Nick Nurse: 'What if there's a positive test and a guy has to sit out for two weeks?'

The NBA is a little over a month away from resuming its season in Orlando. Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse admits that it has been a bizarre experience getting the team back together to prepare after more than three months away from the game, especially with the coronavirus still very much a risk.

"It’s strange," Nurse told The Athletic. "It feels good to be back on the floor. Just walking out there and hearing the balls bounce, that’s a good feeling on one hand. And, yeah, it’s some, a little anxiety around. We’re going into such an unknown territory here. Every day you get tests (and) you think, ‘Man, I hope I pass. When do I get my results back?’ is kind of on your mind."

Nurse acknowledges the challenges of the league will face, as teams could lose players for weeks at a time if they test positive for the coronavirus and he admits he has some concerns about the logistics of the resumed season.

"I guess I’m more concerned – or, my thoughts keep thinking of – what if there’s a positive test and a guy has to sit out for two weeks?" Nurse said. "You’re trying to get them in shape, and now they gotta go back to doing virtually nothing, and then bring them (back). It’s going to be tricky. One of the first things I said to my team this week, and to my staff especially, is we’ve got to get all 17 guys ready. … You usually get to the playoffs and you’re talking about eight, seven-and-half (man rotations) sometimes, you’re playing big minutes for guys. I said, we’ve got to get some role for everybody, ’cause we have no idea who we may need to use."