn’t a fan of the press conference.<\/p>\n

“If the series is over, then you can say some things that you saw that happened. But after Game 1 \u2014 that\u2019s not a good sign.”<\/p>\n

Brandon Ingram on only taking 1 shot in the second half: “Well, coach wanted to use me as a screener. Also he noticed that my man wasn’t coming off me so he wanted me outside of the action and being a receiver. At the end of the day, me shooting 9 shots is not going to win\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/m4Sk0RDSEt<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 William Lou (@william_lou) April 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovi\u0107\u00a0took some responsibility<\/a> following Sunday’s game for not getting his All-Star forward more involved in the second half.<\/p>\n

Nobody guarded Ingram more in Game 1 than Cavaliers forward Dean Wade. According to NBA.com matchup data<\/a>, Ingram scored just two of his 17 points when defended by Wade.<\/p>\n

The Cavaliers outscored Toronto 65-59 in the second half, and Ingram put up one attempt and failed to record a single point.<\/p>\n

For the Raptors to have a chance in Game 2 on Monday, Ingram will need to find ways to stay involved offensively.<\/p>\n

He and Rajakovi\u0107 were spotted reviewing film during Sunday’s practice<\/a>, which suggests to many Raptors fans that adjustments may be coming.<\/p>\n