THE COACH’S PULSE
Darko Rajaković — On 117–101 Loss to Knicks
Rajaković reflects on a strong opening quarter, a costly second-quarter slide, rotational challenges without RJ Barrett, development moments for young players, and the lessons that come from facing a playoff-caliber opponent.
On the Second-Quarter Collapse
“We talked about it before the game — it’s about all four quarters. I thought we opened the game really well. Offensively we moved the ball and played high-level basketball. Brunson caught fire early and was outstanding. In the second quarter, when we went deeper into rotations, we missed shots and layups, and that led to transition points. That’s why we dug a hole there.”
On Young Players Adjusting to New Roles
“It is hard, but that’s the job. It’s a great learning opportunity for all of them, including Chucky or AJ. It’s very important to know exactly what you need to do when you step on the floor. I thought our spirit was great — we competed — but we just played against a better team tonight.”
On Jakob Poeltl’s Condition and Rhythm
“He definitely does not have rhythm right now. He’s not himself yet. Hopefully these next couple of days allow him and the team to bounce back and recover. With practice coming, we’re hoping to build some momentum out of this break.”
On Restoring Rhythm for the Supporting Cast
“I think we moved the ball well — we had 28 assists. It’s not about touches. It’s rhythm in transition, rhythm in decision-making. Yak being alone in transition and trying to pass — that’s not him. The only way through that is work and playing through mistakes. He’ll get back to being himself.”
On Learning From the Environment & Opponent
“There are great lessons here. Motivation is not enough to win games like this — you must be disciplined and execute the game plan. That’s why I wish we could play this team again in two days to continue improving. Playoff basketball is beating the same team four times. There’s a lot for us to take from this.”
Pulse Takeaway
Toronto opened strong but a costly second quarter — fueled by missed interior chances and New York’s transition push — proved decisive. With RJ Barrett still out, Rajaković emphasized the developmental window for the Raptors’ young rotation pieces and reiterated that discipline, execution, and full-48 urgency remain the next steps for a group still searching for rhythm.
Quotes via Toronto Raptors (YouTube).
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and length.