{"id":105420,"date":"2024-11-06T18:17:49","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T23:17:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=105420"},"modified":"2024-11-06T18:20:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T23:20:30","slug":"future-bright-darko-rajakovic-raptors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/06\/future-bright-darko-rajakovic-raptors\/","title":{"rendered":"The Future Looks Bright For Darko Rajakovic\u2019s Raptors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Toronto Raptors are off to a 2-6 start in 2024-25, but while moral victories don\u2019t show up in their wins and losses, it seems like the Raptors are a much better team than their record reflects.<\/p>\n<h2>The Future Looks Bright For Darko Rajakovic\u2019s Raptors<\/h2>\n<p>Raptors second-year head coach Darko Rajakovic, who was instrumental in the development of players like Memphis Grizzlies guard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/banede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Desmond Bane<\/a> in his time as an assistant, is getting the best out of his guys individually and as a team. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barrerj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RJ Barrett<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dickgr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gradey Dick<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/poeltja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jakob Poeltl<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/agbajoc01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ochai Agbaji<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mitchda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Davion Mitchell<\/a> are averaging career-highs. Rookies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mogbojo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jonathan Mogbo<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sheadja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jamal Shead<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/battlja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jamison Battle<\/a> have \u2014more or less \u2014hit the ground running.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">RJ put that dude on SKATES<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Raptors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Raptors<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WeTheNorth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WeTheNorth<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/X5hDjhwDin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/X5hDjhwDin<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Pensare Basketball (@PensareBBall) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PensareBBall\/status\/1853669387053551936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re scrappy. They hustle. They play to their strengths.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Gradey Dick looking like more than just a spot shooting specialist to start the season\u2026<\/p>\n<p>The 6\u20196 20yo weaponizing the threat of his shot to straight line drive into the middle game where he has been extremely efficient getting to his pull-ups and floaters. Impressive start! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/yR5YOAX9eg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/yR5YOAX9eg<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/K2iJAAyReR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/K2iJAAyReR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NBA University (@NBA_University) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA_University\/status\/1852771806031253667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>That shows up not just on the film but in the data. This season, the Raptors are third in total deflections (139), tied for second in total charges drawn (7), and seventh in total contested shots (306). They rank fifth in total steals (73) and are tied for fifth in total blocks (47). They lead the league in total miles run (158.6) and are second in average speed (4.46 miles per hour).<\/p>\n<p>These are among the reasons why four of Toronto\u2019s losses were by single digits. This includes a pair of two-point losses to the Denver Nuggets, a title-contender that won the NBA championship in 2023. The Raptors also pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink of defeat in a comeback attempt on Nov. 1.<\/p>\n<p>Looking at their pair of wins, they\u2019ve actually beaten two other title-contenders in the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings. To be fair to the Sixers, Joel Embiid and Paul George were out. However, the Kings had their entire Big 3.<\/p>\n<p>This is all while missing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/q\/quickim01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Immanuel Quickley<\/a>, who only played 14 minutes in the season opener and has been out since with a bruised pelvis.<\/p>\n<h3>Masai Ujiri Should Be Excited<\/h3>\n<p>As a rebuilding team, the process is a bit more important than the results for the Raptors. With that being said, Raptors president Masai Ujiri should be excited about the team\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<p>Toronto is doing relatively well without two of their top players (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barnesc01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scottie Barnes<\/a> has been out since Oct. 30 with <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/05\/scottie-barnes-injury-update\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">an orbital fracture<\/a>). They\u2019ve gotten extended looks at depth pieces. Yet, this isn\u2019t because they\u2019re missing players. Rajakovic just isn\u2019t afraid to put guys out there regardless of their experience level.<\/p>\n<p>Ujiri has hired a teacher in Rajakovic. He\u2019s acquired players with untapped potential <em>and<\/em> a warrior\u2019s heart. Barrett, a Toronto native, is <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/04\/raptors-home-talent-rj-barrett-knicks-trade\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">playing for team <em>and<\/em> country<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Frankly, the Raptors might have one of the 14 worst records in the NBA this season, landing yet another lottery pick. It\u2019s not necessarily a talent issue so much as the fact there are over a dozen teams with more talent, chemistry, and experience. However, Toronto doesn\u2019t need to be focused on the lottery. Their team doesn\u2019t need Duke forward Cooper Flagg or Rutgers forward Ace Bailey.<\/p>\n<p>They just need time to gel and develop.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Writer\u2019s note: A prospect like 7-foot stretch-center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/news\/eric-reibe-the-no-1-ranked-center-in-2025-commits-to-uconn\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eric Reibe<\/a>, who could be drafted as early as 2026, does fit their needs.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Toronto Raptors are off to a 2-6 start in 2024-25, but while moral victories don\u2019t show up in their wins and losses, it seems like the Raptors are a much better team than their record reflects. The Future Looks Bright For Darko Rajakovic\u2019s Raptors Raptors second-year head coach Darko Rajakovic, who was instrumental in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":105497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14,1608,62],"tags":[49557,114,1964],"class_list":["post-105420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-raptors","category-basketball","category-nba","tag-darko-rajakovic","tag-masai-ujiri","tag-rj-barrett"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}