How a new coach can restore the Raptors' culture

Imman Adan and Amit Mann discuss changes in approach they would like to see from the Toronto Raptors and their new coach next season. Listen to the full podcast on takeaways from Masai Ujiri's end of season availability on the 'Raptors Over Everything' podcast feed.

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AMIT MANN: Because--

IMMAN ADAN: Yeah!

AMIT MANN: --we didn't really talk about the Raptors biggest flaw this season was offense, right, halfcourt offense. Defense was a problem, but then they get Jakob Poeltl, they're fifth in defensive rating. But they're fifth in defensive rating when they got Jak, so he helped. They need a rim protector, they've got a rim protector. Things went better.

Nick Nurse, he was known, obviously, as an offensive coach I guess heading into the Raptors organization. He became more of a defensive guru. And to his credit, there are teams in the playoffs right now that are using his tactics.

IMMAN ADAN: Yep.

AMIT MANN: So he is still a very good coach, but offensively, I think there's a lot of room for growth within the Raptors organization, their style of play. And I think they have to prioritize that a little bit. Defense is a lot about just about will, intent, and a little bit of want to sometimes. Look at the Kings right now. And, but, offense, you do need to be a bit more tactical.

You got to be able to strategize. And Masai did say that shooting is going to be a priority, to add that. I'm sure Nick would say the same thing, that would help me, too. But you do need a robust, a plethora of ways in which you can attack teams.

And the Raptors have talented players, along with some tweaks in the margins, but there are ways that they should be able to expose other teams in more ways than they are right now, because it's a lot of isolation, there's no tempo to their offense, no pace. And if you don't have those, you don't have a good offense.

IMMAN ADAN: Right.

AMIT MANN: And I don't think they really do.

IMMAN ADAN: It's just telling how quickly the NBA moves that when the Raptors were completely revamping their offense in 2018, they were implementing Nick Nurse style basketball. And now we're just like, he's an offensive coordinator? The NBA changes so quickly, and offenses change incredibly quickly as well.

And yeah, I completely agree, but I think the defense being the biggest issue for most of the year kind of points to what the biggest issue is, which is culture. And that's something that was talked about quite a bit.

AMIT MANN: Yeah.

IMMAN ADAN: And I think, again, when you, I think that falls your leaders, but I also think that follows falls on your coaching staff, as well. And so it looks like Nick Nurse is taking the blame there, because to Masai's point, he said he didn't enjoy watching this team play, which those are incredibly damning words.

AMIT MANN: Yeah.

IMMAN ADAN: And you have multiple guys who are going to be unrestricted free agents this offseason. And you had a coach. And it seems like there had to be changes made, because it just doesn't make sense to bring this team together when you can admit you do not enjoy watching this team play.

I did not enjoy watching this team play for so much. But then there were moments, there were moments. And I keep going to that play in game, that Chicago, the game against Chicago where you watch the team's defense and you were like, oh, they can look like this.

AMIT MANN: Yeah.

IMMAN ADAN: You watch the team's offense when the shots are falling, it's beautiful. And you can see how beautifully this team can play. But how often did we get games like that, at least the first half of that game? And how often did we get games like the Lakers, like that road trip?

AMIT MANN: Take a pick, yeah.

IMMAN ADAN: Yeah, like any game, you know, so, what did you think about those words? And what does this team look like next year if you enjoy watching them play? Like, is it, do we think it's a similar style of basketball? Or do you think it's completely revamped no matter who the coach is? Like, what is this Raptors team look like when it's fun to you?

AMIT MANN: Yeah.

IMMAN ADAN: What are your thoughts on that Masai Ujiri quote?

AMIT MANN: Well, I mean, you mentioned the defense, and you make a sound point that the defense was a problem even before Jakob Poelti, and I think the philosophy in which Nick implements, and I mean, it's controversial, because there are other coaches who also believe that being extremely aggressive in today's NBA is important, because offenses are just too damn good. So you got to throw to first punch.

At the same time, I have always enjoyed, at least throughout this season, I've really watched, enjoyed watching OKC play defense. Because it's movement with purpose. They don't over-commit. They're taking away the paint. They're forcing you into jump shots from certain spots.

They're taking the game to you, but not the same way the Raptors were with their aggression. And when I see like these big holes in their defense, you have your point of attack defenders, they're picking up, guys at half court. Then you got this massive hole around the nail. And then your backline is by the basket. I'm just like, what is going on? Like, this is broken.

IMMAN ADAN: Yeah.

AMIT MANN: This is broken. And I think that's where you probably need to start with when it comes to what kind of style of play we're going to do, is that you have all this wingspan, you have all this length on the roster. Use it in the sense of being more composed. Just be a bit more deliberate with your movements. And also, just not over-committing on defense.

IMMAN ADAN: Yeah.

AMIT MANN: And when you're doing that along with your offense not being great, there is going to be a lack of spirit. Because nothing's going well. Like, literally, nothing's going well at that point. And there was a lot of occasions, especially early in the season, where nothing was going right.

They're getting beat by some teams that weren't that good. They're still, they're playing the starters a lot of minutes. They couldn't keep up. They were breaking down. Fourth quarter comes around, they were up 10, now they're down 20. Like, these things were happening a lot. And it was just eat, sleep, rinse, repeat.

And that Chicago game, your pod with Asad last week or a week before, whatever it was, it kind of just told like, this was the story of the Raptors season, this Bulls game. Right?

IMMAN ADAN: It perfectly encapsulated the season. It was [AUDIO OUT]

AMIT MANN: It's insane.

IMMAN ADAN: Right down to DR quitting.

AMIT MANN: Honestly, honestly. And the fact that we saw that script and none of us were surprised, that's a problem. That shows a lack of adjustments, a lack of tweaks, a lack of just following the trends, following where the NBA is going. And that has to happen.

And if you're doing that, like, the Raptors do have talented players on their team. I think a lot gets solved if you're able to, yeah, just find some different fundamentals with your style.

IMMAN ADAN: I think your point about it sort of being different than the rest, like, I wrote about the Raptors sort of zigging when everybody else zags. But then there comes a moment where you have to recognize, maybe I got to zag a little bit, too. Maybe there's a reason that every team is going in this direction.

And I think I think next year still, if you're looking at what this Raptors team looks like, it's going to be a good defensive team. I think it's still going to be a team that gets stops. This is a team that has to sort of pride itself on defense and be built on defense, because as it stands right now, there's still not enough shooting.

And even if you bring in one other shooter, there still won't be enough shooting. This is a team that as long as you have Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam, honestly, just having those two on the court already is two guys who can't space the floor, and Jakob Poeltl is your center, that's three people in a starting lineup that can't space the floor.

AMIT MANN: That's got to be talked about, that's got to be talked about. That's a problem.

IMMAN ADAN: You lack shooting. And so, no matter what this team looks like, as long as they're sort of like the core sticks together, it's going to be a team that lacks shooting, so you have to sort of be built on the defensive end.

And something that Nick Nurse, I mean, we started to see a lot more, especially with Jakob Poeltl, because you need to have a big who can, you need to have a big who can roll and can set screens. I think just implementing some easy offense. Pick and roll.

Like, you have Malachi Flynn, who is apparently this like stellar pick and roll guy. Why don't we ever see it? I know that there's nobody really on the bench that can be a good roller, but like, maybe working Christian Koloko that way. Maybe try to get some more reps in for Precious Achiuwa.

Like, develop, like, there's just, there's just got to be an easier way to do everything. Everything cannot be this laborious for this Raptors team. And I think that that's what it comes down to.