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Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has opened up about his biggest concern as the NBA restart draws closer. According to the defending champs head coach, his biggest worry lies in the possibility of one of his guys testing positive for the virus.
Nurse explained his issue in a recent interview with David Aldridge of The Athletic:
“I guess I’m more concerned – or, my thoughts keep thinking of – what if there’s a positive test and a guy has to sit out for two weeks?” Nurse said. “You’re trying to get them in shape, and now they gotta go back to doing virtually nothing, and then bring them (back). It’s going to be tricky.”
It's not just the actual virus Nurse is concerned with here — needless to say, the health and well-being of a player that contracts the virus should be everyone's top priority. However, what Nurse is pointing out here is how recovering from the virus and being quarantined afterward will become problematic in terms of the player's game fitness. Getting him back in shape for a potential return — under the assumption that he will actually be allowed to return — is indeed going to pose as a huge dilemma.
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In this respect, Nurse is making sure they have all their bases covered by ensuring that every single player on his team's expanded roster will be prepared for any eventuality.
“One of the first things I said to my team this week, and to my staff especially, is we’ve got to get all 17 guys ready,” Nurse added. “You usually get to the playoffs and you’re talking about eight, seven-and-half (man rotations) sometimes, you’re playing big minutes for guys. I said, we’ve got to get some role for everybody, ’cause we have no idea who we may need to use.”
The Raptors, much like every other NBA team, will be swimming in uncharted waters once the season restarts in the bubble. Many adjustments will need to be made, and while these will by no means be easy, it's simply something that has to be done.
