The Toronto Raptors will have huge adjustments to make in the 2019-20 season following the departure of Kawhi Leonard, but head coach Nick Nurse already has a plan in mind.
Nurse said that the Raptors will be relying on ball movement, which was a key factor during their title run last season. The second-year head coach also pointed out that they will also be aggressive on the defensive end of the floor in their upcoming title defense.
“I preach ball movement,” Nurse said via Mike Johnston of Sportsnet. “I think the assisted basket is still our goal. It’s really the only thing that stands up in the playoffs. I think aggressive defense, I think playing a lot of people throughout the regular season, changing defenses, being really good late game.”
The 51-year-old coach admitted that Leonard will be a huge loss for the Raptors, considering the fact that he made a lot of huge baskets for them last campaign. Leonard was Toronto's leading scorer in 2018-19, posting 26.6 points on top of 7.3 rebounds per game.
However, Leonard decided to leave the reigning champions and went back home to Southern California to join the Los Angeles Clippers.
Nurse said some of his players will have to expand their roles in the upcoming season. He strongly believes that he has players who are very capable of making a big leap and fill the void left by Leonard on both ends of the floor.
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