Title: Raptors preseason opener: Matt Thomas, Malachi Flynn shine; Kyle Lowry update
Date: December 12, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I broke down their preseason opener, highlighted by great nights for Matt Thomas and Malachi Flynn.
Well, we have some good news and some bad news for Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse.
On the bright side, as far as first games of the preseason go, a lot of Raptors looked pretty good against Charlotte on Saturday. Nurse had warned all week that it can often take new players extra time to pick up the team’s system, especially on the defensive end, and that could lead to a premium on familiarity early. Instead, it was the starting lineup — with four holdovers and veteran newcomer Aron Baynes — who struggled, looking disorganized in transition defence and falling behind by 19 points early on. Just about everyone else Nurse turned to, rookie or new veteran or returner, picked up the slack, turning the tides to the tune of a 111-100 victory.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 