Newark has the arena and makes travel easier.
Report: Raptors look into playing next season in Newark. Or Nashville. Or Tampa Bay. — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
“The Toronto Raptors take these issues very seriously, and we will fully cooperate and support the League.”
Toronto says it will cooperate with league on Terence Davis probe — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
NEW YORK — Toronto Raptors rookie Terence Davis was arrested in New York on charges of assaulting a woman and criminal mischief, police said Wednesday.
Raptors rookie Terence Davis charged with assaulting woman in NYC — The Denver Post
Could Fred VanVleet, Montrezl Harrell, and Joe Harris be on the move?
Ten most interesting players to watch in NBA free agency — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)–State Senator Tim Kennedy wants to bring professional basketball, albeit temporarily. Kennedy sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri Suggesting KeyBank Center as a home for the Raptors if the US Candian border remains close. You might remember, cross-border restrictions forced the Blue Jays to move […]
Senator Tim Kennedy wants to host the Raptors at KeyBank Center if border remains closed — News 4 Buffalo
The Pacers front office wanted a more modern-style coach, it seems they found their man.
Nate Bjorkgren promises ‘very disruptive, very aggressive style’ in Indiana — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
The Toronto Raptors will be sporting some new looks when the next NBA season gets underway. The team announced three new uniforms Thursday morning and teased two more in a slick highlight video on social media. The video asks fans “Which North are you?” and ends with Kyle Lowry wearing the red “Icon” edition, Pascal […]
Toronto Raptors unveil three new uniforms, tease two more – Sportsnet.ca — PressNewsAgency
RAPTORS SIGN NURSE TO CONTRACT EXTENSION
The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have signed head coach Nick Nurse to a multi-year contract extension. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. This past season, Nurse guided the Raptors to a 53-19 record during the regular season (second best in the NBA) and set a franchise-record with a .736 winning percentage. Toronto also reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the fifth straight year.
“Our confidence in Nick just continues to grow, and part of that comes from what we’ve experienced together. The past two seasons have been unlike any other in our team’s history – first, winning our championship, and then navigating a global pandemic and committing long-term to the fight against racism and for social justice,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said. “Nick has proved that he can coach on the court and lead in life, and we’re looking forward to accomplishing great things in the future.”
In his two seasons at the helm of the Raptors, Nurse has posted a 111-43 record (.721) during the regular season. In the playoffs, he has compiled a 23-12 mark (.657), while leading Toronto to its first NBA Championship in 2019. Nurse has earned Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honours three times (Jan. 2020, Oct./Nov. 2019, Nov. 2018) and coached Team Giannis at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago.
“My family and I will always be appreciative of Larry Tanenbaum and MLSE ownership for this opportunity. I’m grateful to Masai, Bobby, and the players for their trust and their hard work,” Nurse said. “Toronto has been my home for the past seven years, and I look forward to it being home for many more. I’ve watched this franchise grow and reach the pinnacle, and I look forward to the challenge of helping us win another championship.”
Nurse was named the 2019-20 NBA Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach to be selected as Coach of the Year in both the NBA and the NBA G League. Highlighting Toronto’s season last year was a franchise-record 15 straight victories (Jan. 15 – Feb. 10). The winning streak was the longest in Canadian sports history (NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS and CFL).
In 2018-19, the Raptors won 58 regular season games and set franchise records for points per game (114.4), assists per game (25.4), rebounds per game (45.2), and three-point field goals made (1,105). The team went 16-8 in the postseason, defeating Orlando, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Golden State en route to the Raptors’ first NBA title.
A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Nurse was named the ninth head coach in Raptors history on June 14, 2018, taking the job after five years as an assistant coach with the team.
Nurse came to the NBA after several successful years in the NBA G League – where he was the only coach to lead two different teams to the league championship – Rio Grande Valley in 2013 and Iowa in 2011. For his accomplishments with the Energy, Nurse was named the 2010-11 recipient of the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year award.
-RAPTORS-
Following a hard-fought Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics that ended the Toronto Raptors‘ postseason in the second round, Kyle Lowry spoke candidly his team’s nearly 15-month run as defending NBA champions. “I enjoyed this year. The emergence of Pascal (Siakam). The emergence of Freddy (VanVleet). Just being around these guys, these young guys,” […]
Lowry reflects on memorable Raptors season: ‘I enjoyed this year’ — Portal4News
Following a hard-fought Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics that ended the Toronto Raptors‘ postseason in the second round, Kyle Lowry spoke candidly his team’s nearly 15-month run as defending NBA champions.
“I enjoyed this year. The emergence of Pascal (Siakam). The emergence of Freddy (VanVleet). Just being around these guys, these young guys,” Lowry told reporters moments after the 92-87 defeat. “Now we got a couple free agents, I’m going to be really happy for these guys that’s going out into free agency and going to get paid.”
The Raptors’ roster could look considerably different entering the 2020-21 season, with key rotation pieces VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol all set to hit unrestricted free agency. VanVleet, in particular, is expected to garner significant interest and a hefty payday on the open market.
Though Lowry is disappointed his team is leaving Orlando despite having “more to give,” the floor general expressed bittersweet emotions about finally flying home.
“I get to go see my babies, man. I’ve been going damn near three months without seeing my kids,” Lowry said. “I don’t want to be going home, I really don’t, and I know my kids don’t want me to be home because they want their daddy to win another championship, but I get to go see my babies.”
The All-Star point guard finished his 14th NBA season with averages of 19.4 points, 7.5 assists, and five rebounds across 58 regular-season games. The 34-year-old went on to average 17 points, 5.6 assists, and 6.3 rebounds in 11 postseason contests.
Lowry is under contract with the Raptors through the 2020-21 campaign.Tags:
Sign In Marcus Smart did Marcus Smart things. Again. The Toronto Raptors cut the Boston Celtics’ 10-point lead to two points, taking over momentum and, even more importantly, having the opportunity to tie up the game with 58 seconds left. Toronto’s Pascal Siakam hauled in a defensive rebound after Jayson Tatum’s drive to the rim…
Celtics Notes: Marcus Smart Explains What Happened On Game-Altering Block — NESN.com
Marcus Smart did Marcus Smart things. Again.
The Toronto Raptors cut the Boston Celtics’ 10-point lead to two points, taking over momentum and, even more importantly, having the opportunity to tie up the game with 58 seconds left.
Toronto’s Pascal Siakam hauled in a defensive rebound after Jayson Tatum’s drive to the rim was off the mark. Siakam found teammate Norman Powell, who took the ball the length of the floor, committed to going to his left when he got to half court only to see Smart matching him stride-for-stride.
Smart then did what he always does. He made arguably the most important play of the game, blocking Powell at the rim and saving a game-altering basket. (You can watch the play here.)
He explained what was going through his mind after the Celtics’ claimed the 92-87 win in Game 7, ultimately advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“As soon as Norman caught the ball, instantly I remembered last game where that exact same play came full court and he got the and-1 in the same type of standard where, close game, and it put them up I think three,” Smart said, as seen on NBC Sports Boston’s postgame coverage. “So, when he caught the ball in my mind I’m just telling myself ‘He has to dunk it. I’m not going to give him no foul, I’m just going to meet him up top and see who wins that battle.’
“I bet on myself 100 percent of the time,” Smart continued. “And I’m first team All-Defense for a reason. I believe that wholeheartedly.”
Smart contributed three steals to go along with his one block. He also helped the Celtics defense force 18 turnovers with 12 steals as a team. That specific play, however, was what stuck out in the minds of head coach Brad Stevens and Kemba Walker.
“I thought two best plays of the night were Smart’s block and Tatum’s (offensive) rebound,” Stevens said, per NBC Sports Boston. “Those were both incredible effort plays by two of our best players.
“The hustle, the block, the toughness,” Stevens added of Smart. “He had a couple loose balls, he almost came up with another couple rebounds there towards the end of the game. Yeah, I mean he’s a huge part of our team. He’s a huge part of organization.”
Walker said much of the same.
“That block was, that block was so special. It was unreal,” Walker said. “This is why he’s first team All-Defense. He shows it night in and night out. He made so many huge plays tonight. A lot of the things he does just goes unnoticed. But that kid, he’s special. He’s on a different level on the basketball court.”More:Celtics Wrap: Boston Wins Game 7 Vs. Raptors, Advances To East Finals
Here are some other notes from Friday’s win:
— Of note, the other play Stevens was referencing was Tatum’s offensive rebound after a missed foul shot by Grant Williams. It helped Tatum go back to the free throw line, where he made one of two to give the Celtics a 90-87 lead with 34.9 second left.
— Despite a slow start from Walker, who took just two shots in his first 17 minutes, the point guard finished strong by scoring eight of his 14 points in the fourth.
Stevens was happy to see Walker play well down the stretch, as well as advance to his first conference finals.
“I’m really happy for him. He deserves to experience this,” Stevens said of Walker. “He’s everything that’s good about basketball. He loves the game, he’s a great teammate. He doesn’t care if he gets any of the glory, like he’s just a special guy. Guys like that deserve to play on these stages, for all the marbles and I’m glad he gets to keep doing it.”
— Rookie Grant Williams was forced to play some key minutes down the stretch when center Daniel Theis fouled out. And he did so admirably, playing strong defense on what would have been a game-tying 3-pointer by Toronto’s Fred VanVleet.
“He’s not even a rookie the way he plays, the way he sees the game, the way he comes in the game and brings energy,” Smart said of Williams. “For him to come in the game like that, Game 7, a rookie, to come up with that play, the fact that he was even in the mix to come up with that rebound was incredible.”
— Celtics’ fans may have had their hearts skip a beat with 9:40 left in the fourth quarter when Jaylen Brown went down with what looked to be a knee injury.
Brown never left the game, explaining that he was able to stay in due to his adrenaline. He admitted he was feeling the injury a bit more after the game.
The Celtics will take the floor next Tuesday for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports ImagesMore NBA:Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart Among Celtics Who React On Twitter After Win
The post Celtics Notes: Marcus Smart Explains What Happened On Game-Altering Block appeared first on NESN.com.
Scott Foster will be manning the whistle on Friday night for Boston-Toronto, and that is certain to mean controversy.
Celtics Get NBA’s ‘Most Hated’ Referee for Game 7 vs. Raptors — Heavy.com
There may not be very many things that NBA fans of different teams can agree on, but one thing that has crystallized during the NBA restart in Orlando, especially in the playoffs, has been the general disdain for referee Scott Foster.
Actually, that goes back well before the advent of the bubble, but since this is the epicenter of the NBA at this point, Foster makes for an ideal bubble villain. And Celtics fans nationally are groaning over the fact that Foster will be on the floor as one of the referees for Friday’s Eastern Conference semifinal Game 7 against the Raptors.
FWIW, I don’t think Scott Foster favors Boston nor Toronto. What I do think is that his presence in a Game 7 gives the losing side a built-in gripe. He’s going to make some sort of controversial call at some point, and probably more than one.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 11, 2020
Scott Foster in a Celtics game 7? Might as well bet your life savings on the Raptors because you know Foster did too
— Barrett Fitzgerald (@barrettfitz) September 11, 2020
Last week, Foster was on the floor for the Thunder-Rockets Game 7, which featured Chris Paul—a player Foster appears to have a personal beef with going back years. Foster made the unusual step in that game of whistling Paul for a delay of game—he was tying his shoe—that gave the Rockets a free throw. Paul also claimed that Foster reminded him before the game that he reffed the Game 7 in 2008, when Paul’s Hornets lost to the Spurs.
“That s*** don’t make no sense,” Paul said. “But I don’t know. That’s crazy. He just – I don’t know. We could’ve won the game, but that situation – the league knows. Yeah. They’re going to fine me. I said his name. Yeah. We already know the history.”
Thunder guard Chris Paul says referee Scott Foster made a point to tell him before the Game 7 loss to the Thunder tonight that he also reffed his Game 7 loss to the Spurs in 2008 when CP was with the Hornets.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 3, 2020
It’s not that Foster has a long negative history against either the Celtics or the Raptors. In fact, when the Raptors have had games with Foster and crewmate Zach Zarba, they were 10-0 in the regular season and 2-1 in the playoffs. The Celtics under the same circumstances were 4-2 in the regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs, according to Raptors beat writer Kevin Rashidi.
Officials for Raptors-Celtics Game 7 are Scott Foster, Zach Zarba, and David Guthrie. Raptors were a combined 10-0 during the season with Foster and Zarba, 2-1 in playoffs. Celtics 4-2 during season, 3-0 in playoffs.
— Kevin Rashidi (@KevinRashidi) September 11, 2020
Point is, Foster has gained a reputation as the most hated referee in the NBA because of his quick trigger with technical fouls and his tendency to make the final minutes of important games more about the referees than the players on the floor.
Four years ago, the Los Angeles Times surveyed NBA players and coaches for their thoughts on the best and worst referees in the game. Foster was voted the worst by a longshot—he had 24 votes, and the second-worst on the list (Lauren Holtkamp) had 14.
As one anonymous player told the Times, “You can’t talk to him. He’s never wrong. I like refs where they say, ‘You know what, I made a mistake. I saw it at halftime. You were right.’ But Scott Foster thinks he never makes a mistake.”
And you’ll forgive Celtics fans for not exactly having the warm-and-fuzzies when it comes to referees these days. The NBA’s Last 2-Minute Report on the Game 6 loss to the Raptors revealed that those referees missed two calls, both against Boston. That included Kemba Walker’s drive to the rim with 3.5 seconds left in regulation, a play that saw Walker get hammered without getting a foul call.
If Walker got the foul call, the Celtics likely would have won.
The NBA’s Last 2 Minute Report says two crucial calls were missed in last night’s 2OT thriller between the Celtics and Raptors, both against Boston.
The first missed call was that OG Anunoby fouled Kemba Walker on the arm on this potential game-winning shot attempt. pic.twitter.com/xUNFOA6QtH
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) September 10, 2020
By Tim Reynolds AP Basketball Writer LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — An exhausting, double-overtime Game 6 had just concluded and neither Boston nor Toronto would leave the floor. Marcus Smart had some things to say to the Raptors. Fred VanVleet had some things to say to the Celtics. The scrum decided nothing — just like the […]
Celtics, Raptors set for Game 7 — Lowell Sun
The view from left field 