NBA Coaches are politicians protecting secrets. Darko Rajakovic has caught a LOT of heat for his rotations. So did Nick Nurse. But both coaches preach deep rotations, experimentation, and have shown a willingness to play young players in other situations.
Are we blaming coaches unfairly? Or do they actually have a significant amount of control over who plays, who doesn’t, and how the team executes on a night-to-night basis? Is Darko Rajakovic the right coach for the wrong team? Or the wrong coach for the right team?
Let’s be rational for a second.
#Raptors #NBA #Sixers
9 Comments
JORDI
I’m a Nick Nurse guy. I think the team was going thru growing pains and would have turned a corner. Many players have had their best years under NN. However, you can’t unring the bell and NN is gone and maybe he wanted to go for a better team. I think Darko needs an opportunity to grow into his job.
Players matter. Coaches are secondary. Our team stinks because we have 3.5 good players out of a 15 man roster. Anyone turning their guns on Darko instead of Masai is sticking their head up their own ass.
Very interesting stream. You raise a lot of good points. I would be shocked if Darko doesn't have control of his starting lineup–that would be profoundly disempowering. Yes, its way past time to change the starting lineup. Of course if he decided to bench Siakam for an extended period of time that would cause problems as you suggest. I agree 100% that it was time for Nick Nurse to go regardless of what happens this year. I emphatically disagree that Darko is powerless or doesn't deserve significant blame for the deep dysfunction even with all the player screwups. Of course there is much blame to go around. I love that Scottie has stepped up, but think its completely wrong to put him at the center of the universe. He will learn to play with anyone–yes he needs shooters. Darko will not be fired this year unless the team takes a deep dive into Detroit territory. Malachi Flynn always had the look of a point guard, but executed poorly. I think he is becoming a serviceable backup point guard–maybe a 9 not a 12.
The scuttlebutt is that the offers for Pascal are much much lower than last year because he is a short-term rental. Should we just dump him and get something–a bunch of useful marginal players and second round draft picks? Last thing, i would love for you to do a stream evaluating rookies and sophomore players at the 1/3 mark.
It feels like Trent Jr. is being used in a way to lower his next contract.
Raptors need to be patient and build around players that want to be here. Scottie and Pascal. Trade OG because he is extremely overrated and has never said he wants to stay here. Sure some nights he plays great defence but cant play a full season and has zero balance and offensive game other than spot up 3s. Bring in shooters and draft picks. OG will leave for NY in the summer guaranteed, unless front office makes another mistake and overpays. Gotta give Darko some time, this roster is trash.
Personally, think Darko is a great coach, but flawed. He seems very stubborn in starting and finishing games with Dennis. And yes our other 2 PG's Malachi and GTJ have not been great either as ball-handlers. They have shown short spurts of greatness but not consistently. The question is whether he believes he's playing the best PG on the team or is instructed from the Front Office to do so? Similarly, NN was doing the exact same thing last year forcing VanVleet. I'm wondering at this point if it's solely the coaches choice these players are being forced in our starting lineups? For the question if it was wrong firing NN and hiring Darko? No! If NN stayed on we would not be any better. NN is now 3rd on the table with the 76ers but only a few months ago was fired from the Raptors for poor performance and poor team chemistry. We have brought in a new coach and our performance has not improved, even though our team chemistry may have. This is a problem with this roster that is deeper than the coaching staff. Certain pieces need to be moved as there is no cohesion in the team. I would love it if it was as simple as bashing Darko for our problems. Unfortunately alot of our problems stem around the roster-building from the Front Office. Is it the coaches fault that we traded a 2024 1st round pick for Jacob Poeltl?
One of the better Narratives. Good points Rob!!
Pascal is only worried about his numbers, he's not going to put out on Defense. A trade is just a matter of time.
OG is the better fit with Scottie,
35-40M worth. Trading both if the pieces fit better.
@34:27 Rob you hit the nail on the head. Darko has never ever in any of his press briefings thrown his players of the Front Office under the bus. You gotta give him credit for that for staying loyal and putting the team first above everything else.