Nurse ‘going to war’ against NBA officials
Leonard, Raptors say it is important to know their coach, who was fined, has their back
The NBA may not have liked hearing Raptors coach Nick Nurse tear a strip off the game officials after a recent loss, but his players appreciate the support.
Nurse made his displeasure known to the crew as they left the court following Sunday’s 95-86 road loss to the Nuggets, and didn’t hold back with the media in the aftermath — in particular over the low number of calls when Denver defenders aggressively double-teamed Raptor Kawhi Leonard.
“Tonight was a very severe case of a guy who was playing great, taking it to the rim and just absolutely getting held, grabbed, poked, slapped, hit and everything,” Nurse told reporters in Denver, “and they refused to call any of it. It was unbelievable to me. You can’t tell me one of the best players in the league takes a hundred hits in that game and shoots four free throws (all made).
“It’s ridiculous,” Nurse continued. “The guy is one of the best players in the league. He doesn’t complain. They just turn their head and go the other way. It’s been going on all year.”
The Raptors coach was fined $15,000 (U.S.) on Tuesday for “public criticism of the officiating.” It wasn’t the first time Nurse had voiced his thoughts on the subject, but it was the most adamant he has been that Leonard deserves more time at the free-throw line.
The 27-year-old Leonard, in his first
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season as a Raptor, is shooting 85.9 per cent from the line and averaging 6.8 free-throw attempts per game — the second-most of his eight-year NBA career, after averaging 7.2 attempts two seasons ago with the San Antonio Spurs.
Leonard, twice voted the NBA’s defensive player of the year, was more reserved in his assessment on Sunday, saying he prides himself on getting on with the next play despite “very physical” opposition.
Two days later, he added that it’s important to know Nurse has his back.
“He can see the game,” Leonard said.
“We’re playing it and we might see it a certain way, and we always feel like we’re right on the floor, but when you have your coach watching it and see the same thing you’re feeling, then it’s great.”
Nurse was reluctant to revisit the subject on Tuesday, hours before the league fine was announced, but reiterated that he has seen non-calls as a persistent problem through 32 games.
“I just thought it was time to do it,” he said. “I’m gonna back my players. I don’t mind physicality in the least — I don’t mind it in the least, both ends of the floor.”
Raptor C.J. Miles wasn’t in the room for Nurse’s outburst, but read about it later.
“Him going to war for you is big,” the 14-year league veteran said on the eve of a visit by the Indiana Pacers.
“There’s a lot of stuff, obviously, we can’t really say and he’s not supposed to say either, but sometimes somebody’s got to step out there. For your coach to do it first definitely lets you know he’s in the ring with you.”
Miles played seven seasons with the Utah Jazz, six in the Jerry Sloan era. Sloan was a tenacious coach who twice served suspensions for pushing referees during his decades-long career.
Nurse is no Sloan in that regard, but Miles says a coach’s clear-cut support can translate on the court: “I played for Jerry Sloan and he talked to the referees in a way — I don’t know how to put it, but definitely they hear you.”
Whether or not Nurse’s words have any effect come game time remains to be seen. Leonard will draw heavy attention again on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena against the surging Pacers.
“Sometimes somebody’s got to step out there. For your coach to do it first definitely lets you know he’s in the ring with you.” C.J. MILES RAPTOR