It’s a tribute from one coach to another. From a friend. While the NBA, the Warriors and Serbian basketball are in mourning following the death of Dejan Milojevic, victim of a heart attack at the age of 46, Darko Rajakovic paid tribute to the Golden State assistant by starting the game against the Heat with a system that he had stolen from the latter.
“I told my guys I loved them” explained a Darko Rajakovic very emotional about his speech to his players before the meeting. “Our first system of the match was an ATO (“After Time Out”, a time-out exit system) that Deki (Dejan Milojevic), my friend, had in his repertoire. He was the one who taught me this system. That’s what he brought to the NBA, to Golden State. I stole this system from him. It was our first action of the match, and it allowed us to score. I dedicate this victory to our team and to Deki. »
The system in question? Scottie Barnes thus comes to fix the Heat's defense at the low post, Bam Adebayo having to help Kyle Lowry. As Nikola Jovic did not follow Gary Trent Jr, that makes three “fixed” defenders.
The Raptors probably did not expect to mobilize three defenders in this way, while Jontay Porter and RJ Barrett cut together in the paint, just to block Miami's defense under the circle.
This is the “vacuum cleaner principle”, which we find in Boston but also in many NBA teams. The two outside shooters of the major five, Immanuel Quickley and Gary Trent Jr. took the opportunity to slide behind the 3-point line, the second being able to be served after a relay from Jontay Porter in the paint.
Result: the first basket of the match for the Raptors and for Gary Trent Jr, author of 28 points at 10/13 shooting, including 8/9 behind the 3-point line. And a successful tribute to Dejan Milojevic.
