Tag: Toronto Raptors

The NBA Coach of the Year is a Rockstar – and everyone finally knows it — Unbenched Sports

Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors as he wins the 2019-20 NBA Coach of the Year… The last time the Toronto Raptors had a head coach of the year, he got fired in a series of shocking changes in personnel. 2 years later, they have a championship and another coach of the year. This time, […]

The NBA Coach of the Year is a Rockstar – and everyone finally knows it — Unbenched Sports

The last time the Toronto Raptors had a head coach of the year, he got fired in a series of shocking changes in personnel. 2 years later, they have a championship and another coach of the year. This time, he is here to stay. Embed from Getty Imageshttps://embed.gettyimages.com/embed/1164573676?et=S6W6knFGTl53GmtW-JwFMA&tld=com&sig=6OSmlnrw6b0HTcenDtLW7wdrImNmM8PDAW6J9s-60-k=&caption=false&ver=2

Nick Nurse has quite a resume to his career that most people may not know about. After a successful run in his university experience, Nurse decided to take on coaching as a career. For 11 seasons, he coached in the European League. He made his way to the NBA through the G-League, where he had plenty of success, leading the Iowa Energy to the best record in the League as well as obtaining a championship with them, before going on to coach the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The next year, he won a championship with them too (as if he couldn’t be any more awesome). 

Nick Nurse Head Coach of the Iowa Energy is sprayed with champagne as…

Nick Nurse Head Coach of the Iowa Energy is sprayed with champagne as he celebrates their NBA Development League Championship after defeating the Rio Grande Valley Vipers…

He moved into the NBA in July of 2013, working as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors, under Dwane Casey. Although he worked on offense, he became a staple for defense when he became the head coach in 2018.

Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors speaks to the media at a press conference…

 The media has a history of doubting the Raptors. When Kawhi Leonard left the team in the offseason to go home to the LA Clippers, many analysts didn’t even have the Raptors making the playoffs.

Raptors fans are used to being overlooked, and have learned to appreciate what they have. Nick Nurse is a perfect example of this. Initially, Nurse was among the finalists for the COTY award, along with Billy Donovan of the OKC Thunder and Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks before getting the proper recognition in the official vote. Many may have underestimated the Raptors and what Nick Nurse has done for the team. They have the second best record in the league this year, a record that is better than the LA Clippers and Kawhi. They are about to play in the second round after sweeping the Brooklyn Nets and are looking to reach their second championship.

The Toronto Raptors are championship contenders, and they have a powerful force at the wheel: Nick Nurse. Now that everyone knows, it’s time to defend the north.

Tone of Raptors-Celtics matchup changes amid shooting unrest — Lowell Sun

Toronto and Boston have been two of the hottest teams in the playoffs, coming off first-round sweeps of Brooklyn and Philadelphia, respectively, in the first round.

Tone of Raptors-Celtics matchup changes amid shooting unrest — Lowell Sun

Kyle Lowry PROBABLE in Game 1 vs. Celtics; Hayward, Green, Waters OUT — Celtics Wire

The Boston Celtics will likely be without the services of Tremont Waters in Game 1 of their second-round series with the Toronto Raptors, who have upgraded Kyle Lowry to probable.

Kyle Lowry PROBABLE in Game 1 vs. Celtics; Hayward, Green, Waters OUT — Celtics Wire

The Toronto Raptors have officially listed starting point guard Kyle Lowry as probable for Sunday’s Game 1 of their second-round matchup with the Boston Celtics, but the short break created by the Milwaukee Bucks’ protest on Wednesday has actually made the Celtics’ health a little worse.

While it has moved the team a little closer to the dates wings Gordon Hayward and Javonte Green will potentially be available to return to action, both would be seen as extremely unlikely to make it back on the court during the time frame this series is expected to occur within.

In the interim, floor general Tremont Waters has added his name to the injured list with a left knee sprain, per Boston Sports Journal’s Brian Robb, while Lowry has been upgraded from “questionable” after the unexpected rest, according to ESPN’s Andrew Lopez.

Raptors officially list Kyle Lowry (sprained ankle) as questionable for Game 1 against Celtics.

Tremont Waters (left knee sprain) joins Gordon Hayward and Javonte Green as Celtics ruled out for Game 1.

— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) August 29, 2020

Neither Waters nor Green were expected to play significant minutes in this series, even if their loss does ding some of Boston’s relatively thin bench; how Boston will play with Hayward out and Lowry available figures to be a much more critical theme in this series.

And we are less than a day away from finding out how it begins, with tip-off scheduled at 1 p.m. Eastern Time this Sunday, August 30th.

Celtics Injury Report: Gordon Hayward, Javonte Green Out Vs. Raptors — NESN.com

Sign In The Boston Celtics will return to the hardwood on the campus of Walt Disney World on Sunday for Game 1 of their second-round series against the Toronto Raptors. They will, however, be doing so without Gordon Hayward, Javonte Green and Tremont Waters. Hayward (ankle sprain) and Green (right knee surgery) are not surprising…

Celtics Injury Report: Gordon Hayward, Javonte Green Out Vs. Raptors — NESN.com

The Boston Celtics will return to the hardwood on the campus of Walt Disney World on Sunday for Game 1 of their second-round series against the Toronto Raptors.

They will, however, be doing so without Gordon Hayward, Javonte Green and Tremont Waters.

Hayward (ankle sprain) and Green (right knee surgery) are not surprising developments. Waters (left knee sprain) is the lone addition to the injury report. The rookie guard played in just 11 games this season for the Celtics.

#NEBHInjuryReport for Game 1 vs Toronto:

Javonte Green (right knee surgery) – OUT
Gordon Hayward (right ankle sprain) – OUT
Tremont Waters (left knee sprain) – OUT— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 29, 2020

The third-seeded Celtics and second-seeded Raptors will take the floor Sunday after the NBA postponed games Wednesday, Thursday and Friday due to issues of social injustice.

The league will return to play Saturday with three games each day this weekend.More: Celtics Return Sunday vs. Raptors For Game 1 Of Rescheduled NBA Playoff SeriesBoston Celtics

Raps-Celtics game postponed, NBA playoffs are back on after second meeting — Toronto Sun

A little more than 12 hours after they left one Orlando ballroom upset and unable to come to a consensus on the future of the NBA restart, the best basketball players in the world left that same ballroom this time in agreement that the NBA playoffs should resume. Read More

Raps-Celtics game postponed, NBA playoffs are back on after second meeting — Toronto Sun

Original message lost for frustrated NBA players, and maybe the season, too — Toronto Sun

At least one NBA team — and probably more — made the decision on Wednesday that the need for social justice was far more important than a basketball game. Read More

Original message lost for frustrated NBA players, and maybe the season, too — Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors consider boycott after Jacob Blake shooting — PressNewsAgency

Toronto Raptors players are considering a boycott of their upcoming NBA playoff series opener against the Boston Celtics in the wake of another police shooting in USA. The players held a team meeting prior to Tuesday’s practice to discuss their response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot in the back by […]

Toronto Raptors consider boycott after Jacob Blake shooting — PressNewsAgency

Toronto Raptors players are considering a boycott of their upcoming NBA playoff series opener against the Boston Celtics in the wake of another police shooting in USA.

The players held a team meeting prior to Tuesday’s practice to discuss their response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot in the back by police officers Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

“It’s being talked about … taking a knee is not getting it done,” Raptors guard Norman Powell said, per Sportsnet.

Guard Fred VanVleet said many options are on the table.Image:
Raptors guard Norman Powell says taking a knee is ‘not getting it done’

“We knew coming here or not coming here was not going to stop anything, but I think ultimately playing or not playing puts pressure on somebody,” VanVleet said.

“At the end of the day, if we’re gonna sit here and talk about making change, then at some point we’re gonna have to put our (manhood) on the line and actually put something up to lose, rather than just money or visibility.

“I’m just over the media aspect of it. It’s sensationalised, we talk about it everyday, that’s all we see, but it just feels like a big pacifier to me.”

Video shows Blake, trying to get into his van, with an officer pulling Blake’s white T-shirt, then firing several shots at close range into his back. Blake’s father, also named Jacob Blake, told ABC News that he was told his son is paralysed from the waist down after being shot eight times.

Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors
Image:
Raptors guard Fred VanVleet says the players can apply ‘pressure’ with a boycott

“We’re the ones always with the microphones in our face,” VanVleet said.

“We’re the ones always who have to make a stand. But, like, we’re the oppressed ones, and the responsibility falls on us to make a change to stop being oppressed, you know what I’m saying?

“Do we actually give an (expletive) about what’s going on, or is it just cool to wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the backdrop, or wear a T-shirt? Like, what does that really mean? Is it really doing anything?”

Game 1 of the Raptors-Celtics Eastern Conference semi-finals is scheduled to tip off Thursday night in Orlando.



RAPTORS BLOG: Powell’s outstanding season continued as he lit up Brooklyn — Toronto Sun

Toronto made quick work of Brooklyn in the first round for a variety of reasons, but one of them was the best playoff series of Norman Powell’s career. Powell, the second-longest-tenured Raptor after Kyle Lowry, has had a handful of brilliant individual post-season games for the club — some good enough to turn entire series…

RAPTORS BLOG: Powell’s outstanding season continued as he lit up Brooklyn — Toronto Sun

LOWRY HAS SPRAINED ANKLE

LOWRY INJURY UPDATE

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday that guard Kyle Lowry has been diagnosed with a left ankle sprain.

Lowry underwent an MRI on the NBA Campus in Orlando after the injury, which occurred in the first quarter of Sunday evening’s game. His condition will be updated as appropriate.

Lowry averaged 19.4 points, a team-high 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 36.2 minutes in 58 games with the Raptors this season. In six games during the NBA restart at Disney, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.7 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 32.9 minutes.

In the first round of the NBA Playoffs vs. Brooklyn, Lowry posted averages of 12.5 points, 4.8 assists and 7.0 rebounds in 29.9 minutes. He scored in double figures three times, including 21 points in Game 2, and had one double-double against the Nets.

“Heartbroken” Warriors exec apologizes to Toronto Raptors president — Times-Standard

Warriors president Rick Welts has publicly apologized to Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri for the incident that occurred at Oracle Arena after the deciding game of the NBA Finals in June 2019. Ujiri and an arena security officer had an altercation as Ujiri attempted to join the Raptors on the court to celebrate their championship.…

“Heartbroken” Warriors exec apologizes to Toronto Raptors president — Times-Standard

RAPTORS BLOG: The legend of Fred VanVleet continues to grow — Toronto Sun

The legend of Fred VanVleet continues to grow. His struggles at points of last year’s playoffs seem a long, long time ago now. Read More

RAPTORS BLOG: The legend of Fred VanVleet continues to grow — Toronto Sun

The legend of Fred VanVleet continues to grow. His struggles at points of last year’s playoffs seem a long, long time ago now.

– VanVleet is now shooting 42.6% on three-pointers in the playoffs since the start of last year’s run. Incredibly, that includes his low point, 1-for-14 struggles from beyond the arc in the seven game series against Philadelphia.

RAPTORS BLOG: The legend of Fred VanVleet continues to grow

– How scorching is VanVleet right now? Only Stephen Curry and Paul George had hit more threes over the first two games of a playoff series over the last 10 years and VanVleet nailed six more in Game 3.

.@FredVanVleet is just ridiculous pic.twitter.com/MDyUyV1Sru— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) August 21, 2020

– Minnesota and the Los Angeles Clippers are now the only NBA franchises to never go up 3-0. Toronto also improved to 10-10 all-time in the third game of a playoff series.

– Serge Ibaka had his second 13-rebound game off the bench for the Raptors in the playoffs. Only Bismack Biyombo (16) has grabbed more without starting. Ibaka also had his third 20-point or more game off the bench with the Raptors, more than any other player (VanVleet has done it twice).

Ibaka had his fourth playoff double-double as a Raptor, tying Charles Oakley and moving one behind Chris Bosh. Jonas Valanciunas had 17 for the franchise lead.

Chef is feasting – 18p / 12r pic.twitter.com/OXofWcdVqh— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) August 21, 2020

– You have to feel for interim Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn who has done what he can with such an undermanned lineup. Brooklyn lost Joe Harris, adding to the long list of unavailable talent, and looked completely overmatched by the deep Raptors in the third game of the series.

– Brooklyn didn’t even manage to score on two straight possessions until nearly midway through the second quarter. And just when the Nets seemed to have some life — like their late in the half three-pointer — VanVleet had to completely take the wind out of their sales by banking in a ridiculous heave to end the half.

“Overall, when you don’t have all the components of your card, it puts stress on different parts,” Vaughn said.

“It put extra stress on individuals to make plays that they might not have had to make if Joe (Harris) was here.”

– Credit too to Nets big man Jarrett Allen who worked his butt off all game despite not getting to see much of the ball on offence. Allen only took two shots all game (leading to four free throw attempts), but still chased down 17 rebounds. Only Giannis Antetkounmpo, Dwight Howard (three times), Ben Wallace, Marcus Camby and Draymond Green have had more rebounds against the Raptors in the post-season. Each of those guys attempted at least 10 shots in their big rebounding games.

“They pack the paint. They force you to kick it out to guys,” Nets guard Tyler Johnson said of Toronto’s elite protect the paint defence. “They’re usually bringing three or four guys into the paint. We got into a timeout in the third quarter and I looked at J.A. (Jarrett Allen)and told him how unselfish he was being throughout the entire game because a guy of his caliber could easily be frustrated and angry and be more demonstrative about not getting field goal attempts, but the guy continued to screen, continued to get guys open, continued to get offensive boards. You know, you can find yourself just going up and taking shots off of those, (but) he continued to kick it out, continued to make the right basketball play,” Johnson said.

Allen is a very good young player and it’s going to be a shame when politics put him on the bench so that Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving pal DeAndre Jordan, who is no longer close to the player Allen is, gets to be the guy in the middle.

Lowry could have been given a star for his strong outing, just as Ibaka could have gotten one last game. We’re evening things up by going Ibaka for this one.

THREE STARS

1 — Fred VanVleet

2 — Pascal Siakam

3 — Serge Ibaka

Jacque Vaughn addresses Garrett Temple’s frustration with final play of Game 2 — Nets Wire

Even after they lost control in the fourth quarter, the Brooklyn Nets had a chance to force overtime in Game 2.

Jacque Vaughn addresses Garrett Temple’s frustration with final play of Game 2 — Nets Wire

The Brooklyn Nets had a chance to walk out of Wednesday with their first-round series against the reigning NBA champs tied at 1-1. Even after they let the Toronto Raptors take control in the fourth quarter, the Nets had the ball in their hands during what should’ve been the final possession of regulation.

But things got away and Brooklyn wound up losing 104-99.https://widgets.thescore.com/embeds/76b51e6d-83fc-40c5-801c-f21c0cd2c062/B3048BFF2122363045F286D30C5D4F30

After the loss, Brooklyn Nets interim head coach Jacque Vaughn broke down the final possession with reporters over Zoom:

We got the ball in the hands of our shoot. Good defense by Kyle Lowry. The ball was intended for Joe. it got to Joe.

Jacque Vaughn walks us through the @BrooklynNets final offensive possession: pic.twitter.com/FcMhRnEq94

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 19, 2020

The “good defense” by Lowry that Vaughn mentioned forced Harris and Garrett to lose control of the ball as the former tried to hand it off to the latter, leading to the turnover.

Garrett Temple on what could’ve been done differently on the key turnover: “The thing that was done differently is we complete the handoff. That’s all there is to it. I take blame. I’m sure Joe would say the same. It takes two.” #Nets #Raptors

— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) August 19, 2020

Temple was frustrated with the way things broke down after Lowry scored. Given how the Brooklyn wing typically approaches things, Vaughn thinks there may have been something to the complaint, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Garrett is a respectable young man. If he feels he got fouled, we’ll have to take a look at it.