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Darko Rajakovic on Scottie Barnes not getting calls: “For me, a player that gets three free-throw shots in a game, who scores 41 points and goes to the free throw line three times, that is kind of BS to be honest with you. They got to the free throw line 29 times, we got to the free throw line 15 times, and I do not think that we were more physical or more aggressive team than them. I think that both teams played really aggressive good basketball and I think that both criteria should be same on both ends of the floor.”
Darko Rajakovic on Kawhi Leonard: “Seven days from now we gonna review where he’s at and have a clear plan. Right now he’s going through the treatments. He’s reacting well to those treatments, and in seven days time we gonna have a much better feel what it looks like, return to play, what is the timeline. At this point we don’t have exact timeline.”
Michael Grange: One update on Kawhi Leonard: he is getting his rest and treatment ‘outside of Toronto’ which is why he wasn’t on the Raptors bench last night, per Darko Rajakovic.
Josh Lewenberg: Rajakovic on Poeltl’s early-season struggles: “We’re going to take a look at film. We’re not going to pass any judgements. We know that he does for us, how much he can contribute… He’s going to be ready. I’m a big Jak believer and he’s going to do well for us.”
Josh Lewenberg: Darko was asked if Kawhi is fully ramped up and available to play 30+ minutes, said they’ll see how the game goes but sounds like he’s still being eased in: “We want to be smart with that. It’s seeing the big picture… We want to put him in a position to have a long run here.”
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Omer Osman: Darko Rajaković on if he senses the buzz going around the city for the Raptors this coming season: “Absolutely. I have a neighbour, Stuart. He’s a pain in the ass every day. Every day he’s asking me about the team and guys and the buzz in the city. He’s a really good thermometer for me for what’s going on in the city.” 😭😭😭 “We absolutely love what’s going on in the city. It’s awesome to see the city has a buzz about the team, and has excitement about the team. Everybody is looking forward to seeing what this team can do, and how this team is going to perform.” “That’s why we work. That’s why we put a lot of work in. That’s why built this team, so we can go out there and have a team that can answer the questions every single night.”
Darko Rajakovic on Scottie Barnes’ development: "Scotty is the one who's transformed the way that he's played the most. He's really been willing to do a lot of the dirty work stuff and like last year, Brandon Ingram became the go-to guy. Star players are like, I want the ball, I want to take the shots, I want to be the centerpiece. And Scotty really kind of shifted his focus on, I'm going to be a great defender, I'm going to be a great facilitator. I know I'm going to get my shots, but that's not going to be where my focus is."
Darko Rajakovic on Allen Graves: I don't care if the shot is going to fall or not. He's a great shooter. I want him to shoot the ball. I promise him this morning, first time and I see him that he does not take open shot, I'm going to sit him on the bench. So it's going to be simple as that. He's a great shooter. He has a great feel for the game and yesterday was a typical rookie game playing for the first time in front of the home crowd.
Josh Lewenberg: Darko on Kawhi’s Raptors re-debut at home vs the Knicks tonight: “It’s very special that it’s happening right here, not in some road game. It’s a very special day for him, very special day for us. We’re super excited to get him on the floor.”
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The Raptors have split the outcome of their first two preseason games, but it seems they might have a leg up against their Atlantic division rivals with the first on-court appearance for the Raptors of Kawhi Leonard. “He went through practice today,” said Rajaković about Leonard at today’s practice. “He’s feeling great. So, yes, he’s gonna be available for game tomorrow.”
“I feel good (but) being smart, taking it slow, just getting familiar with everybody, getting their names right with each coach, (the) player development guys, learning the plays and, yeah, just learning everything that (head coach Darko Rajakovic) has been doing the past three or four years,” Leonard said on Tuesday, after going through his second full practice following a week of lighter work during training camp in Quebec City. “But it's been fun, and everybody's making sure that I understand everything, and they're just welcoming in. So, it's been a great transition.”
Josh Lewenberg: Another full practice for Kawhi and Darko said he looked really good. Rajakovic: "(We did) a lot of contact, a lot of live 5-on-5. He did a great job of going out there and trying to feel out his teammates, when to attack, when to pass. I thought he was great today."
Josh Lewenberg: Kawhi on the ramp-up & getting acclimated: "I feel good. Being smart, taking it slow. Just getting familiar with everybody. Getting the names right with each coach, learning the plays. Learning everything (Darko's) been doing. But it's been fun... It's been a great transition"