TITLE: Rajakovic Leads Resurgent Raptors Toward Playoffs; Updates on Smith, McBride, Liddell
SLUG: rajakovic-raptors-playoff-push-smith-mcbride-liddell
CONTENT:
Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic is on the brink of his first postseason appearance, steering the Raptors to a 44-win campaign after last year’s 30-win finish. With three regular-season games remaining, the club sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of both Philadelphia and Orlando and 1.5 games clear of Charlotte.
The Raptors have climbed from 25th to sixth in defensive rating over the past 12 months. “This is what you sign up for,” Rajakovic said. “To fight for the playoffs, to fight for seeding, it’s all very, very meaningful.”
Reserve center Sandro Mamukelashvili credited the coach’s open-door policy for strengthening locker-room bonds. “A lot of head coaches are unapproachable. His office is always open, and that helps you in the long run,” Mamukelashvili noted.
Around the Atlantic
Brooklyn Nets: Guard Malachi Smith secured a two-year contract after a series of short-term deals and injury setbacks. “I know I can do this,” Smith said. “I just have to be healthy to play.”
New York Knicks: Backup guard Miles McBride briefly aggravated the core muscle injury that sidelined him for an extended stretch. He called the flare-up a normal part of the recovery timeline and is proceeding cautiously to be fully ready for the playoffs.
Brooklyn Nets: Forward E.J. Liddell, 25, recorded a career-best 21 points in Tuesday’s victory over Milwaukee, his second start of the season. The win nudged Brooklyn away from the league’s third-worst record, narrowing its lottery odds; Utah and Sacramento now sit just a half-game behind. The Nets have three contests left, including one against the 18-61 Pacers, while the Kings face Portland and Golden State in their final two games.
Source: Hoops Rumors
