Defense has been the main element that has made the Toronto Raptors one of the top teams in the NBA today. Head coach Nick Nurse commended the veterans for getting the newcomers up to speed on playing the level of defense that he wants the whole team to play.
“You guys heard me complaining about the new guys a lot for the first month of training camp that they just didn’t get that we’re gonna play defence,” said Nurse, per Sportsnet. “And it’s our staff and that’s how we want to play, but it’s also, and I’m pointing to the guys that have been here, these guys don’t want you to be around if you’re not gonna play the right way. And that’s Marc [Gasol] and that’s Kyle [Lowry] and that’s Fred [VanVleet] and that’s OG [Anunoby] and that’s Pascal [Siakam]. The guys that grew through that success and understand it.”
The Raptors have been maintaining an elite level of defense even without Lowry and Serge Ibaka — two critical pillars on the defensive end. From Nurse's observation, the guidance of the veterans enabled newcomers such as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Terence Davis, and Chris Boucher to hold down the fort on defense. Nurse observed that the new guys were diligent in learning their defensive schemes quickly and playing a little harder and smarter during game day itself. As a result, the Raptors are still considered one of the top teams in the NBA today.
Follow Us
Subscribe