Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is aware that his team doesn't have a big star in the MVP race. Nevertheless, he's proud of his team and knows that they're the best in what they do.
Per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports, Nurse pointed out what makes his team special. According to him, the quintet of Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, and Pascal Siakam belong to a “pretty special” category. The likes of Norman Powell and OG Anunoby, too, add another interesting layer to the Raptors squad.
Nick Nurse: "There's a lot of special guys on this team. There might not be anybody that's in the MVP conversation, but I'd put Kyle and Fred and Marc and Serge and Pascal into a category that's pretty special." pic.twitter.com/rxW3o8MQna
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) July 27, 2020
The Raptors are now the longest-reigning champions in NBA history. They are set to defend the title in the NBA bubble. Analysts thought that when Kawhi Leonard bolted in the summer, the Raptors would be out of title contention and scale down into a mid-tier team.
After all, it was Leonard who made the big plays during their title run. Many thought that Siakam would need a couple more years to develop into a star. But as it turned out, the Raptors still have their championship mettle well-intact. They currently sport a 46-18 record for second in the East. Siakam didn't need a year or two to beef up his game. The Cameroonian is averaging 23.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists — all of which are career-highs.
Analysts have favored the Los Angeles Lakers, the LA Clippers, or the Milwaukee Bucks to win it all this year. But all of them are aware that the Raptors, too, are very capable of mounting back-to-back title wins. They have the players and they have the coach to lead the way.
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