Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Despite the blowout win, the conversation in the postgame press conference quickly shifted toward Friday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. The contest features a meeting between Rajakovic and his compatriot, three-time season MVP Nikola Jokic. When asked how he plans to neutralize the Serbian superstar, Rajakovic kept the mood light before turning to the realities of his roster depth. “We’re going to surprise Jokic. We’re going to put our point guards to guard him. So, we’re preparing a very special strategy against him,” he joked, drawing laughs from the media. However, his tone shifted to the importance of forward Collin Murray-Boyles, who has been sidelined with a left thumb sprain. “Having CMB would be a huge help to have in that game,” he added.
Josh Lewenberg: More from Darko on the process of getting/keeping Ingram healthy: "It took a lot of work, a lot of preparation, a lot of dedication from everybody and I am super grateful for the group of people we have that care so much, and for BI and the way he has handled the whole process."
Sandro Mamukelashvili: “I think these days a lot of coaches don't understand how much mental it is mentally important to lock in with the player. How how how important it is to be open to your player to where he can knock on your in your office door, come in and just have a conversation not only about basketball, but about what's going on in his life or whatever he has concerns with. I think Darko is amazing at that. Like he first of all, amazing X and O's coach. He knows what he's doing. He he loves fast-paced basketball which kind of fits me a lot as a player. But like like I came in my first practice and I went on the side and I asked the assistant coach something like whispered it to him like he stopped practice and he was like I'm standing right here like you can ask me a question. Don't feel like you have to go somewhere and then it's not it's not like that here.
Sandro Mamukelashvili: Darko doesn't take easy on anyone. Like if you make a mistake, he you're going to hear about the mistake in the film. If you didn't pass the ball, you're going to hear about that you didn't pass the ball and it was a bad shot. So I respect that as a coach just knowing that he going to get on everybody and he going to put everybody and treat everybody at the same standard. But also defensively, a lot of guys are like, ‘Oh, Sandro defensively did it, Sandro.’ He came to me and he said, ‘If you don't get beat, that means you're not playing hard.’ So I'm okay with you getting deep as long as you are playing hard and pressuring the ball and playing to our standards. So that also is amazing. Just just coach giving you that freedom to be aggressive and interesting. Get beat. But yeah, that's why he said always there's helps, there is help side, there's eagles and everything, but he loves he loves to challenge you.”
Josh Lewenberg: Rajakovic on Barnes playing through illness: “He’s going through pain. He’s going through sickness. He was giving us signs that he needed a breath of rest… But he showed up big. He gave everything he got. He completely emptied the tank.”
Advertisement
Josh Lewenberg: Darko on the Murray/Shead incident-"After watching the film I thought we did not handle that situation the way we want, the way we were supposed to. Our players had conversations with each other. They know that's not the true image of our team... It's never going to happen again"
Josh Lewenberg: Rajakovic: "There is a way how you need to stand up for each other and protect each other and this team that we have is all about that, all about connectivity. It needs to be addressed the right way (next time)."
Josh Lewenberg: Darko: "I have the utmost trust in this group of players. Where we’re at right now in the season is exactly where we need to be. This (adversity) is really good for us… I strongly, strongly believe that this period will make us better. We're going to get through this together."
Michael Grange: “I'm satisfied, but not happy … if I can describe that I thought that on a back to back, playing against such a good team, we gave them a hell of a fight over there.” — Darko Rajakovic on tough loss to Spurs. Said they played Victor Wembanyama as well as possible.
Blake Murphy: Darko Rajakovic says Scottie Barnes was playing through pain throughout the game (from Tues quad contusion), and that went into rotation choices (31min), particularly the 4th stretch without Barnes and Ingram (and Quickley)
Advertisement
Josh Lewenberg: Darko Rajakovic: “I think that our team has a lot of motivation. I think that our team has a lot of grit, a lot of energy. The area that we need to get better at is focus.”
“Even with a lot of the video guys, I just talk s— all day,” Shead said. “I like messing with people. I like getting a smile out of people — making sure people laugh before we get to the serious stuff.” “He already had some experience (as a leader) and has the natural skills of somebody who is a good leader,” Rajaković said, explaining why he tasked Shead with gathering some of the Raptors in the summer. “He likes to connect with people. People like to be around him. Promoting that and developing those skills, you have to put him even more in those situations.”
K.C. Johnson: Classy moment from Raptors Darko Rajaković, who worked with Billy Donovan in OKC. Rajaković offered condolences to the Donovan family for the passing of Donovan’s father, whom he said he met and called “an amazing human being.”