(Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors have undergone some big changes this year, including the addition of their new head coach, Darko Rajaković.
Things haven’t panned out for Toronto and they are the 12th seed in the East and out of playoff contention.
Some people have questioned Rajaković’s coaching skills because of the Raptors’ lackluster season.
But Eric Koreen thinks that it’s too soon to really judge Rajaković.
“You cannot say Rajaković is a good or bad late-game coach, because his team is so untested,” Koreen wrote for The Athletic.
The Raptors’ season hasn’t gone to plan.
But how does one evaluate Darko Rajaković’s?@ekoreen attempts to parse fact from fiction when it comes to grading Rajaković’s rookie campaign leading Toronto.https://t.co/VyXoL5o7xc pic.twitter.com/nSsZE4kpkO
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) April 9, 2024
Few people were expecting great things from the Raptors this season.
Last summer, they said goodbye to Fred VanVleet, the longtime leader of the team.
Months later, they also parted ways with OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.
Because of this, many fans and analysts agree that Toronto is going through a rebuilding phase and that usually takes a few years to pay off.
This is Rajaković’s first year as a head coach in the NBA after spending years as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and Memphis Grizzlies.
His first season has resulted in a 25-53 record so far.
It’s not a great start, but there is still plenty of time for Rajaković and his team to prove what they are capable of.
There is undeniable talent on the Raptors’ roster, including Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Bruce Brown, Jakob Poeltl, and more.
They aren’t able to achieve many wins right now but when this transitional period is over, they might be one of the more promising teams in the East.
If next season is just as bad as this one, more people will question Rajaković and his ability to lead the team.
But for now, a lot of people are waiting and holding out hope.
The post Analyst Says NBA East Team Is ‘Untested’ This Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.