- Title: NBA's Toronto head coach says ready to win big again this season
- Date: 7th October 2019
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 7, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NBA'S TORONTO RAPTORS PRACTISING BASKETBALLS HITTING HOOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) TORONTO RAPTORS HEAD COACH, NICK NURSE, SAYING: "You know, we start a new season and our goals, we set them super high, right, and obviously we were fortunate enough to reach them at the highest level last year. It's no different. I always think that our objective is to win and win big." NICK NURSE'S CAP (SOUNDBITE) (English) TORONTO RAPTORS HEAD COACH, NICK NURSE, SAYING: "Predictions, you know, don't really factor too much into what you do. We're so right close to it that we're just trying to figure out who we can be and where we can go. We have a lot of confidence in our team, we like the players we have, and I say there's lots of paths to the title. Last year we found one, this year we'll have to find a different one." SIGN READING (English): "NBA JAPAN GAMES 2019" (SOUNDBITE) (English) TORONTO RAPTORS GUARD, KYLE LOWRY, SAYING: "His talent is so much, the sky's the limit for Pascal (Pascal Siakam). And for me, my job to help him is to keep him going, put him in good spots and great spots to be successful. But sometimes just get out of his way and let him be great." RAPTORS T-SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (English) TORONTO RAPTORS GUARD, KYLE LOWRY, SAYING: "If I'm chosen (for Team USA in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics), I'm in. If (USA Basketball managing director) Jerry (Colangelo) and Coach Pop make that call, I'm in. I'll be here, hopefully I am here and trying to win another gold medal for my country. It's an important thing for me to represent my country at the highest level." VARIOUS OF TORONTO RAPTORS PRACTISING
- Embargoed: 21st October 2019 12:13
- Keywords: NBA Toronto Raptors basketball sports pre season game Tokyo Japan
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Basketball,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001B03JBJZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said on Monday (October 7) the defending champions were ready to win big again this year, despite many pre-season predictions favouring the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Raptors won their first ever NBA championship last season led by superstar Kawhi Leonard. But Leonard has joined up with Paul George at the Clippers, while LeBron James and Anthony Davis form a formidable duo for the Lakers.
But Nurse said predictions were not a factor and his team would seek a new path to the title again this season.
Guard Kyle Lowry praised teammate Pascal Siakam, saying the sky was the limit for the winner of the Most Improved Player last season.
Lowry also said he would jump at the chance to play for Team USA in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics if he were chosen.
The Raptors were in Tokyo to play two preseason games against the Houston Rockets.
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