Raptors seek to prove that they can win on the road

The Toronto Raptors embark on an adventure.

The Raptors (7-1) are perfect 6-0 at the new Scotiabank Arena. This is the largest number of home wins to start a season of franchise history.

The team is now entering its first long trip, a four-game home run on the Western Conference that starts Friday night in Phoenix against the Suns. On Sunday, Toronto will be in Los Angeles to face the Lakers led by LeBron James before landing in Utah on Monday to face the Jazz. Toronto returns to California to conclude its trip against the Sacramento Kings on November 7th.

Toronto coach Nick Nurse said he was looking forward to a change of scenery, but that geography was the furthest thing from his mind.

"We just want to play, man," Nurse said after the Raptors' training session in Toronto on Thursday before heading to the airport.

For previous editions of the Raptors, a Western Conference trip like this would have been a lesson in survival. Toronto's combined balance over a three-year period from 2010-11 to 2012-13 was 28-50 versus the West.

But last season, on the way to the 59 victories in the franchise, Toronto was 19-11 against the West, the second-best performance of all East Conference teams behind the Boston Celtics (22). -8).

There is no reason to believe that this trend will not continue, as Phoenix has won only once in seven games. And the Lakers, even with the Toronto torpedoman deemed James in the formation, have only three wins in eight games.

After that, the competition hardened, Utah being at 4-3, while the Kings were 5-3 in Thursday night's game against the Hawks in Atlanta.

"It's time to test what we can do on the road," said Toronto striker Danny Green. "We did not play our best basketball on the road. We did not have 100% health, but still no excuses.

"Let's hope we can bring guys back to play basketball on the road. We have to beat the teams on the road. "

Fred VanVleet, the Toronto substitute goalkeeper, will travel with the team, but his status for Friday's game is questionable. He is still trying to recover from an injury to the big left toe that has spread him out of four consecutive games.

Toronto will have OG Anunoby striker available. He returns to the team after an absence of three games to deal with a personal family affair.

As playmaker Delon Wright gets back into shape after a groin injury during the first half of the season, Nurse will hit the road with a full team for the first time this season.

"I think that will help us a lot," said the nurse. "I think our second unit was a bit disjointed. It's partly my fault, changing it all the time and searching, etc.

In Wednesday's 129-117 win against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Raptors regained their strength against the defensive team, now Philadelphia to less than 42% shooting with 13 interceptions, a record of the season.

Four of them were credited to newcomer Kawhi Leonard, who appears to be as strong in defense as in offense. The striker totaled 31 points on Wednesday and has scored at least 20 points in the six matches that he has disputed.

Draymond Green of defending champion Golden State Warriors told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday that, according to him, Leonard remained one of the best defensive players in the game.

This is hardly a quick comment from Green. Leonard, after all, won the defensive NBA title twice in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

"I'm crazy about respect for him [Leonard]Said Green. "But I think I'm the best. If you want my honest opinion, there is no one in the category with me except Kawhi. "

Kawhi said that although he appreciates Green's opinion on the subject, he is still very early in the season – plenty of time to go even better.