We are Already Witnessing it…
The Toronto Raptors continue to take losses to the top teams in the NBA and we are already witnessing fans turn on Darko Rajakovic. Ben Rogers breaks down the truth on the situation and what it means for the Raptors moving forward after loosing to the Spurs.
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Raptors Drop Another Game to an Above 500 Team
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Toronto Raptors, Raptors, Raptors News,Toronto Raptors News, NBA Trade Rumors, NBA Free Agency, NBA Draft, NBA Finals Preview, Fantasy Basketball Advice, NBA Betting Odds, NBA Jersey Review, Player Performance Breakdown, Sports Analytics, NBA Highlights, NBA News Update, NBA Stats, NBA Roster Moves, NBA Predictions
48 Comments
Really bro maybe darko is the reason we cant beat teams above 500. Hes just a terrible coach. Rj is to add to that
This fanbase is so bipolar, lets not forget that Darko's been a top 5 coach itl this season and like everyone, he makes mistakes as well. Let's not take his praise away over a couple loses over top 3 teams.
Darko was never brought in to be a long term coach. He was brought in as an experimental development coach. He's done his job. Now it's time for him to go so we can get a real coach.
use your challenges Darkp !
Darko trying 2 tank or Gambing 🤔 🤣😉..u never know, but it is odd, but honestly his an awful coach, let's b real, his lost so many meaningfull games..and the assistant coaching staff are all Trash, worst coaching staff in the league…also this team is soft, woke raptors…it should of been Ime Udoka, but MLS are bunch of Cowards, now we got a guy who gives out chains, hugs and gives kisses and plays Gradey Dick thinking his Larry Bird 🤣…His getting close 2 Jay Triano level 😔
Fire Darko, hire Michael Malone or mike budenholzer
Been saying Darko was a bad coach since the 23-24 season. It’s crazy it has taken this long for the rest of the fan base to notice. Great guy but bad coach
Why does Darko keep drawing up BI for the clutch shot when he has missed the last 3 before tonight, including tonight that’s four. Cmon
Jackson Davis should’ve got 30 minutes on the floor. We needs the rebounds and the big body.
Darko please push players to do something instead of standing there during your iso sets.
they need a star
Ibaka , Gasol…that's all folks😀better luck next year
If only the Raps made use of trading for CP3, one of the greatest PGs in the NBA, and have him play out his career with the Raptors and have a great run in the playoffs. IQ should be playing shooting guard, and Chris Paul play the point guard, RJ Barrett should be our 6th man.
Honestly, the Raptors have already exceeded Vegas odds in total wins. I mean, those guys are not dumb. This roster has its fair share of flaws. You could argue it is one play here and there, but with the current NBA, you really can't win any game by making single-digit 3 pointers in a game. Besides Quickley and Mamu, who are willing to jack them up and make their fair share, nobody is. The style Rapts play with Ingram and Barnes driving to the basket, you need guys who can knock down the 3 consistently. Most teams hit counterpunch with back-to-back 3s and can change the momentum instantly, and when teams hit 3 in a row, it puts a ton of pressure on the Raptors when they can't counter. The fact that we drafted Dick and Walter to fill these roles, it hasn't happened, and times like this are where OG and Powell could have made the difference. It is pretty certain by now that Barnes will never develop this skill set, and if he is your centrepiece, you really need to build the 3-point shooting around him. Cause unfortunately, teams that can't make 3s is troublesome.
Is it better to be down 25, come back to tie and lose.
Or up 15 with 15 minutes left in the game and lose, against the 2 best teams in the league/west, you can't be mad imo.
How bad was BI's last shot, from my seat, i couldn't tell, i just know it was off the side of the board. Wemby doesn't like to get bodied, he was off, thats his weakness..5 blocks off i guess..
First of all thanks to Poeltl and Shed. You were the heros of the night. However it takes more than 2 players bringing their 'A' game to win against an elite team. The Raps still have lots to learn.
Now on to my take on Darko. It takes the whole organization to build and implement an elite team. Starting at the top, management dug a hole for the Raps by going small when the league went big. And they mismanaged contracts and finances which hampered the ability to trade and sign to improve. Hopefully they are not blind and will make some corrections in the off season.
Until then Darko has to get the best out of what he has.Tonight Darko's lineup mistake in the 4th cost the Raps the game. His unwillingness to sit the failing Barret and Mamu and play Battle and TJD didn't help. When the Spurs made adjustments Darko was not able to come up with a counter attack. He needs to own these issues and learn from them. That's all we can ask.
Separate comment for this question. I know the Raps are short true bigs but I don't think it is fair to spend CMB's whole rookie year learning to be an undersized centre. What is the future in that? He should use his defensive talent from the wing like Scottie and focus on learning to shoot and drive. Thoughts?
Ingram looks like a younger KD 😊
Y’all are silly. Freaking out over growing pains of a rebuilding team. This is not a championship team. They just want to make the playoffs this year and not be in the play-in. Remember they only won 30 games last year. Also yes Darko is also learning as a head coach. He is also going to make mistakes along the way. The Raptors need to learn how to close out games and be better in the half court and they will over time. The team and coach are still growing. Y’all want instant results and that’s not how building a team works. Crashing out and demanding trades and getting rid of the coach whenever there is a loss is crazy.
crazy, we could have won the last two games. it was close.. we were definitely competitive. I can handle that.
Gradey is a bust. Get rid of him. He is absolutely useless.
This is the underground tank, be competitive for 3 quarters and lose at the end, see which ones of the young talent you want to keep long term … darko was brought in to be tank commander in chief and develop players, which he kind of did, roster has lots of limitations, can only play one way, no half court, inside out play, strong post play ….
If this team sign both Cam Johnson and MPJ guaranteed they can beat the top teams
Darko would be great assistant coach not the main guy!
dissappointing game, much more then the rest
Darko has done a wonderful job with this team they are overachieving but the last two games playing top teams they are going with a 2 center system to play over the Raptors small ball. You have Trace Jackson Davis on the bench put Jason Davis and Poetl out there against Kornet and Wimby. They finally put Trace Jacson Davis in at the end of the game when they could not pull down a rebound after those two missed free throws. It was too late then. If they had a double combo of Poetl, Murray Boyles and Jackson davis going most of the time I think they win this game
I am not throwing Darko to the wolves his strategies have gotten the team to this point, But as a coach he is not adaptable when the other team makes adjustments. Watching Murray Boyles get hurt every game is getting old as well he needs a few weeks to recover put Trace Jackson in, let Murray Boyles heal
People need to relax this Raptors team will make the playoffs and these matches are great learning lessons. We are looking for guys to step and see who else is going to help in the playoffs. Guys need to go to the coach and say coach I see weaknesses I can help at this is wheee players need to communicate with coaches not just sit like a child and snubs.
Let's also take into consideration that the players make terrible decisions on the court. Always blowing leads by making low IQ plays.
This team can hold leads…and don't rebound the ball enough in pressure situations.
Try to play Jackson Davis more at the center position. People are excited because Poetle scored 15 points however they don't see that he didn't defend well and he put too much pressure on Barnes and others who have to defend in his place. The points he scored were easy creation from others. Himself can not create.
We were good got 3 quarters , then blew it in 4th.
Webster should be fired . He failed to get us what we needed at the deadline. Unless he has a huge summer, this dude isn’t the guy for us. We need a allstar center , and a good PG
He's not a GOOD coach. He doesn't play according to his players strengths. He plays them according to rotations he thinks will throw off the opponent, and he's wrong in that. I don't want him as a long-term coach, because he's not it.
Also, Barnes with 15 pts is absolutely unacceptable. I don't care how much he anchors the defense. 15 pts for your franchise player? No.
Darko always challenges the wrong calls.
Blame Darko
Over reacting on a second year rebuilding team.
This is the nba you will not be a good 4th quarter team crunch time team if you do not have ELITE GUARD PLAY and good 3pt shooting and we don’t have both shead, quickley, Walter and Barrett are not elite and we suck at shooting the ball so the result you collapse in crunch time
If we had a kyrie irving instead of quickley we would be near top of the eastern conference
Were not a contender yet. Changes need to be made. I love b.i, scottie, shead, walter. We have pieces. Just need more. It wont happen overnight
@benrogers i want raptors to play the charlotte hornets in the play in game, because i know it means raptors will get a late lottery pick, the best of all out comes possible in 2026 season.
The proof is in the record sloppy barnes is not a leader …he never will be …we should have traded him with gradey and picks for GA …he is a difference maker 🎉🎉🎉
Wish we had traded gradey before the deadline…he needs mins , plays and shots in order to round into form …he is the new Jonathan Kuminga 😢😢😢
You are delusional think battle is the answer …bro isn't it …can't rebound , can't iso and is a horrible defender
This is wild. Back-to-back nail-biters versus two top teams in the league. The defense versus the Spurs in the final couple minutes, amazing. If Quick hits the three RJ in and out three Yak, push shot, bounced around and out. If any of those goes push OT, maybe even win the game. Remember when Darko was coaching this team the last couple years and they were absolute dog shit. The man put in the work. The team wouldn't be half as good without him. Relax and enjoy the show. We're fun to watch; we're competitive! Now go like and subscribe to Raptor's Digest.
Knowing that the team has collapsed on multiple occasions in the 4th quarter, that was a brutal coaching decision to enter the 4th with that lineup against a super talented Spurs team.
I love Darko. I love our team, we are still finishing this retool, we need another year or two
Sheesh. What? Darko has been awesome. One game? lol. What are they supposed to do? They're not as good as the best teams. An elite team cranks it up and they are better than us. That's how being a best team works. This is idiocy. You think a coach choses to win? it's competition for a reason. Idiocy.
We need a bench mob. They need experience to improve against the top sides too. I don’t think we are expecting us to seriously compete in the playoffs this year, we just need to give them the foundation to grow for the few years ahead, and get some experience.
Nobodies are mad, and nobody who kinows basketball; expected the Raptors to be in the game on a back to back against the hottest team. The rebuild is looking GOOD. Calm down and don't expect the Raptors to win the Championship this year