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The suspension of games in accordance with the NBA's COVID-19 protocols has been the new normal this season. Teams have been used to sitting out for a few days after a violation gets spotted. A report, however, stating the Toronto Raptors violated the health guidelines didn't sit particularly well with coach Nick Nurse.
In a press conference, Nurse was asked for his thoughts on the report that claimed some members of the Raptors coaching staff did not wear their masks consistently, which resulted in the cancellation of several games in the NBA. But instead of apologizing, Nurse clapped back at the report (via Yahoo! Sports Canada’s William Lou).
“I don’t think anybody would have any idea what they’re talking about, saying that. That is really an unfair, very speculative thing to say unless you have video evidence of it because I don’t think it’s very cool to say that. And I think that us (on the) coaching staff have worked our asses off and abided by the rules as best as possible.”
Nick Nurse pushes back on report that Raptors cases are linked to coaches not wearing masks:
"I don't think anybody would have any idea what they're talking about, saying that. That is unfair, very speculative thing to say." pic.twitter.com/lGFFkzB1QS
— William Lou (@william_lou) March 11, 2021
The Raptors' games against the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons got called off because they couldn't field the required eight players. Prior to those outings, Nurse and five other members of the coaching staff, plus star forward Pascal Siakam missed their game against the Houston Rockets due to the NBA's COVID-19 protocols. Later on, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and two more unnamed players also got sidelined.
Nurse could be referring to the March 3 report by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Many of the positives cases, as expected, are isolated on one team (Toronto). The NBA postponed two Raptors games and the team is returning to action tonight. Sources said the internal spread seems to have arisen from inconsistent mask-wearing from coaching staff members. https://t.co/YkyI58T4wS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 3, 2021
Interestingly, many Raptors fans slammed Charania as well. Several felt that he was being biased in his reports, pointing out the fact that other teams yielded a lot of positive test results and more postponed games.
So you blaming the raptors when basically a lot teams had positive cases too. This probably the nba throwing raptors under bus for this fake season. How is it even fair when you have to play games without your best player at times. It happend to heat boston and now the raptor
— 🌻 (@lucky13e) March 3, 2021
So we just going to pick an arbitrary date and ignore the whole Washington team getting shut down? Fuck you Shams. https://t.co/3Ul7nPjWBj
— Scotticus Barnibus | (∞) (@bhattman22) March 4, 2021
I think @ShamsCharania is the best in the game but there is absolutely no need to shame the @Raptors when many other teams have had positive cases and game cancellations.
May just be the Raps fan in me but feels the Raptors successes get minimized and the faults get maximized. https://t.co/r07QU4IH2r
— Jay Thaya (@JayThaya) March 4, 2021
One fan believes that Charania is mad because he doesn't have any connections inside the Raptors.
Shams is mad he has zero sources on the Raptors https://t.co/CqJL7ouk1J
— Oren Weisfeld (@OrenWeisfeld) March 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/roneeelyn/status/1367250327175585796?s=20
The Raptors are holding on to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference with a 17-19 record.
