The surprising winning streak of the Toronto Raptors in the NBA
The half-closed eyes, the averted gaze and the lackadaisical body posture. Thus, as since he arrived in the NBA in 2016, Brandon Ingram received with the match tied at 95, he hit the ball three times, stopped, threw and hit the double, with 0.6 seconds on the clock to get back on track the victory of the Toronto Raptors against the Indiana Pacers. So, Darko Rajakovic’s team chained its ninth consecutive victory in this surprising start to the season.
Ingram is, without a doubt, the top offensive figure of the Raptors. This Wednesday was the third winning shot in his career with 1 second or less on the stopwatch (one in the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017 and another in the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022). The forward is in his first season in Toronto, in which he averages 21.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per match. His talent is indisputable, but the fact that he is the most reliable option in attack means that the team’s ceiling is low. Or, at least, that they do not depend on their star to reach very high.
His partner in this November full of successes, with a 12-1 record, is Scottie Barnes. The best rookie of the 2021-2022 season maintains the level that led him to be an All-Star in his third season in the league: averages 19.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5 assists per game.
The trident of poster figures without strident luminaries completes it RJ Barrettabsent from the last two games due to a right knee injury. The Canadian contributes 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per encounter.
Supporting these three names is a team committed to teamwork and disciplined in defense: they answer every shot they can and get blocks in important moments like the one Jakob Poeltl to Pascal Siakam just before Ingram’s decisive play against the Pacers.
The streak of victories, the fourth best in the history of the franchise, and the impressive record in the month are brilliant but should not hide the reality, since the calendar was kind to the Raptors in this period: they only faced one team from the West, the downtrodden Memphis Grizzlies, and they did not have any major rivals from the East, with three duels against the Cleveland Cavaliers, two against the Philadelphia 76ers – they shared victories – and one against the Milwaukee Bucks as the most challenging.
On the near horizon appear the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, more demanding tests that will indicate whether the winning streak has a solid structure.
Darko Rajakovic sets the style for the Toronto Raptors
Darko Rajakovic, born and raised in Serbia, is the head coach of the Raptors since the 2023-2024 season. In its first campaign, the Canadian team achieved 25 victories and in the second, 30. Confidence in the work process began to deliver encouraging results in the third.
Rajakovic’s journey linked to the NBA began in 2004 when he was a young apprentice of Gregg Popovich and his work team in the Summer League. He maintained that task until 2011. Before, he had had a relationship with Lute Olson, the coach of the University of Arizona (in 2003), and also with Mike Krzyzewski, historic Duke coach (in 2007).
Rajakovic’s path began at the age of 16 in Borac Čačak, in his hometown, and continued at Red Star in Belgrade, always in training categories. Then he spent three years at Espacio Torrelodones, in the EBA league in Spain, until in 2012 the doors opened for him to enter the world of the NBA: Tulsa 66ers, the affiliate team of the Oklahoma City Thunder, hired him as head coach. From there, everything was learning, development and growth in the universe of the best basketball league in the world. He worked as an assistant for the Thunder, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies until he got his big opportunity with the Raptors..
Rajakovic does not forget his origins and the Serbian school: he puts a FIBA imprint on his team’s play in the NBAespecially in the work of players without the ball and in spacing. In addition, the Serbian seeks to develop young people and improve the performance of his stars, especially Ingram.
“This is what I’m here for,” Ingram said at Scotiabank Arena after his game-winning shot against Indiana.
“Everyone knows why Brandon is here and what he does for our team, and there’s no secret to that,” Rajakovic said.
It was evident that the Raptors’ last attempt against the Pacers would be in the hands of the lanky forward. Ingram did not disappoint.
The hope for sustained progress in Toronto is affirmed in the bond of mutual trust between the team’s most important player and the coach. And may the surprising streak of triumph become everyday life.
