After taking home the 2019 NBA championship, former Coach of the Year Nick Nurse knows what a winning effort looks like. Even without Kawahi Leonard last postseason, the Raptors fought until the very end against the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs, as the Celtics won the series 4-3.

However, Nurse believes that the Raptors have not been giving it their all on the defensive end, which may prove to be costly not only in today's matchup against the Miami Heat but also for the rest of the season.

Nurse reflected on the Raptor's defense, emphasizing that it is difficult to understand why these defensive slumps occur after playing a stretch of terrific defense, via Eric Koreen of The Athletic:

If the Raptors want to make it to the playoffs this season, revamping their defense will be their main priority. They are not the team they used to be, as players such as Leonard, Marc Gasol, and Danny Green are no longer on the team to help give them the defensive energy that Nurse saw in previous seasons.

Regardless, Nurse expects the Raptors to give it their all on the defensive end, as leaders such as Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam have to step up and lead the charge in order to get the Raptors out of the hole in which they have dug themselves. Sitting towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Raptors will need to figure out how to solve their defensive problems as soon as possible if they want a shot at the playoffs this season, preferably today in the game against Miami.