It’s all about ‘THIS team’

Raptors coach Nurse says club’s previous post-season results are ancient history

Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse isn’t about to look back at past playoff failures for the organization.

The Raptors, who play host to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, are one win away from closing out a best-of-seven National Basketball Association playoff series in just five games for the first time in franchise history.

But Nurse bristled on Monday when a reporter pointed out that “this team” has had trouble closing out playoff series quickly.

“THIS team doesn’t? Or this organization?” Nurse said. “THIS team, let’s see if they can start their own history. I’m not trying to be rude in any way, I just want this team to form its identity. What’s happened in the past has no bearing or relevance to what’s happening now, to me. I like to steal (longtime baseball manager) Joe Maddon’s line and say we don’t vibrate on those frequencies of the past.”

This team is already dialed into its own frequency.

Sunday’s 107-85 rout of the Magic put Toronto up 3-1 for the first time in franchise history. Led by 2014 NBA finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors shot 53 per cent — a franchise playoff record for a road game.

Nurse and the Raptors were back in Toronto on Monday studying film in advance of Tuesday’s game at Scotiabank Arena.

The key is to keep any sense of complacency at bay. As point guard Kyle Lowry has said so many times in the past, the Raptors will treat Tuesday night as a Game 7.

“Close-out games are probably the hardest ones because the other team has everything to lose. And they are fighting for their lives,” Danny Green said. “We know they don’t want their season to end and the hardest part mentally is not getting too fat and happy or too satisfied because we are up 3-1 and feeling comfortable and being lackadaisical.”

A loss Tuesday would send the series back to Orlando, which the Raptors would like to avoid.

“You’re adding miles, adding stress, whatever it is, to your team,” Nurse said.