TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors looked like they were destined for a major regression in 2020-21, as Nick Nurse couldn’t get his troops to muster the same effort on both sides of the floor as they did in 2019-20. Given the looming COVID-19 pandemic forcing them to relocate to Tampa in addition to the loss of both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka in free agency, it wasn’t unreasonable to assume a downturn is coming.
While the Raptors started the season off on a miserable 2-8 slide that saw them sink to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Nurse has since rallied the troops, winning five of the next six games as he looks to drag Toronto back into the playoff picture.