Despite their rollercoaster of a season, Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse said tanking is definitely out of the picture. Wins have been few and far between for the 2019 champions this season but they did manage to snap their four-game losing skid with a blowout win over the Golden State Warriors last Saturday.
Nurse was quick to dismiss the notion that his team was purposely dropping games to gain an advantage for the 2021 NBA Draft and their 130-77 win over the Warriors was a clear response (via Aaron Rose of SI Now).
"I don't like it." – Nick Nurse on "tanking"
— 𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 (@AaronBenRose) April 4, 2021
The Raptors have been caught in between the whole COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced them to play their home games in Tampa Bay, Florida all season. Playing far away from home for an entire campaign has taken its toll on the squad. The Raptors are at the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference with a dismal 19-30 record. Still, Nurse is confident they can turn things around quickly and squeeze into the NBA Playoffs.
"We're still playing to win and we're still playing to make the playoffs." – Nick Nurse
— 𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 (@AaronBenRose) April 4, 2021
Just like last season, a play-in tournament involving the seventh to 10th seeds per conference will be held at the end of the regular season to determine who completes the final two spots in the NBA Playoffs. Clearly, Nurse wants the Raptors to get that prize.
The Raptors haven't found the much-needed consistency all season long with key players missing a long stretch of games due to COVID-19 protocols, including Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam. The team decided to make some changes in the trade deadline, dealing away Norman Powell to the Portland Trail Blazers for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood. They will next face the Washington Wizards on Monday.
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