Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic has had an excellent start to his first playoff experience as an NBA head coach.

He has made adjustments, and they have worked.

The Raptors head to Cleveland with their first-round series against the Cavaliers tied at 2-2 in part because of some of the moves Rajakovic implemented on the fly coming out of halftime in Game 2. 

The Raptors lost the game and fell behind 2-0, putting their season in doubt, but the outlines of their two wins back at Scotiabank Arena showed themselves in the second half.

Raptors return to the playoffs on SportsnetHaving evened up the series 2-2, the Toronto Raptors visit the Cleveland Cavaliers looking to take control. Watch Game 5 Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet .Broadcast schedule

Raptors return to the playoffs on Sportsnet

Having evened up the series 2-2, the Toronto Raptors visit the Cleveland Cavaliers looking to take control. Watch Game 5 Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet .

It was at that point the Raptors began experimenting with their ball-denial strategy against Cavaliers guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, an elevated role for rookie Collin Murray-Boyles as well as shifting some of their defensive assignments to give Scottie Barnes more primary responsibility on Harden.

In the Raptors’ Game 3 blowout victory at home the measures went into full effect with six-foot-seven wing RJ Barrett shifted to cover Cavs centre Jarrett Allen, Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl tasked with guarding Cleveland power forward Evan Mobley and even more emphasis on causing problems for Harden and Mitchell before they even had the ball.

But Rajakovic hasn’t been perfect. There have been mistakes, as well.

For example, at halftime of Game 4, Rajakovic had a rare stumble. The Raptors were leading 38-36 in what was the lowest scoring half of NBA playoff basketball in more than 10 years, and their third-year head coach from Serbia tried to rally the gang that wasn’t shooting straight.

"I told the guys at halftime, ‘It’s awesome … We’re shooting (28 per cent) from the field and 15 per cent........

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