TORONTO – Back in October, the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors began their title defence a long way from home. They opened training camp in Tokyo, Japan, where they played the Houston Rockets in a pair of pre-season games. That was nine months – or 290 days – ago, and a lot has happened since then.
Now, as they ramp up preparation to resume the season following a lengthy and unprecedented hiatus, they’ll face the same opponent in another setting that’s unfamiliar to them.
With Toronto and Houston squaring off in a televised scrimmage on Friday evening, the Raptors are about to get their first taste of what basketball will look, feel and sound like for the foreseeable future.
A relatively empty gym. Manufactured crowd noise and imaging. Social distancing on the sidelines and during timeouts. Frequent sanitizing and minimal contact – such as handshakes or high fives – between whistles. No post-game showers.
It’s going to be unusual. However, after being away from the game for most of the COVID-19 pandemic, and then playing against each other in practice almost every day since arriving in the NBA’s Disney bubble a couple weeks ago, Raptors players and coaches are anxious to get back on the court and see a different team at the other end of it.
“I certainly miss it,” said head coach Nick Nurse, who hasn’t coached an official game since Toronto last played on March 9. “But I think it’s such a part of your nature. I always say that [when] the ball goes up your competitive juices kick in. I think there may be a little bit of getting used to that again. But it’s hundreds, thousands of games you’ve been through as a coach in your life, or as a player, and you just kind of fall right back into it pretty quickly.”
“It’s huge that we get to play basketball again and I’m excited,” guard Patrick McCaw said. “It’s a different type of atmosphere, no fans and things like that. The focus is just going to be on us, and just basketball. There’s no distractions or anything like that. Definitely a different dynamic that we’re coming into, but I think we have a great team and guys are ready to play.”
By all accounts, the Raptors’ practices have been spirited. A few players have described them as being “intense.” That shouldn’t come as a surprise given how competitive most professional athletes are and how long it’s been since they’ve had an outlet for that fire. Still, going up against guys on your own team gets old pretty quickly when that’s all you’ve been allowed to do.
“Practice is a little more junked up and physical and the coaches are the worst officials in the world,” guard Fred VanVleet joked. “I don’t know how many times I’ll be [able to say I’m] looking forward to having NBA refs, but I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
The players are amped up, which is something Nurse and the coaching staff will have to be mindful of going into the first of three scrimmage games on Friday, and then over the course of the next few weeks as guys work to get their conditioning back.
Nurse has been asking each of his players to self-monitor and pull themselves out of drills when they feel like they need a breather. That’s easier to do in practice than it is in a game-like environment, once those competitive juices start flowing.
“I only really know how to play one way and it will be the coaches’ job, Nick and the staff, to hold the reins a little bit, pull the reins back,” VanVleet said. “If it’s up to me, I’ll play all 48 [minutes]. So, that’s how I like to play and I don’t really know any other way but to compete at a high level.”
In an effort to help ease everybody back after such a long layoff, the NBA shortened each team’s first scrimmage to 40 minutes. From there, it will be on the coaches – with the assistance of the medical staff – to keep a close eye on players and ensure they’re not doing too much too fast.
Nurse has already indicated that he’ll likely hold out a few of the rotation guys in each scrimmage. Don’t be surprised to see him make quick substitutions and utilize his entire 17-man roster.
“Being real careful, we certainly have to use these scrimmage games as a conditioning tool, a rhythm type thing and an opportunity to get guys out on the floor and see where we’re at,” Nurse said. “I think, especially this first one, will give us a real, true indication of where they’re at conditioning-wise and then we can make any adjustments from there.”
Secondary to getting everybody back up to speed and keeping them healthy, these exhibition contests should be a good opportunity for players to get accustomed to the new surroundings ahead of their Aug. 1 season reopener against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Over the years, most NBA veterans have become quite good at feeding off the energy and the emotion of the fans. Maybe they use the support from the home crowd to give them a boost, or maybe they’re the type of player that is motivated by jeers on the road.
Without fans in the building, they’ll have to go back to their roots. Almost every player came up playing basketball in the park or in empty gyms, and many of them still participate in pro-ams or pick-up games during the summer. They know that games don’t need an audience to be competitive or even get intense.
Norman Powell recalls playing at Municipal Gym in Balboa Park as a high schooler in San Diego. As one of the younger guys, going up against older and more experienced players – including some that had already made it professionally – he would have to wait his turn to get on the court. Once he did, he’d have to keep winning to stay out there. A loss could mean that was his only game of the day.
“When you have that competitive spirit and that competitive nature, it doesn’t matter if you’re in front of 20,000 fans or if you’re at the rec playing pick-up with your friends back home,” said Powell. “If you’re a competitor, you want to win. You can see that even in the practices. We’re simulating game play as much as we can and it’s really competitive. Guys get after guys, they get upset, they don’t want to lose. I think it’s still going to be the same. It’s going to be a highly competitive environment despite the circumstances. These guys want to go out there and win and compete. This is our livelihood that we need to maintain and we’ve got people we need to feed. I don’t think there’s going to be a drop-off in competition leading up to the seeding games.”
“It’s always a great feeling hearing the crowd behind you after a big play or a made shot, I’m not taking anything away from that,” McCaw said. “I’m definitely going to miss the fans being here, but it’s still basketball at the end of the day. You know as a player and as a team what we have to do. As long as we win, that’s the main focus, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
The league’s restart will give the Raptors – who will resume play with the Eastern Conference’s second-best record at 46-18 – a chance to finish what they started. Friday’s scrimmage is another monumental step towards making that happen. That it comes against Houston – who they’ll face for the third time in three countries this season – is a welcomed coincidence.
At 40-24, the Rockets were in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race before the season was put on hold. Famously, they play small – with former Raptor P.J. Tucker as an undersized centre – and shoot a ton of threes.
The Raptors are craving competition, and you know the James Harden and Russell Westbrook-led Rockets will be ready to match it.
“We’re excited,” said Raptors general manager Bobby Webster. “You’ve heard from our guys, they can’t wait to get out there. They always have that chip on their shoulder to continue to prove everyone that doubted them [wrong]. So, I think this is just another great opportunity. Obviously, [there’s] adversity for everybody coming here and having to play here, but for our guys, just being at practice today, they’re ready to go and finally play somebody else.”
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
