NBA
Why did Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic criticize the referee team in the Lakers post-game press conference?
The Serbian coach, who took over the Toronto NBA franchise at the start of the season, was furious after his team’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers 132:131.
The Toronto Raptors faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in a closely contested basketball game. However, the Raptors were without their starting center, Yaka Purle, who was sidelined indefinitely due to a left ankle sprain. This left a void in Toronto’s defensive lineup, especially against the Lakers’ formidable frontcourt.
The game was a back-and-forth exchange, with both teams trading blows in the first half. RJ Barrett played with tenacity, finishing the game with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, and kept the Raptors within striking distance. Immanuel Quickley took charge in the third quarter, scoring 11 of his 21 points and displaying his sharpshooting ability with 4 made 3Ps.
Despite missing crucial free throws, the Raptors showed resilience and adaptability. Thaddeus Young stepped into Purle’s role and delivered a commendable performance at 35, embodying the team’s “next man mentality.”
The Raptors’ new additions continued integrating seamlessly into the team’s system. Scotty Barnes, Pascal Siakam, and the dynamic duo of IQ and RJ showed their collective prowess, keeping the Raptors competitive throughout the game. Barnes emerged as a force in the fourth quarter, contributing 11 crucial points, with a team-high 26 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Despite the Raptors’ valiant efforts, Anthony Davis was a formidable challenge for Toronto’s depleted frontcourt. Davis finished the game with an impressive stat line of 41 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, including 13 made free throws.
Rajakovic’s rant
After the game, the main topic of discussion was the free throw discrepancy and the missed calls. Darko Rajaković expressed his frustration with the perceived bias and hinted at potential fines for his post-game remarks. The Serbian coach was annoyed by the referees, who awarded as many as 23 free throws to the Lakers in the last quarter while his team only got two. Rajaković gave a monologue in which he lashed out at the referees.
That’s outrageous. What happened tonight, this is completely BS, this is shame. Shame for the referees, shame for the league to allow this. 23 free throws for them, and we get two free throws in the 4th quarter? How to play the game? I understand, [I have] respect for all stars [in the league], but we have star players on our team as well,...How is it possible that Scottie Barnes, who’s an All-Star caliber player in this league, he goes every single time to the rim with force, trying to get to the rim without flopping and without trying to get foul calls, he gets two free throws for the whole game. How is that possible? How are you going to explain that to me? They had to win tonight? If that’s the case, just let us know - we won’t show up for the game. Just give them the win... What’s happening over here in this season, I’ve been holding back. It’s a complete crap.
It’s happening a lot, but I’m telling our guys - be professional, keep fighting, keep going for the next one. But until when? For how long?
While the focus may shift to the contentious officiating, the Raptors displayed their offensive capabilities and depth. Key contributions from Barrett, Quickly, and the newly acquired players highlighted the team’s evolving identity.