Latest news with #Raptors'
Toronto Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Drake dismisses 'Drake Curse' after disastrous $1M Leafs bet, Bieber blame
'I am a flawed sports better,' rapper says, pointing to Raptors' 2019 NBA Championship as proof that he's not a jinx Get the latest from Mark Daniell straight to your inbox Drake attends the Maple Leafs-Bruins Game 4 at Scotiabank Arena on April 17, 2019. Photo by NHL / X Despite losing $1 million after betting the Toronto Maple Leafs would beat the Florida Panthers, Drake insists the dreaded 'Drake Curse' doesn't exist. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'I feel like I don't play sports, whether I picked the wrong team or not, if I could get out there and win for all your favourite teams, I would,' he said in a mock interview posted to Instagram in which he answered the question, 'How Do You Feel About the Drake Curse?' The Toronto rapper plunked down the huge sum on the Leafs after asking his more than 142 million followers: 'Do I dare bet on Game 7 … I will let the people decide.' The majority of the musician's admirers encouraged Drake to 'Fire It Up' and make the wager, with just 25% cautioning the five-time Grammy winner he was going to curse the Buds. A small number of fans (14%) suggested Billboard's Artist of the Decade Award winner should 'Bet on Florida to Reverse the Curse' ( an interesting tactic he used when the Toronto Raptors faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2019 NBA Playoffs ). This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But Drake listened to his followers and made the decision to gamble that Toronto would beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, sharing a screengrab on his Instagram Story before puck drop along with the caption, 'The people have spoken. LFG.' After the Panthers trampled the Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 , making their way to another Eastern Conference final, Drake returned to social media to jokingly blame fellow pop star J ustin Bieber, who's a lifelong Leafs fan and was at the game with his wife Hailey, for the team's defeat. On social media, some fans blamed the 'Drake Curse' for Toronto's loss. For those unaware, the 'Drake Curse' emerged after an unscientific study determined that the teams the One Dance hitmaker supports have a tendency to lose. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But moments after the Leafs were routed, Drake tried to flip the script by posting a simple two-word message to his Instagram Story : 'Bieber Curse.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I guess Drake is going to be 1 million dollars poor(er), and his curse is real,' one person wrote on X, blaming the rapper. ' Next time, don't let him bet on the Leafs.' In 2019, Leafs fans blamed Bieber and Drake — who were spotted cheering on the team in person throughout the series — following the team's Game 7 exit at the hands of the Boston Bruins, prompting then-Leafs coach Mike Babcock to weigh in on allegations of a curse. 'I've heard lots of things since I've come here,' Babcock said at the time. 'But that's one of the craziest things. The game is played on the ice by us. There's no curse whatsoever.' Following Sunday night's trouncing, Toronto's NHL Playoff appearances continue to be a case study in futility. The team hasn't made a trip to the conference finals since 2002 or won a Stanley Cup since 1967. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But the God's Plan rapper insisted that his support wasn't a jinx, pointing to his constant presence during the Toronto Raptors' NBA Championship run back in 2019. 'The 'Drake Curse' is funny to me,' he said. 'First of all, the Toronto Raptors are NBA champions. If there was a 'Drake Curse,' Kawhi (Leonard) would've never hit that shot, we would've never beat the (Golden State) Warriors. There is no 'Drake Curse,' but it's funny, though.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Instead of adding more grist to the 'Curse' mill, Drake simply said he's a 'flawed sports bettor.' 'I will not deny that. That's not my gift. I'll let everybody roll with it,' Drizzy admitted. 'I'm sure if you're a Drake curse believer, there will be plenty more content in the future for you to confirm your theories because my slips do not cash out. But one day I'm gonna have a parlay that's insane and then everybody is going to be on quiet mode.' Talk of a 'Curse' has been bubbling for years after the lyricist was blamed for Serena Williams' loss to an unranked player at the 2015 U.S. Open, but it took a strong foothold in 2019 when Drake showed up during Game 4 of the NHL playoffs between Toronto and the Boston Bruins in Maple Leafs gear and guess what? The Leafs lost 6-4 . This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That same year, after the rhymester took a photo with Paris Saint-Germain's Layvin Kurzawa, he was blamed for the soccer club's 5-1 loss to Lille. As a result, Italy's AS Roma banned its players from taking selfies with the Juno winner until after its season ended. During the 2022 World Cup, soccer fans blamed the 'Curse' for Team Canada's opening loss to Belgium. ' We all know the reason ,' one person wrote alongside a series of laughing-crying emojis and a pic of Drake posing alongside left-back Alphonso Davies. ESPN noted that Canada was the first World Cup team since 1978 to attempt at least 20 shots and a penalty kick and not score a goal. ' Alphonso Davies didn't listen to the Gods ,' one fan tweeted after the match . 'Drake's curse is real.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. During that same tournament, he saw another million dollars disappear from his bank account after he fumbled his wager for the World Cup Final. There were more notable losses. Last July, he lost $300,000 when he bet the Canadian Men's National Soccer Team would beat the Lionel Messi-led Argentina National Football Team in its Copa debut. The month before, the wordsmith bet $500,000 on the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup. But Drake saw that money vanish when the Panthers won Game 7, 2-1. Drake also saw $500,000 flutter away when he laid odds on the Dallas Mavericks to beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, even though Bieber was hoping his support would help power the Leafs to the Eastern Conference Final, he's hopeful the Buds will figure out a way to move forward with offseason changes on the way. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I don't remember a time in my life when I haven't been obsessed with the leafsssss,' Bieber wrote following the Leafs' loss on his Instagram. 'This year we made it farther than we have in so long and I'm happy about that. I can be patient cuz I know this is the team to do it.' mdaniell@ Read More
New York Times
16-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Darko Rajaković's soft skills are excellent, but can he nail the hard choices?
TORONTO — Do not confuse a person who has mastered 'soft' skills with a 'soft' person. In fact, knowing how to communicate effectively with a disparate group of people requires, on occasion, being acerbic or even aggressive. 'We were in a timeout and he really chewed me out in front of everybody,' Toronto Raptors rookie Ja'Kobe Walter said Monday of one late-season moment with head coach Darko Rajaković. Several players were chatting with the media after the end of a 30-52 season. 'He was saying I was being weak on the court. I wasn't being aggressive just because I got one shot blocked. He was saying I was soft. And then in that moment, it kind of turned me up. He saw that I went out there and I started playing defence crazy and all that. When he chews me out, he knows that it kind of lights a fire under me.' Advertisement It would be easy to see and listen to the mild-mannered, optimistic Raptors head coach, especially with the way he presents himself in front of cameras, and mistake him for a young coach who is afraid to rankle NBA talent. While he certainly doesn't have ex-Raptors coach Nick Nurse's penchant for criticizing specific players in public, the 'nice guy' perception is off. Sure, Rajaković cares about his players and will make uncommon gestures to let them know that. He will also light them up privately or in a team setting. 'Accountability is nothing else than the belief that the person can go to another level, that they can achieve something bigger and better,' Rajaković said on Tuesday. It's a mantra fit to put on a poster in an office, right next to the 'hang in there' kitty. However you define them, through two seasons, it is clear Rajaković has nailed the art of using soft skills to get through to his players. As demonstrated by the Raptors' defensive growth through the season, a clear offensive stylistic shift that has yet to produce results or the way his players talk about him, Rajaković's messages have resonated with the team. October 2025 will bring the tougher part: getting a flawed team with raised expectations to not just play cohesively but to play well. The Raptors' era of good feelings is coming to an end, soon to be replaced by the pressure to turn incremental growth into a significant leap in wins. For all the positivity, much of it justified, from this past season — a five-win jump from last year, the encouraging development of a quartet of rookies and a massive defensive improvement — there is still a question about how real any of it was. The Raptors feasted on a weak schedule down the stretch. They are the only team in the league that didn't win a single game on the road against an opponent that finished better than .500. They went 16-3 against the six teams that finished with a worse record than them and 14-49 against the 23 other teams. Advertisement With the addition of Brandon Ingram to a young core of players, there will be expectations for the Raptors to improve next season as older teams presumably fade. Whether that means making the top half of the Play-In or the top six will depend a lot on how the offseason goes, including what happens to the Raptors on the evening of the draft lottery. Unlike some other potentially ascendant teams in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors are not likely to have much flexibility to alter their roster this summer beyond the draft. They will be in a delicate dance with the luxury tax threshold. That doesn't have to be solved before next year's games begin, but it rules out a significant expenditure on out-of-organization talent. Barring a trade, the Raptors' roster will look familiar. As it happens, the Raptors finished 26th in offensive rating this year. They were not efficient in transition, but they ranked fifth in total points per game in transition, which means their half-court offence was largely a mess. With none of Barnes, Ingram or RJ Barrett likely to launch 3s at high frequency, the intricacy with which the Raptors must execute will have to be pinpoint. 'For me, the most important thing is going to be that we really need to make quick decisions,' Rajaković said. 'We cannot be holding the ball. We need to be making simple decisions and simple reads.' Barnes and Barrett have already bought in, while Ingram's last few years have been disappointing enough that he should be open to re-examining his game. He has at least averaged 4.9 assists per game in each of the last five seasons, so Ingram is not in any way a selfish player. He does tend to hold the ball, and that is something Rajaković is going to have to coach out of him. With wins and losses essentially incidental over the last season and a half, it has been difficult to judge Rajaković's in-game abilities. Their lineups were all over the place this year, thanks to meaningful injuries to nearly every player on the roster, including Ingram, who didn't play a game after his February trade to Toronto. Anecdotally, Rajaković seemed to be solid at creating open looks for his offensively deficient team when coming out of timeouts. And he is aggressive at using timeouts, even early in the game. Advertisement How that translates to a team that is really trying to win games instead of benching its best players with eight minutes left remains to be seen. 'I understand what coaches need to be successful. And he has all those attributes: the will to win, the time you have to spend in trying to be prepared,' Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley said. 'He's a step ahead of the game. He allows the players to lead the team as far as asking questions during the film (sessions). … He does a lot of little stuff. But I think also just like the in-game adjustments, he's really good at that.' 'I don't know if you guys have seen Darko's (after-timeout plays),' Barrett added, 'but (we) get a wide-open shot or we score every single time.' Rajaković's ability to keep the team together as they put together a disastrous first half of the season should be commended and appreciated. Real expectations, though, result in more pressure, and more angst when losses mount. If the Raptors are healthy, not every player who made a good impression this year will be able to play regularly. What if Rajaković decides it doesn't make sense to start all three of Barnes, Barrett and Ingram, preferring a low-usage glue guy to hold the first five together? Ochai Agbaji and Walter both had encouraging years, while Gradey Dick is just two seasons removed from being a lottery pick; there might not be room for all three in the rotation. With a core of young players who want to start winning, what happens if the Raptors hit on their draft pick, either in the top four or in the middle of the lottery, and need to mix that player's needs with that of the team's? None of those are simple scenarios, and none of them have been Rajaković's concern since the Raptors traded OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam in the middle of 2023-24. 'I want to have that problem,' Rajaković said. 'I want to have guys available. I want to have great players on the team, I want to be facing those decisions. I am not shying away from that. 'If I wanted to keep people happy, I would be selling ice cream. I would not be a basketball coach.'
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brandon Ingram excited to join 'goofy' Raptors, signs contract extension in Toronto with goal of becoming an 'all-star again'
TORONTO — Brandon Ingram has officially inked a three-year, $120 million extension to be part of the 'goofy' Raptors, while playing in a city he's long admired as he looks for a 'fresh start.' On Wednesday, general manager Bobby Webster announced the news at a press conference alongside Ingram, a development that comes after the Raptors acquired him shortly before the NBA's Feb. 6 trade deadline. It was a calculated decision, knowing that Ingram was set to become a free agent at the end of this year. Now, he'll be part of the Raptors' longer-term plans, playing in one of his favourite cities. 'At the beginning of the year, every time the schedule comes out … the first team we mark is Toronto. I don't think it's ever for the team. It's always for the city,' said Ingram, later adding that he especially likes the 'culture, food ... different people.' Speaking on the topic of 'culture,' Ingram pointed out that the Chinese characters on his neck translate to 'gem,' a word he finds meaning in at this point of his career, along with the fact that it 'looks really cool.' 'I'm a gemstone, I feel like that's why he came and got me,' said Ingram, referring to Webster. 'I've been in New Orleans. The media coverage isn't great, [compared] to most of the U.S., global. So, you know, I've not been talked about a lot. I've been injured a little bit. So, you know, I've been forgotten a little bit. I feel like coming to Toronto, I have a good chance to sprout out a little bit.' In essence, the 27-year-old says he 'needed a fresh start,' after six years in New Orleans After making the all-star team in his first year there, he's seen his career plateau, as he's also battled injuries, including a current one to his left ankle. It's left him sidelined since Dec. 8, and there is currently no timetable for his return. When he does come back, the goal from both sides is clear: 'The first thing that I heard is they want to make me an all-star again,' said Ingram, adding that he wants to be a 'sponge,' but to also help shift the culture toward a winning one. Ingram says he wanted to go somewhere where guys play hard with the goal of getting better, while he's heard great things about Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and Darko Rajaković as people. Along with his new teammates being focused on learning, something else stands out about them: 'Everybody goofy. Everybody wants to have fun,' said Ingram, while applauding the team's ability to still be 'professional.' As Ingram made those comments in the Raptors' media room during his extension announcement, his teammates and coaching staff stood in the back to watch the moment unfold. That includes Barnes, who tried to hide behind a dark pair of sunglasses and a hoodie. Brandon Ingram laughs when he realizes a few Raptors players snuck into his press conference and starts shouting them out — Libaan Osman (@libaanstar1) February 12, 2025 He says he appreciates the whole team welcoming him with open arms, while he thinks it's going to be Barnes who will bring 'the goofy side' out of him. Rajaković says over his decade-plus career in the NBA, this Raptors team is a 'very unique group' and is 'the most connected' one he's ever been part of, as he applauded their ability to root for one another. In his introductory statement, Webster says he knew that 'Brandon wanted to be here.' On their end, the Raptors front office has been 'big fans of his for many years, dating back to his high school and college days. 'We are very fortunate to bring him on board. It's an important step, as we rebuild this roster, continue to add talent to the core.' The Raptors are in the midst of a tough season, going into Wednesday night's matchup with a 17-37 record, good enough for the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference. A lot of talk going into this season is that it was going to be one to rebuild the team. The conventional 'rebuild' route in the NBA involves a team losing a lot of games and trading their best players for future assets, all in hopes of acquiring high draft picks over the course of a couple years. While the Raptors unloaded some talent last season in Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, the front office doesn't seem keen on hitting rock bottom before finally making the push to be competitive. Webster notes that in Ingram, they're adding a talented player, but also someone that at 27 years old is entering his prime and matches up with a lot of the other players on the team in terms of their timeline. 'As we always say, it takes a lot of really good players to win in this league, so that's most important for us. So when the opportunity came about with New Orleans, considering what we gave up in the deal, it was a no-brainer.' In the trade, the Raptors gave up an expiring contract in Bruce Brown, veteran Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick and one second-round pick. When it comes to their future financial situation, Webster is 'comfortable with the flexibility' they have. 'Part of the feature of this rebuild … is to have this flexibility and to be able to do a deal like this and take on Brandon, but also give us a substantial contract,' said Webster. We don't yet know how Ingram's $120 million deal will be distributed over the next three years, but if it's a $40 million split, it means that next season he'll be the highest paid player on the Raptors' roster. When it comes to being someone that's been somewhat forgotten, Rajaković has a hard time believing that: 'He scored [41] points against us. I did not forget that,' said the head coach, reminiscing about last year's matchup vs. the Pelicans. In Ingram, the Raptors acquired what is likely their most talented scoring threat since Kawhi Leonard. He's averaged at least 20 points in each of his last six seasons, as he's known as someone with an elite midrange game, while still being a threat at the rim and beyond the three-point line. The Raptors will look to take his game to the next level, helping him take a similar leap as they did with RJ Barrett when they acquired him last year. Rajaković says he spent two hours recently catching up with Ingram. Along with finding out that Ingram always gets oxtail when in Toronto, he knows him to be 'player of substance. He has a lot of character. I think he's gonna be a really good fit for us. 'He's just a basketball hooper, and he's very, very proactive. He wants to learn. He's asking questions. He wants to elevate his game, to be at an all-star level again. And I believe that's our job to help him and to get back to being an all-star and to perform.' Rajaković is excited for Ingram's 'huge potential' on the defensive side of the ball, behind his large wingspan and size at six-foot-eight. For now, it's about getting him healthy, since he's not sure if Ingram will be able to suit up for the Raptors this season, as they focus on entering the 2025-26 campaign ready to go. When it comes time to hit the court, Rajaković and Ingram are both confident that he'll fit right in with their current roster construction, one that features Barnes under contract for the next five years, Quickley for the next four, and Jakob Poeltl and Barrett for the next two. He'll be joining a starting lineup that doesn't have a consistent three-point threat, with Quickley being the best of the bunch as a 37 per cent shooter from distance for his career. Instead, they all thrive with their ball in their hands, especially as they attack the rim. 'I'll be able to just fit in anywhere,' said Ingram, noting that while he likes to have the ball in his hands, he also likes to pass the ball too, as he looks forward to the challenge of playing off-ball. Rajaković says he believes 'they're gonna be really good fit together," applauding the roster's unselfish play, while noting that it's going to help bring a 'competitive' nature to practice as Ingram and Barnes push each other forward. 'His heart is in the right place,' said Rajakovic on Ingram. 'He cares about the right things. And when you have that, I think he's gonna rub off of Scottie, and Scotties rub off of him. I think it's going to help our whole team.' When it comes to what stands out to Ingram about Quickley, it's his 'pop' and 'swag.' In regards to Barnes, it's that his 'teammates follow his voice,' especially as someone who's a defence-first and pass-first type of player. It's all part of a growing culture in Toronto, one 'with selfless guys that just want to win.'
New York Times
11-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Fitting Brandon Ingram into Raptors' offence will be Darko Rajaković's defining task
HOUSTON — On the evening of his first full day with his new team, Brandon Ingram sat in his stall in the visitors' locker room in Oklahoma City with a book cracked. Ingram was reading 'Stillness Is The Key' by Ryan Holiday, a book that preaches the Stoic concept of slowing down as the world spins on its axis of chaos. Good advice, in general. Advertisement Within Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković's offence, however, movement is the key. (A word of warning: Do not make this dad-adjacent joke upon your second meeting with Ingram. You will receive a pity laugh from the lanky star, for which you will feel fortunate. You'll feel a pang of regret more strongly. To be clear, that's how we guess that scenario would unspool.) 'Our basic core principles, how hard we want to play, especially on the defensive end, and our willingness to pass the ball and play without the ball on the offensive end (are things that are) universal,' Rajaković said initially when asked about Ingram's fit within the Raptors movement-heavy offence. 'Then when you have different types of players … you start adjusting and making the right decisions to help everyone on the court.' This is what Rajaković has been preaching since he became the Raptors' coach in June 2023. At that time, it was a reaction to the stagnant offence that featured far too many isolation possessions for the Raptors' talent. While he couldn't completely change the offensive identity of the Pascal Siakam/OG Anunoby/Scottie Barnes team he led for two months, he leaned into their offensive strengths in the post to create a workable, if unspectacular offence despite a notable lack of perimeter shooting. That team was likely heading for a breakup to start the year, though. Unless the Raptors got off to a great start, Rajaković was largely passing time until the rebuild started. With Ingram's arrival, the Raptors hope they are building something that will last. That makes incorporating Ingram, whenever he returns from his ankle injury and, more crucially, to begin next season, the defining challenge of the coach's tenure in Toronto. GO DEEPER Brandon Ingram is ready to start anew in Toronto: 'A change of scenery can be ... good' If Rajaković can blend Ingram's shot-making with the movement-centric attack the coach has been teaching, he could be in Toronto for a long time. If not, Rajaković —who has one more year on his contract after this one but could be in line for an extension — might have a hard time sticking around. Ingram's arrival heightens expectations, going from 'losses are lessons' to a desire to be functional and competitive. Figuring out how to marry Ingram's skills with Barnes' and RJ Barrett's strengths will go a long way in determining if the Raptors get there. Advertisement 'I think it's going to be a process. I think there's going to be a lot of work that we need to put in,' Rajaković told The Athletic at the University of Houston on Saturday. '(Ingram) is very open. He's very willing to accept what this team is doing. And he already started using his voice with the team and talking in the film sessions. He's opening up, which is great. I really respect that. 'All of us, we want the same thing. We want to win. And winning demands certain things. I think he will embrace that without any problem — ball movement and body moment. I think he's a very, very unselfish player. I think that he's a player that can see the court really well. And I think that's going to be the driving force for us when we get him on the court.' Before getting into the X's and O's, Ingram should help the Raptors solve their most glaring issue: half-court offence. The Raptors rank 22nd this year and 24th last year in the half court, according to Cleaning The Glass. To further drive that home, the Raptors rank just 23rd in offence when the scoring margin is within five points in the game's final five minutes or overtime, according to Not coincidentally, the Raptors' 6-16 record featuring 'clutch' situations is second to last in the league. A lot of that is simply not having a player who can create his own shot whenever he wants. Barnes prefers to pass, and his touch in traffic is poor for a player of his stature, despite a notable improvement this year from the short midrange. If Barrett doesn't get all the way to the paint, he prefers push shots to jumpers. His scoring efficiency is way down this year. Barnes is shooting 43.5 percent on 23 field-goal attempts in clutch situations, while Barrett is at 38.6 percent on 44 attempts. (He has also made just 13 of his 22 free throws in those situations, something that has to improve.) Immanuel Quickley's presence in just three of the Raptors' 19 games featuring clutch situations has not helped. Quickley is the Raptors' most dynamic shooting threat. Advertisement Ingram shot 48 percent on looks between 10 feet from the rim and the 3-point arc last year, an excellent number for tough shots. He doesn't live at the free-throw line, but he shot better than 80 percent when he got there every year he was with the Pelicans. 'He takes pressure off all of us,' Barnes said. 'Being able to score the ball, get downhill, teams got to respect him. He's a respected player in this league, and with all the things that he can do, he's gonna take pressure off RJ, gonna take pressure off me, gonna take pressure off (Quickley).' While Ingram has to be able to adapt, it will be on Rajaković to make things work. Assuming all three of Ingram, Barnes and Barrett are in Toronto to start next season, it could be a crowded ecosystem. Barnes can operate as a handler or screener in the pick-and-roll, but his poor shooting makes it tough to leave him away from the main action. Barrett is most effective when catching the ball off a handoff near the paint with a full head of steam. Jakob Poeltl, who rarely shoots from outside the key, is often setting those screens. Meanwhile, Ingram has a reputation as a ball-stopper, a player who prefers to survey the floor in front of him. He is not selfish: He has averaged more than 5.6 assists per game over the last four years. They just don't usually come in a Raptors-style manner. This year's Raptors rank fifth in passes per game, seventh in assists per game and third in potential assists. Last year, when Ingram played 64 games and Zion Williamson played 70, the Pelicans ranked fourth in passes made, but 13th and 16th in assists and potential assists, respectively. Last year, Ingram averaged more than four seconds per touch. After the three point guards who often take the ball up the court, Barnes leads the Raptors at 3.39 seconds per touch. The Raptors will want Ingram to speed up his processing. Advertisement 'Watching film with him, talking to him (about) what we're doing, watching his film, watching our film, getting him to understand what we're trying to achieve as a team,' Rajaković said of what he will do while Ingram remains out of the lineup. 'So there are going to be a lot of conversations there.' By acquiring Ingram, the Raptors made a bet on his talent, knowing they were getting a discount on the acquisition cost because of his pending free agency and injury history. The front office and the medical staff will have to do what they can on those fronts to make this work. There is an obvious question of fit, too, with Ingram coming to Toronto. It is on Rajaković to get through to Ingram, and to maximize the odds of the Raptors' bet hitting. (Top photo of Brandon Ingram: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
New York Times
05-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Raptors are becoming the team Darko Rajaković promised to deliver
TORONTO — Midway through the fourth quarter at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night, the darndest thing happened: The fans started an earnest, enthusiastic 'Let's go, Raptors' chant. It's not that this was happening for the first time this season, but it felt like it was the loudest such cheer. No single play inspired it: Rookie point guard Jamal Shead was zooming out in transition, Gradey Dick hit a couple of big 3s, and Jonathan Mogbo, sent to Raptors 905 for an extended stint recently, was making defensive plays at the rim. Advertisement As the New York Knicks lagged on the rough end of a back-to-back, the Raptors slowly cut into a 17-point lead that had ballooned to 23 at one point. Without injured starters RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl, head coach Darko Rajaković rolled with a small-ball lineup down the stretch — one that included three rookies (from a historically weak NBA Draft, according to scouts, experts and early statistical returns), a sophomore and Scottie Barnes as the veteran glue. Simply, the fans appreciated how the Raptors were playing. The Raptors lost 121-115. The Knicks had an All-Star guard in Jalen Brunson. Meanwhile, the Raptors' highly paid guard, Immanuel Quickley, is on a minutes restriction after a groin injury. But as the largely anonymous lineup tried to scrap together a comeback, it was hard not to admire the promises about the team's culture that head coach Darko Rajaković has made: His team will play hard, unselfishly and won't give up on games. OCHAI AGBAJI. DENIAL. 🚫 — NBA TV (@NBATV) February 5, 2025 'The last 10 games, I would say we've been pretty locked into how we're supposed to be playing,' Garrett Temple told The Athletic. 'That second half was really how we want to play, point blank, no matter who's on the court. I think the biggest thing with that closing lineup is that those guys are developing. They're understanding how we want to play. They're trusting what Coach and the coaching staff has put out there, and they're developing. They're getting better as NBA players, which is all you can ask for.' The Raptors are, more often than not, moving the ball, running whenever possible and scrapping on defence. It isn't always textbook, but it's effortful, whether the majority of the team's veterans are available or not. It's what Rajaković promised. Advertisement It has been hard to know what to make of the Raptors' recent 8-3 run, during which they have matched their win total from the first 39 games. They have some schedule and injury luck, the same things that worked against them early in the season. Nothing they have done should radically alter the Raptors' plans before Thursday's trade deadline. When trying to figure out what the wins mean, though, it's best to zoom in, not out. Tuesday's game started with Dick, not known for his defence, pressing Knicks wing Mikal Bridges full court. After the game, Rajaković said the Raptors wanted to exert pressure on the Knicks, who played Monday, to tire them out throughout the game. The Knicks finished by scoring just 23 points in the fourth quarter, shooting 10-for-26 and earning no trips to the free-throw line. 'Just to see Gradey do it at the beginning,' rookie Ja'Kobe Walter said, 'that already gives us life.' Meanwhile, the game ended with Jonathan Mogbo, whose role has diminished as the Raptors have gotten healthier, guarding Karl-Anthony Towns, who feasted early in the night. Shead was on Brunson. Brunson made some shots, but Shead made him work. Mogbo and Shead were the 31st and 45th picks in last June's draft. 'It's really helpful,' Shead said of playing late in close games. 'Game experience is second to none. Just being out there, being able to guard people like Jalen Brunson. Those two games in Atlanta versus Trae (Young), I played a lot of minutes in those games. Just playing against that level of competition is going to raise your level.' So much energy this season has been spent wondering how many wins are too many for the Raptors. There will come a time when it's wise to shut things down for some of their more useful veterans. Poeltl has been dealing with a hip pointer for a few games, and those injuries can linger. He did not play in the second half. Barrett is in the league's concussion protocol, which offers only uncertainty. Advertisement In their absence, though, the Raptors leaned into any attempts at gathering floor burns. That matches the way they've played during their winning stretch — just with a little less proven talent on the floor against the Knicks, which was the difference. It will be the difference in some games in March. If the Raptors continue to play like this, it will be easy to accept. 'To be honest with you,' Rajaković said, 'I'm really proud of how we kept our composure during the whole game.' About 45 minutes after the game, Knicks assistant coach Daisuke Yoshimoto, who focusses on player development, shared a word with his counterpart on the Raptors, veteran coach Jim Sann. 'Man,' Yoshimoto said, 'you guys fought like crazy.' Night after night since 2025 started, the Raptors have earned that reputation. (Photo of Ochai Agbaji: Cole Burston / Getty Images)
