Title: Raptors preseason: Malachi Flynn shines again, DeAndre’ Bembry finds a fit, more
Date: December 14, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I broke down the Raptors’ second preseason game, highlighted once again by Malachi Flynn.
“People say, ‘That old Drake, we startin’ to miss it.’ But they need to be a little more specific.” — Drake
The Toronto Raptors have built an identity over the years as a team that battles adversity. From “Don’t worry I got us” to “F— Brooklyn” to #ProveEm, Understand The Grind, Bet On Yourself, heck, even We The North, and then being the only one of 30 teams forced out of their homes for this year, the Raptors have always gotten a little extra juice from the odds being stacked against them (or at least the perception that they are).
Nowhere has that revealed itself more than in the Raptors’ ability to come back from double-digit deficits. For years, they’ve been among the league leaders in double-digit comebacks, punctuated by a historic 30-pointer last season against Dallas. It’s so much a part of their identity that it’s the one tongue-in-cheek sign of continuity in the quick relaunch — after turning a 19-point deficit around Saturday, the Raptors ran it back Monday, coming back from down 14 to beat the Charlotte Hornets, 112-109.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 