Woj: Raps Hire Darko Rajakovic - Live Stream PG 39

TimeForChange · Post #1381 » by **TimeForChange** » Tue Apr 22, 2025 10:05 pm

From the Athletic's Anonymous NBA player poll 2025

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6296394/2025/04/22/anonymous-nba-player-poll-2025-mvp-sga-jokic-analytics/

Raps in 4 · Post #1382 » by **Raps in 4** » Tue Apr 22, 2025 10:42 pm

TimeForChange wrote:

From the Athletic's Anonymous NBA player poll 2025

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6296394/2025/04/22/anonymous-nba-player-poll-2025-mvp-sga-jokic-analytics/

Professional athletes are so **** dumb. :lol:

mihaic · Post #1383 » by **mihaic** » Wed Apr 23, 2025 4:00 am

TimeForChange wrote:

From the Athletic's Anonymous NBA player poll 2025

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6296394/2025/04/22/anonymous-nba-player-poll-2025-mvp-sga-jokic-analytics/

We should have hired Jordi. Oh wait he's also on the list, dang.

Dalek · Post #1384 » by **Dalek** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 5:32 pm

As a coach playing for wins and making good in-game decisions, I am in agreement, he was poor. Darko is an amateur who gets routinely outcoached but some of it is self-inflicted with his developmental lineups and free reign for young players to shoot tough shots.

As a motivator he is special. Players buy into him, especially guards:

-Denis Schroeder rehabbed his career and is now playing well on Detroit in the playoffs.
-Davion Mitchell was an add-on in a salary dump for a pick, and he found his shot here and showcased his high level defense.
-RJ Barrett is essentially a big playmaking guard and his floor game expanded well beyond what he was doing in NY to almost triple double territory.
-Jamal Shead was not considered a high level shooting PG, and he developed to be more well-rounded here.
-IQ is probably the only PG that hasn't lived up to expectation but you can see how Darko has pushed him to be a pull-up threat and a more willing passer.

If we do draft a guard like Harper or VJ or Fears or Richardson or Demin it will be interesting to see what he does with lotto talent.

Raps in 4 · Post #1385 » by **Raps in 4** » Thu Apr 24, 2025 8:06 pm

Dalek wrote:As a coach playing for wins and making good in-game decisions, I am in agreement, he was poor. Darko is an amateur who gets routinely outcoached but some of it is self-inflicted with his developmental lineups and free reign for young players to shoot tough shots.

As a motivator he is special. Players buy into him, especially guards:

-Denis Schroeder rehabbed his career and is now playing well on Detroit in the playoffs.
-Davion Mitchell was an add-on in a salary dump for a pick, and he found his shot here and showcased his high level defense.
-RJ Barrett is essentially a big playmaking guard and his floor game expanded well beyond what he was doing in NY to almost triple double territory.
-Jamal Shead was not considered a high level shooting PG, and he developed to be more well-rounded here.
-IQ is probably the only PG that hasn't lived up to expectation but you can see how Darko has pushed him to be a pull-up threat and a more willing passer.

If we do draft a guard like Harper or VJ or Fears or Richardson or Demin it will be interesting to see what he does with lotto talent.

IQ has barely played since being traded here.

Scottie is the one I'm most disappointed by. He always talks about how he's a PG. But he hasn't developed any PG skills in four years. I don't pin the blame for that on Darko, just speaking in general.

WuTang_CMB · Post #1386 » by **WuTang_CMB** » Wed Apr 30, 2025 10:00 pm

good darko stuff 2nd half of this episode
players love him

Watch on YouTube

WuTang_CMB · Post #1387 » by **WuTang_CMB** » Mon Jul 7, 2025 6:04 pm

https://basketnews.com/news-227418-rajakovic-talks-shocking-raptors-restructure-shares-insights-on-nils-global-impact.html

The Ujiri Shock and the Raptors’ Rebuild
The off-season saw a major shift for the Raptors with the departure of Masai Ujiri as President of Basketball Operations.

For Rajakovic, it was a jolt. “Masai is an amazing human and leader. He gave me this opportunity. His exit was shocking, but I understand this business. Everything runs in cycles.”

Despite the leadership change, Rajakovic remains optimistic. “We have a great young core, and strong support from ownership and the front office. We’re positioned for success.”

The Coaching Game: No Job Is Safe
Coaching in the NBA means living on the edge. “There are two types of coaches,” Rajakovic quipped. “Those who have been fired and those who will be fired. If you want security, get a job at the post office.”

He emphasized that longevity comes from alignment and patience within an organization. “The most successful franchises maintain continuity and understand their goals.”

Despite working in a league often dominated by media speculation and trade rumors, Rajakovic chooses to block out the noise. “I don’t use social media. I don’t read the news. I focus on what I can control.”

He trusts the Raptors' front office to handle personnel matters. “They’re professionals. My job is to coach. If and when a trade becomes serious, we discuss it then.

WuTang_CMB · Post #1388 » by **WuTang_CMB** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 1:08 pm

Watch on YouTube

WuTang_CMB · Post #1389 » by **WuTang_CMB** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 4:03 am

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

Potential · Post #1390 » by **Potential** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 4:08 am

Dark - oh, how amazing u are and have been for my beloved raptors. Keep up the hard work and determination my friend

Westside Gunn · Post #1391 » by **Westside Gunn** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 4:37 am

He is redeeming himself as a coach after everyone that trashed him for being a bust number 2 pick in a draft with Lebron, Melo , Bosh ,Wade etc and a failed career as a player.

This will be a great story if he sustains this

mihaic · Post #1392 » by **mihaic** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 4:43 am

Westside Gunn wrote:He is redeeming himself as a coach after everyone that trashed him for being a bust number 2 pick in a draft with Lebron, Melo , Bosh ,Wade etc and a failed career as a player.

This will be a great story if he sustains this

That was Milicic not Rajakovic. Lol.

Raps in 4 · Post #1393 » by **Raps in 4** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 4:46 am

WuTang_CMB wrote:

Read on Twitter
?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

Read on Twitter
?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

Dude is really Ted Lasso, but he also understands the game.

Yallbecrazy · Post #1394 » by **Yallbecrazy** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 5:11 am

Westside Gunn wrote:He is redeeming himself as a coach after everyone that trashed him for being a bust number 2 pick in a draft with Lebron, Melo , Bosh ,Wade etc and a failed career as a player.

This will be a great story if he sustains this

That was 1999 and the 12th overall pick.

Westside Gunn · Post #1395 » by **Westside Gunn** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 1:34 pm

mihaic wrote:
Westside Gunn wrote:He is redeeming himself as a coach after everyone that trashed him for being a bust number 2 pick in a draft with Lebron, Melo , Bosh ,Wade etc and a failed career as a player.

This will be a great story if he sustains this

That was Milicic not Rajakovic. Lol.

Darko will always be Darko alright!!!?

mihaic · Post #1396 » by **mihaic** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 2:35 pm

Westside Gunn wrote:
mihaic wrote:
Westside Gunn wrote:He is redeeming himself as a coach after everyone that trashed him for being a bust number 2 pick in a draft with Lebron, Melo , Bosh ,Wade etc and a failed career as a player.

This will be a great story if he sustains this

That was Milicic not Rajakovic. Lol.

Darko will always be Darko alright!!!?

Lol

bluerap23 · Post #1397 » by **bluerap23** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 2:43 pm

Have to be impressed with this guy. They always come out of hard at the beginning of second half, after timeouts, and to close quarters and games. The in-game adjustments are real.

Badonkadonk · Post #1398 » by **Badonkadonk** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 2:54 pm

People really thought Darko was "dumb" because he encouraged Scottie to shoot 3s from all over the court, because he called TOs to coach skills and not to win, and because he did things like put Gradey on the POA to defend people we all knew he'd struggle with so he could improve. All during a year where the FO specifically cited development would be prioritized.

This applied to a good portion of the media too.

Dennis 37 · Post #1399 » by **Dennis 37** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 3:43 pm

Westside Gunn wrote:
mihaic wrote:
Westside Gunn wrote:He is redeeming himself as a coach after everyone that trashed him for being a bust number 2 pick in a draft with Lebron, Melo , Bosh ,Wade etc and a failed career as a player.

This will be a great story if he sustains this

That was Milicic not Rajakovic. Lol.

Darko will always be Darko alright!!!?

Nice.

Well set up.

TorontoBarneys · Post #1400 » by **TorontoBarneys** » Tue Nov 25, 2025 4:15 pm

Badonkadonk wrote:People really thought Darko was "dumb" because he encouraged Scottie to shoot 3s from all over the court, because he called TOs to coach skills and not to win, and because he did things like put Gradey on the POA to defend people we all knew he'd struggle with so he could improve. All during a year where the FO specifically cited development would be prioritized.

This applied to a good portion of the media too.

So easy to post this in hindsight now. Do you feel smart?