Author Archives: Blake Murphy

Kawhi Leonard’s playmaking progressing nicely for Raptors

Title: Kawhi Leonard’s playmaking progressing nicely for Raptors
Date: January 11, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Kawhi Leonard’s progress as a playmaker, a development that could unlock the Raptors’ offensive ceiling. Read an excerpt!

How the NBA’s roster rules brought Raptors and Patrick McCaw together

Title:How the NBA’s roster rules brought Raptors and Patrick McCaw together
Date: January 10, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors signing Patrick McCaw and some of the collective bargaining agreement wrinkles that brought the sides together. Read an excerpt!

Tell all your friends, the Raptors will have Lowry and Leonard back together

Title: Tell all your friends, the Raptors will have Lowry and Leonard back together
Date: January 8, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors finally getting Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard back together through the lens of Taking Back Sunday. Read an excerpt!

The Raptors Reasonablists Podcast – S03E13 – Fool’s Errands

Title: The Raptors Reasonablists Podcast – S03E13 – Fool’s Errands
Date: January 7, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In the latest edition of The Raptors Reasonablists Podcast, Eric Koreen and I discuss a nice bounce-back for the Toronto Raptors. Read an excerpt!

Radio Appearance: Talking Raptors on Sportsnet 590

Title: Radio Appearance: Talking Raptors on Sportsnet 590
Date: January 7, 2019
Original Source: Sportsnet Radio
Synopsis: I appeared on Sportsnet 590 The Fan to break down the Raptors’ back-to-back weekend bounce-back after a near-disaster in San Antonio. Check out the audio!

As the window for NBA roster churn opens, Raptors face back-end decisions

Title:As the window for NBA roster churn opens, Raptors face back-end decisions
Date: January 7, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the choice the Raptors have to make with Lorenzo Brown’s guarantee date and the possible scenarios at play if they waive him. Read an excerpt!

Kyle Lowry’s importance to Raptors never more clear than in return against Pacers

Title: Kyle Lowry’s importance to Raptors never more clear than in return against Pacers
Date: January 6, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Kyle Lowry’s return from injury, which perfectly encapsulated is oft-subtle impact on the Raptors. Read an excerpt!

Persistent issues sank the Raptors against the Spurs as much as DeMar DeRozan did

Title:  Persistent issues sank the Raptors against the Spurs as much as DeMar DeRozan did
Date: January 4, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about a poor Raptors performance against DeMar DeRozan that highlighted some consistent issues the team’s been dealing with. Read an excerpt!

Summer blockbuster is working out well for Raptors and Spurs alike

Title: Summer blockbuster is working out well for Raptors and Spurs alike
Date: January 3, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the individual progress of all four players involved in this past summer’s Raptors-Spurs blockbuster trade. Read an excerpt!

Kawhi Leonard’s career night against Jazz a picture of casual dominance

Title: Kawhi Leonard’s career night against Jazz a picture of casual dominance
Date: January 1, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Kawhi Leonard’s career night against the Jazz. He’s good. Read an excerpt!