The Toronto Raptors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves this Wednesday in the opening game of the season. A duel in which the seal of the team’s new coach, Darko Rajakovic, could already be seen. The Raptors followed Rajakovic’s offensive game plan: quick transitions, constant ball circulation and a combined commitment to three-pointers and easy baskets in the paint.
Obviously, there are many things to improve and details to polish, since the Canadian franchise could only score 97 points. Rajakovic himself was in charge of sharing various facets of the game to be addressed, while explaining his adjustments during the match.
«I thought we still needed to play faster. What I mean by this is that there were times when we went from half court, but then we didn’t execute soon enough and fast enough,” explained the Raptors coach, according to the media. The Athletic. «That is something we still have to work on. We can’t just look at each other. “We have to be able to cut, move, collapse the opposing defense and find free shots.”
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Rajakovic’s first victory in the NBA was celebrated in style in the locker room, in images that corroborate the good atmosphere that exists between the coaching staff and the squad, who quickly connected with the new coach.
His coaching career began at age 16 in the youth ranks in Serbia before coaching in Spain, the Development League and being an assistant in Oklahoma City, Phoenix and Memphis. Now, he faces his first experience as ‘head coach’ in the NBA with as much ambition as caution. “I’m down to earth,” Rajakovic said. «This is an incredible opportunity I have to represent my country and European basketball, but the only thing I can do is prepare for the next game. It’s a challenge to do something big, but I try to stay grounded and live in the present.”
(Cover photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
2023-10-27 18:00:00
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