Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse says their load management strategy on superstar Kawhi Leonard last season prepared the team for life without him.
Leonard missed 22 games last season for the Raptors, who went 17-5 without their best player in 2018-19.
Nurse is obviously going to miss Leonard, but he believes the Raptors aren't going to be shell-shocked playing basketball without the now Los Angeles Clippers star.
“Obviously he’s one of the world’s great players. I think any team would miss him,” Nurse said, via the National Post. “We played so many games without him a year ago that we’re kind of used to just going out and playing anyway. (Leonard’s) a big body defender and when he really locks in he can impact the game on defense, but I think (Pascal Siakam) and (OG Anunoby) and Norman Powell fill that role a little bit.
“And there’s also probably 20 shots a game we need to spread around a little bit (to replace Leonard’s shot attempts). Again (Fred) VanVleet’s role is expanding, Siakam’s role is expanding, Powell’s role is expanding, (Kyle) Lowry and (Marc) Gasol were fairly low usage guys last year because that was last year’s team, but they’re certainly capable of being higher usage and I imagine that will be the case.”
The Raptors should be able to compete in the Eastern Conference this season with Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby leading the charge.
Plus, it looks like Nurse is looking forward to the challenge of coaching a team full of hungry players, who all want to prove to everyone the Raptors weren't just all about Leonard last season.
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