It is no secret the Raptors struggled from behind the arc final season, and it is one of many fundamental points new coach Darko Rajaković has his eyes on
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Optimistic mindset: There have been two groups the Toronto Raptors outshot from behind the arc final season.
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Damaging mindset: There have been solely two groups the Toronto Raptors outshot from behind the arc final season.
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Within the trendy NBA, the place each place wants to have the ability to shoot three-pointers, the Raptors have been missing. There wasn’t a single participant within the league’s top-50 of 3-point share, and shedding their most prolific shooter in Fred VanVleet in free company isn’t going to assist their flooring spacing.
It’s no secret that’s the world they arrive into 2023-24 wanting to enhance, and that’s an space new head coach Darko Rajaković has a plan to repair.
Not that any of it was on show on the Christine Sinclair Centre in Burnaby this week. The Raptors coaching camp is completely blacked out and blocked off to any potential observers, together with any Raptors-jersey sporting children hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
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“Clearly, I’ve my ideas and speaking to the teaching employees we are able to definitely envision for our staff, however we additionally don’t need to be close-minded,” mentioned Rajaković. “Each single follow, each single dialog, every little thing we see on the ground, we’re gonna break down. We’re gonna be studying as a lot as gamers.”
The Raptors completed .500 final yr at 41-41, ending the common season in ninth earlier than shedding the play-in recreation to Chicago.
Their eFG (efficient area objective share) was third lowest within the league at 51.7, with their opponent eFG even worse at a 56.5.
Their three-point share was off-target in all places besides the nearer nook threes, the place they really ranked among the many league’s greatest.
However offensively total, it was a wrestle, and the outcome value Nick Nurse his job in April.
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From his pre-camp conversations, and what he’s seen to date, Rajaković feels his staff can rebound.
“All people can change if there’s a willingness to alter. And I believe that our guys at present within the first follow, confirmed, that nice intention. We did a extremely good job of transferring the ball and enjoying a a lot increased tempo within the half courtroom,” he mentioned.
“It’s gonna be a change,” he added of the brand new terminology he’s instituted.
“It’s gonna be a change for them for certain. It’s gonna take a minute. We have to keep on with the method and we have to proceed the grind.”
“He’s a participant’s coach,” mentioned ahead Otto Porter Jr. “He’s all the time asking inquiries to the gamers. He wants suggestions from us; what we see, how we really feel on the market. It’s a staff recreation, and he’s gonna put us in the most effective place to succeed.”
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And if there was an incumbent who might assist, it’s Porter.
The previous third total choose missed most of final yr after having surgical procedure on his left foot, persevering with the lengthy record of maladies which have saved the previous Bulls star from residing as much as his lottery choose standing.
The 6-8 ahead is barely 5 years faraway from his profession peak of 17.5 ppg, however confirmed within the Golden State Warriors 2022 title run that he can nonetheless be an efficient pressure.
“It feels good to be again,” mentioned Porter, who shot over 40 per cent from behind the arc in his final two playoff runs, and has a career-best long-distance share of 48.8.
“After all, having to take care of that final yr, simply attempting to maneuver ahead this yr. Getting again to the place I can play.”
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“He did a extremely good job throughout the summer season with rehab” mentioned Rajaković. “The objective for him is to be prepared for a coaching camp and he went by way of the entire follow day with the staff, in order that’s an awesome signal for us.
“We’re gonna go step-by-step from there. We’re gonna ramp it up by as is we had deliberate and hopefully he’s going to be prepared for the beginning of the season.”
Porter is among the many veterans who Scottie Barnes thinks can assist get them again to their standing as contenders within the East.
“I believe the vets we’ve obtained proper now, you realize, they simply come and convey quite a lot of vitality,” he mentioned. “They’re bringing extra vitality, they’re bringing extra positivity to the state of affairs.
“I really feel like that’s actually simply the distinction between this yr final yr.”
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