Darko Rajakovic and the Raptors Can't say it openly but they obviously did not have a great desire to win in Orlando. Before the match, the coach had already mentioned the fact of “Give opportunities to players who do not usually have a lot of minutes”. Like Ja'kobe Walter for example.
He confirmed his words last quarter. How ? By gradually passing by his holders. The match was tight but Scottie Barnes played there a little more than four minutes, Jakob Poeltl a little less, when Immanuel Quickley only played 137 seconds. Finally, 97 seconds from the term, RJ Barrett joined the bench. “All I could do was laugh”,, launches the former Knicks Faced with the decision of his coach.
Thus, the last minute was played with a five composed of Ja'kobe Walter, Orlando Robinson, Jared Rhoden, AJ Lawson and Jamal Shead. Not really the sexiest or the strongest to snatch the victory in Florida.
Up to his first name
The plan could have worked since, 4 seconds from the buzzer, the Magic was two points ahead. It is Ja'kobe Walter who has the last 3-pt shoot. “He was up to his name, Ja-Kobe”Jamal Shead has fun with obviously reference to Kobe Bryant.
“During the time, I imagined putting myself on my first basket in victory. The coach drew a system for me. I knew we were two points but I was going to play the victory. I shot, I tried to have the fault too, and I managed to put in it ”he says.
The shot is not easy or the most elegant there is, but falls into it and allows Toronto to win this match that the Canadians did not really want … “It is undoubtedly the first basket of the win of my life so I will remember it”concludes the Rookie des Raptors.
And too bad if it keeps Toronto from the top 4 of the next draft…
