The Raptors reinvented their offense after a memorable offseason press conference in which president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri suggested that change would be coming. As Scott Cacciola of the New York Times, the team’s plan to change it’s mindset without actually changing its roster has actually worked.
With a desire to adapt to the ever-changing NBA landscape, the Raptors charged assistant coach Nick Nurse with the task of modernizing the team’s offense, ushering them from an era of one-and-one play into a new one that rewards ball movement and three-point shooting.
Prior to joining the Raptors, Nurse served as the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a G League team that paced the league in three-point attempts during his time there. Already this season, he’s convinced every Raptor, with the exception of Jakob Poeltl, to hoist a three.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Raptors are making the most out of second-year forward Pascal Siakam‘s rare motor, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star writes. “That’s something that’s kind of small but it’s huge, because a lot of guys can’t run like him and don’t want to run like him and don’t have the desire to run like him, and he does,” head coach Dwane Casey says. “And he focuses on it. He thinks about it. He knows that’s how he can score, is outrun people down the floor.“
- It wasn’t long ago when Jahlil Okafor led the Sixers in scoring. These days the 21-year-old center can’t even get on the court. The trend seems eerily similar to the Nerlens Noel situation from last season, Sarah Todd of The Inquirer writes.
- Despite only operating at 81% capacity, Sixers center Joel Embiid believes he’s the NBA’s best defensive player, Keith Pompey of The Inquirer writes. “Not to be cocky, but I think I’m the best defensive player in the league right now,” Embiid said. “I’m still getting better. My blocks are a little down [compared to last season]. I’m a better rebounder this year.“
maybe the sixers can trade okafor for noel.
That would be hilarious, Okafor for Noel.
I wouldn’t be against it.
I am in the minority and have been, dude was a stud in college, proven scorer in the pros after 1 year. He’s lighter and healthy. Why didn’t they work on a 3 pointer with him or work on triangle offense sets with him? Not picking up his option was dumb. Ruins any trade value. They could have easily turned him into Brook Lopez. 20 and 5 with 3s. That is the slow footed Lopez. And he’s considered a top 30 or so player.
Lopez is not a top 30 player & I think Brett Brown has a good feel for what his players skills are. Easily turn him into a 20 & 5 player? Stick to fantasy basketball.
toolbag, Okafor posted 17.5 and 7 as a rookie. And Lopez I said top 30 or so, depends on where you source your player rankings. SI had him at 38. Don’t be a Twitter poster, this is sports, go do some research before posting.
Evan Turner, Tony Wroten, and Michael Carter-Williams all averaged 17 a game in Philly to.
Certain players were able to pad their stats during those tank years.
The kid got game maybe not for the 76′ s. They need to eat his contract and let him walk. The decision they made will blow up in their faces. By not playing him they can’t expect much via trade.
If he got game,somebody should give something up to get him. Unless the 6ers need that roster spot, they have nothing to gain just eating the contract. We actually have more to lose letting him go sooner, since the Celtics have the exception to pick him up. After the season, we’ll gain cap space.
As far as not playing him, He saw the floor before Embiid ever suited up and Holmes was a 2nd Rd pick in the same draft. Embiid is clearly better,and Holmes worked his way into his minutes, but the opportunity was there for him. It’s not entirely the 6ers fault that his value is as low as it is.
This is more about the business then trade. The 76′ s are trying to get something and other teams are trying to get him for nothing. Why would any team trade for a player the 76′ s don’t want, just wait it out. The kid will have something to prove when the time comes and that time will come. Give the 76′ s nothing! Remember you heard it here and you can go back and read it.