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Toronto Raptors: Five things to watch for during summer league

By Mike Bossetti

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Pascal Siakam #43 and Alfonzo McKinnie #34 of the Toronto Raptors wait for a rebound during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 13, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Pascal Siakam #43 and Alfonzo McKinnie #34 of the Toronto Raptors wait for a rebound during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 13, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 26: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors listens to assistant coaches Rex Kalamian and Nick Nurse against the Portland Trail Blazers during NBA game action at Air Canada Centre on February 26, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 26: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors listens to assistant coaches Rex Kalamian and Nick Nurse against the Portland Trail Blazers during NBA game action at Air Canada Centre on February 26, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Nick Nurse’s offensive and defensive schemes

If you watched any of Nick Nurse’s opening press conference, you likely heard him mention his desire to “experiment” and “try different approaches” approximately 5-50 times. What better place to try something new than in Las Vegas Summer League.

Nurse will be coaching the team himself, something not done by all NBA coaches (but most freshly hired ones), and for the first time we will get the chance at a glimpse of what Toronto might do differently this season.

During his press conference, Nurse specifically mentioned his desire to modernize the team on defense. Will Toronto switch more this summer? Will they hedge-hard and bring a third defender? While there might be an expectation of changes we expect to see under Nurse, watching the team in Summer League will help bring clarity to what is still a somewhat blurry photo.

Offensively, Nurse is also expected to bring changes to modernize the Raptors as well. It has been widely assumed that the Raptors’ offense will look similar to the teams Nurse coached at the G-League, but a lot has changed since that time and the style he played in 2013 is the norm, rather than innovative. During the Summer League we will have an idea if Nurse evolved along with the league or if he will play a more traditional style.

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