Playoffs give Raptors all-stars Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes a chance to shine

It's time for Toronto Raptors all-stars Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes to step up and they know it.

Ingram and Barnes will be centre stage when the Raptors begin their first-round playoff series against the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Saturday afternoon. Ingram, who was Toronto's top scorer in the regular season, said that after six days off between games he'll be prepared for the intensity of the post-season.

"I'm ready to be effective in any way that I can be, whether it's offensively or defensively," said Ingram at OVO Athletic Centre, the Raptors' practice facility. "But, at some point in the game, you've got to give it to your best players and let them go make a play.

"I'll be ready."

Barnes's 18.1 points per game were the third most for Toronto behind RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., who scored 19.3. More importantly, the six-foot-eight Barnes is the Raptors' defensive linchpin, guarding all five positions.

"I feel like I'm great defensively, I help our team a lot, and I'm one of the best defenders in the NBA," said Barnes, who led Toronto with 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. "I take pride in that and that's always been me from when I first started.

"That's where my energy comes from and that's what I take pride in every time I step onto the floor."

The Raptors (46-36) snuck up into fifth place in the Eastern Conference in the final game of the regular season, setting up the first-round matchup with the fourth-place Cavaliers (50-32).

Something of a styles clash, Cleveland has a high-powered offence that can score from any position. Guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are top-tier isolation players, while forwards Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley can defend and score.

Toronto plays an uptempo, physical style