Alternate lineups can often come in handy when the situation calls for some innovation. And it’s always best to work such things out before the playoffs begin. Here’s the Toronto Star reporting on Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and possible lineup experiments that we may see once NBA play resumes July 30:
Nurse isn’t going to get into specifics but it’s pretty certain there will be different looks. Even before this portion of training began he was intrigued by a “jumbo” lineup that would include OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol with one of Kyle Lowry or Fred VanVleet. And he’ll toy with tweaks to existing plays, all done with plenty of practice time to get them ingrained into the players.
“We are certainly going to add some things,” he said. “I would say our late-game special situations, we will look at some additions there. A lot of it is just kind of building from what’s there. Doing stuff that looks similar but there’s a counter to it or maybe an addition or maybe moving the pieces around a little bit … Your set looks like something is coming and it changes from what maybe they thought was coming and you get an open look.”
The Raptors were an Eastern conference second-best 47-18 when play was put on hold back in March. They’re the reigning NBA champions. And have no plans to go out without a fight.
