Nick Nurse blasts ‘unacceptable’ loss to Grizzlies

His team already led by 22 points (57-79) in the middle of the third quarter, OG Anunoby thought to blow a wind of revolt by dunking the baseline despite the fault. Except that once his free throw was converted, the Grizzlies restarted at full speed and Ja Morant sent Ziaire Williams to the “alley-oop”…

” This kind of action can happen. Once every seven years maybe », quips Nick Nursebefore continuing: “SSeriously, we have to be focused and serious to play harder. That’s not what his team did last night, eventually losing to the Grizzlies after trailing the entire game.

” I don’t know if the game developed tonight gives me a lot of optimism. This is quite unacceptable in relation to the effort we have made. I believe that all the balloons lying around were in their favor. I’m not talking about balls that can tip to one side or the other (“the ’50-50 balls’ “), but of those that we had a huge chance of recovering “, annoys the coach of the Raptors whose team has however lost only eight balls in the game, against approximately the double side Grizzlies (15).

The technician deplores a lack of general effort and the fact of not having been able to respond to the physical dimension imposed opposite. He also notes that this is the second night in a row where the opposing pivot makes its law in the racket of the Raptors. Two days ago, Ivica Zubac had 23 points and 16 rebounds, including 10 offensive. Last night, Steven Adams recorded 14 points and 17 rebounds including 8 offensive catches.

“They should get tired of all this pretty quickly”

His Raptors also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, like the Grizzlies, but Nick Nurse points to an “identity” problem. “. ” For example, when we push a ball away, we are the first on the field to recover it, it is our identity. We were far from that tonight. My first concern is therefore to look for something else, to allow us to produce instinctive efforts in the game again. »

Efforts are needed for the Canadians whose record fell into the negative in mid-December, with a series of eight defeats in their last ten games. Toronto will have to feed on the energy of Scotiabank Arena, where the Raptors play seven of their next eight games, to revive. Provided that their defense responds…

” Our biggest concern in defense is that we play in transition defense far too often. They attack us after a missed shot or a lost ball far too often. We cannot be constantly in this mode. Our lack of points scored and exterior address is putting our defense in big trouble. We can manage it, but not again, again, again and again… and be constantly on alert defensively. This defense must be installed “says Nick Nurse.

Before the reception of the Suns next night, the coach seems to be convinced: “(His Raptors) should get tired of it all pretty quickly and start playing. »