[Grange] As Raptors continue to stumble, some mistakes inevitably fall on coaching

[LarSiN]

Darko is a brutal coach. This was evident last year already.

In terms of calling him a development coach of young players. He is just give our young guys PT. Not sure you really need coaching experience to do that.

I guess Masai likes a coach that looks animated all the time so his tank doesn't get suspicious.

The way to lose a fight is to bring a twig to a gun fight. That's exactly what he has done.

Nurse was a creative coach. He made plays that would allow his players thrive and created disruptive system. Darko makes his players play really hard. So optically the full court press looks like we are playing great defense. In reality we are giving up the most points per game in the league.

If tanking is what management is aiming for then he is the man for the job.

You're REEEALLY selling him short here. There are lots of videos of him with many players working on their shot, game & skill (with demonstrable results). To say "All he does is give them playing time" is ridiculous (despite his other valid flaws)

[___Rand___]

Sure but Casey was awful in Minnesota and got canned. Then we hired him and he got a lot better with us over the years even if he still lacked acumen as a strategist. That is to say that Darko isn’t a finished product. He’s made some big mistakes this year for sure. But year over year, he’s a much better coach than he was last season. Most of our issues this year have stemmed from playing hard teams every night with most of our rotation having missed the preseason or still on their rookie contract.

If guys hit FTs and didn’t commit turnovers because they’re rattled by end of game scenarios (lack of experience) then we probably have 2-3 more wins.

I’m a big believer that the microscope on coaching gets bigger when teams aren’t good but there’s less of a microscope for coaches of successful teams. Nick Nurse is a great example. Many of the things we got tired of as a fanbase existed from day one — from an iso heavy offence, a defence that required a ton of switching and intelligence, playing all-bench lineups that would lose big leads cuz they couldn’t score forcing our starters to make late game heroics — it’s just when we were winning folks ignored that stuff. That is to say that I’d give Darko a solid B+ for this season so far (last year he’d get a C-) because he has a group of guys who should be getting blown out every night competing with some of the best talent in the league, teams that have been together for awhile.

More specifically, I think Darko’s in game management has been really good, except in crunch time. He’s found a way to get our guys developmental minutes and experiment with lineups while still getting them to play hard. He’s been better with timeout usage and stopping runs. He’s been great at identifying when guys need to be subbed out. He’s come up with some weird lineups that look like head scratchers that have gotten us back into games. Most importantly, guys are playing hard and extending themselves into new territory.

Bad teams tend to lose games decided by one or two possessions. Good teams win those games. And most of that is because good teams have all-star scorers. That’s not a luxury we have at the moment. If you’re blaming the result of close losses solely on coaching then you’re missing the mark in my opinion. It’s not to say coaching isn’t an issue — Darko needs to be better at end of games — but the players not being good enough (yet) is more of the reason we are losing those close ones.

I think you're being overly generous in saying his game management is really good. It has been improving when compared to last year, but far from really good.

There are instances of mismanaging the game every game. I just pointed out last night, late 3rd quarter - up to that point, Darko's strat for Lakers was working, we were getting leads (which we gave up at the end of 1st half, but then as we got into 3rd we built a nice little lead again) when Lakers started getting momentum and the crowd was really getting into it, our players were looking disorganized on defense, and rushing on offense - he should have called the time out there, stop Lakers' momentum, calm the young team down and get them to play organized defense. But he didn't. and despite Davis being out of the game, Lakers' lead just grew and grew. THIS is something Nurse was good at.

Poeltl issue wasn't the only thing. How about being down one bucket late game, we used our best shooter and free throw shooter Dick to inbound to poorer shooters, TWICE in the same game AND the play design was such that Dick was NOT one of the options to shoot in the play (recent game, forgot who the opponent was).

His errors are hilariously comical because it's pretty clear he's trying his best but they are perfect for tanking leaving me to want to laugh AND cry at the same time. And it also concerns me for the future, because our Front Office are sentimental decision makers who tends to hang onto players and coaches way past the due date (Pascal, OG, Casey, etc) and I fear, a few years from now, we have good pieces, but we are stuck in the 500 hell with this coach.

We're tanking in the perfect year to tank.

Agbaji, and Dick have taken clear steps forward when both looked like they didn't belong at the beginning of the season last year.

Our out of timeout plays have looked pretty good.

This teams offense has looked pretty decent even while missing two of our three top scorers for at least half of the games. Our projected starting lineup has not even played together yet and two of our top bench players have not played.

Our second round picks have already given decent to good production so far this year.

I'm honestly not as doom and gloom as you. I'm pretty satisfied with how it's progressing so far. It has almost been perfect.

Again, you need to read my post again. The one that's in BIG BOLD LETTERS. My concern is Darko is making a ton of basic coaching errors and he's already in his 2nd year as a head coach, and has had a ton of NBA experience. Masai tends to keep people longer than their expiry date, he is too sentimental - kept Casey too long when Casey kept doing the same thing every single year and we weren't going anywhere in playoffs; didn't trade Pascal and OG the year before. And he's likely going to keep Darko beyond the development timeline. Darko's game management and tactical ability are not up to speed. As I had said many times, he's fine for now, but his glaring weaknesses are concerning when it comes to the time to win. Masai WILL keep Darko far way too long. Mark my words.

[sortpar]

Leadership is more than X's & O's in running a basketball team. In addition, you need to create/develop a culture of unity and a direction to want to win. Half of this team is almost currently 2nd round picks and 2 way players, so what are you expecting Darko to do...

[canada_dry]

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[canada_dry]

I think you're being overly generous in saying his game management is really good. It has been improving when compared to last year, but far from really good.

There are instances of mismanaging the game every game. I just pointed out last night, late 3rd quarter - up to that point, Darko's strat for Lakers was working, we were getting leads (which we gave up at the end of 1st half, but then as we got into 3rd we built a nice little lead again) when Lakers started getting momentum and the crowd was really getting into it, our players were looking disorganized on defense, and rushing on offense - he should have called the time out there, stop Lakers' momentum, calm the young team down and get them to play organized defense. But he didn't. and despite Davis being out of the game, Lakers' lead just grew and grew. THIS is something Nurse was good at.

Poeltl issue wasn't the only thing. How about being down one bucket late game, we used our best shooter and free throw shooter Dick to inbound to poorer shooters, TWICE in the same game AND the play design was such that Dick was NOT one of the options to shoot in the play (recent game, forgot who the opponent was).

His errors are hilariously comical because it's pretty clear he's trying his best but they are perfect for tanking leaving me to want to laugh AND cry at the same time. And it also concerns me for the future, because our Front Office are sentimental decision makers who tends to hang onto players and coaches way past the due date (Pascal, OG, Casey, etc) and I fear, a few years from now, we have good pieces, but we are stuck in the 500 hell with this coach.

We're tanking in the perfect year to tank.

Agbaji, and Dick have taken clear steps forward when both looked like they didn't belong at the beginning of the season last year.

Our out of timeout plays have looked pretty good.

This teams offense has looked pretty decent even while missing two of our three top scorers for at least half of the games. Our projected starting lineup has not even played together yet and two of our top bench players have not played.

Our second round picks have already given decent to good production so far this year.

I'm honestly not as doom and gloom as you. I'm pretty satisfied with how it's progressing so far. It has almost been perfect.

Again, you need to read my post again. The one that's in BIG BOLD LETTERS. My concern is Darko is making a ton of basic coaching errors and he's already in his 2nd year as a head coach, and has had a ton of NBA experience. Masai tends to keep people longer than their expiry date, he is too sentimental - kept Casey too long when Casey kept doing the same thing every single year and we weren't going anywhere in playoffs; didn't trade Pascal and OG the year before. And he's likely going to keep Darko beyond the development timeline. Darko's game management and tactical ability are not up to speed. As I had said many times, he's fine for now, but his glaring weaknesses are concerning when it comes to the time to win. Masai WILL keep Darko far way too long. Mark my words.

This is my concern also.

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[sbsat]

Darko i truly beleive is the worst coach in the nba. Maybe doc rivers is worse but its pretty close

[JL2002]

Let's just say, Masai knows what's up. He know the team would fail and need someone to be the fall guy first, and then he'd be the hero with a higher draft pick down the road. All in all, I actually enjoy how this team is developing.

[dagger]

I don't know how long you keep a coach, but I do know that when you have a weak bench to begin with, injuries to starters, and are forced to play rookies who ought to be regulars in the G League, a lot of plays that might work, that might even look like smart by taking the opponent by surprise because you have good veterans to pull them off, just about every one will screw up. Good talent can help a coach. Furthermore, even the best coaches make mistakes, like Spoelstra's Heat calling a timeout it didn't have last night in crunch time.

[ConSarnit]

We're tanking in the perfect year to tank.

Agbaji, and Dick have taken clear steps forward when both looked like they didn't belong at the beginning of the season last year.

Our out of timeout plays have looked pretty good.

This teams offense has looked pretty decent even while missing two of our three top scorers for at least half of the games. Our projected starting lineup has not even played together yet and two of our top bench players have not played.

Our second round picks have already given decent to good production so far this year.

I'm honestly not as doom and gloom as you. I'm pretty satisfied with how it's progressing so far. It has almost been perfect.

Again, you need to read my post again. The one that's in BIG BOLD LETTERS. My concern is Darko is making a ton of basic coaching errors and he's already in his 2nd year as a head coach, and has had a ton of NBA experience. Masai tends to keep people longer than their expiry date, he is too sentimental - kept Casey too long when Casey kept doing the same thing every single year and we weren't going anywhere in playoffs; didn't trade Pascal and OG the year before. And he's likely going to keep Darko beyond the development timeline. Darko's game management and tactical ability are not up to speed. As I had said many times, he's fine for now, but his glaring weaknesses are concerning when it comes to the time to win. Masai WILL keep Darko far way too long. Mark my words.

This is my concern also.

Sent from my SM-G960W using RealGM mobile app

I don't think there is need to be concerned with this. He was a first time no name head coach. He probably got a 4 year contract at best. There is probably a good chance his contract expires after next year. Nurse's initial contract was only 3 years and he only got a 4 year extension after winning the title.

[Badonkadonk]

Yak talked about the state of the Raps team D a few post-games ago. As he said, the young guys still have a lot to learn. Since they're getting tons of minutes given all the injuries, this is expected. Even Shead, who is amazing on-ball, has made mistakes regularly with rotating and reading plays quickly enough on D.

[___Rand___]

I don't know how long you keep a coach, but I do know that when you have a weak bench to begin with, injuries to starters, and are forced to play rookies who ought to be regulars in the G League, a lot of plays that might work, that might even look like smart by taking the opponent by surprise because you have good veterans to pull them off, just about every one will screw up. Good talent can help a coach. Furthermore, even the best coaches make mistakes, like Spoelstra's Heat calling a timeout it didn't have last night in crunch time.

Darko makes many basic mistakes EVERY SINGLE GAME. Once in a while is fine, not every game. The bench this year isn't looking too bad! From Fernando to all these rooks who seems pretty servicable - Battle, Mogbo, Shead, Mitchell, etc etc. We've been in these games despite having the worst defense in the league.

I like that Darko is playing the rooks. I like the improvement I've seen in Dick and Ochai (but not liking lack of growth from IQ, or Barrett). If he would improve tactically and stop with silly game management mistakes, I'd be fine with him. He'd be tolerable until we can contend however long it is.

[___Rand___]

Didn't people used to say Grange was the mouthpiece of the FO? He isn't going to write a negative piece unless someone inside had given the nod?