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Long before the full team was expected and work was to begin, there was Scottie Barnes going through a full gamut of practice workouts.

He was with assistant coach Jama Mahlalela and a handful of developmental coaches: curling around phantom screens to take catch-and-shoot jumpers, dribbling around static defenders to get to the rim and finish over, or through, whichever coach was there as a decoy.

A full-on workout before the full workout began, hours before the game.

A couple of conversations with people in the organization mentioned this: It鈥檚 not just Barnes. He rotates on a game-by-game basis with RJ Barrett as the player who joins the staff extra early.

It’s some good one-on-one time with key players away from distractions. The coaches can drill down on the specifics of footwork, angles around screens, the mechanics of movement with the whole court to work with. It also enhances the relationship between the players and coaches.

I鈥檓 told Barnes and Barrett alternate basically every shootaround. It doesn鈥檛 happen every game聽鈥� the Raptors tend to have 4 p.m. walk-throughs at Scotiabank Arena rather than 10 a.m. shootarounds at OVO before home dates 鈥� but it does for the majority of the schedule.

What makes it equally interesting is the timing.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic and his staff have to love walking into the gym with the rest of the players and making a note of how they perceive it. And if any of the rookies聽鈥� Jamal Shead, Ja鈥橩obe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo and Jamison Battle聽鈥� or young players such as Gradey Dick and Ochai Agbaji show up and see one of the stars already at work for an hour or so, it might resonate with them. At least it should.

It鈥檚 not a major thing. But if it moves the Raptors a step down the road to more production from those top players, if it cements relationships, if it shows young players the kind of extra work that鈥檚 necessary and welcome, it鈥檚 close to a major thing.

Finding Ingram

Sitting right near the door to the media room when Ingram walked into his inaugural 色色啦 media session, it was interesting to see his initial reaction.

He walked in, the room was packed聽鈥� maybe a couple of dozen writers, reporters and broadcasters filling the seats, another 10 or so standing, maybe a half-dozen cameras to chronicle it聽鈥� when he let go a 鈥淲hoa, that鈥檚 a lot of media.鈥�

And then near the end of the 15-minute session, an enlightening comment was all but missed.

鈥淚 feel like in New Orleans, the media coverage isn鈥檛 great聽鈥� most of the U.S. or global 鈥� so I鈥檝e been not talked about a lot,鈥� said Ingram, who was acquired from the Pelicans near the trade deadline before signing a three-year, $120-million contract extension. 鈥淚鈥檝e been injured a little bit, so I鈥檝e been forgotten a little bit. I feel like coming to 色色啦, I have a good chance to sprout a little bit.鈥�

It鈥檚 not a bad thing at all to have a youngish talent with a chip on his shoulder who wants to be rediscovered. And it鈥檚 nice to know Ingram knows how the media can help him achieve one of his goals.

Relief for Raptors

Seven games in 11 days (many against top-level opposition) with the stress of the Feb. 6 trade deadline thrown into the mix and the departure of three teammates, the arrival of another.

It was an exhausting grind, and you could see on Wednesday that everyone was tired and ready for a break.

The eight days off around NBA all-star weekend are a welcome respite and even Rajakovic, who likes teaching time in the gym more than anyone, mentioned it after the Cavaliers game: 鈥淭his all-star break is going to be very beneficial to our team. Just to fill the cup, to recharge the batteries and to come back with great energy and focus for the rest of the season.鈥�

Not having even a practice until next Wednesday night will be special. They can get away from the game and each other. As much as the physical break is important for their bodies, the mental break is even more significant.

It鈥檚 been a stressful fortnight and a stressful season. And after chatting with players over the last few days, time away from thinking about the game might be the best part.