Raptors coach Nick Nurse flush with optimism as NBA nears return

The characteristics that made this Raptors roster unique — how the players interact with each other, their professionalism, how they react to trying circumstances and difficult times, their level of genuine appreciation for each other — have not dissipated despite being apart for nearly four months.

And it has given coach Nick Nurse reason for optimism as the return of the NBA draws near and some semblance of sports normalcy comes back.

“I just think you have a bunch of guys who have a high care factor,” Nurse said on a Tuesday conference call from Florida. “They love to play, they are guys that are concerned about getting better individually, about their own careers, and it just seems like…