Blake Murphy Sports Writing

Title: ‘Let it rip’: Danny Green follows through in a game Raptors absolutely had to have against depleted Warriors
Date: June 5, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about an anonymous message on the Raptors’ whiteboard, Danny Green letting it rip, and the Raptors winning Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
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Title: Raptor Recalibration, Game 2: Not fouling late, Leonard’s passing in traps, Lowry’s foul-drawing and more
Date: June 3, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, my playoff day-after playoff column looked at the Raptors dropping a winnable Game 2 of the NBA Finals to the Warriors. Read an excerpt!

Title: Raptors’ box-and-one nearly allows defence to take Game 2 from Warriors
Date: June 2, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors turning to an unlikely defensive technique late in Game 2 of the NBA Finals and it nearly stealing them the game.
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Title: Why Marc Gasol can allow the Raptors to play a traditional centre against the Warriors
Date: June 1, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Marc Gasol’s defense in Game 1 of the NBA Finals and why the Raptors don’t have to do the conventional and match up small with the Warriors.
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Title: Raptor Recalibration, Game 1: Leonard responds to traps, ignoring non-shooters, McCaw minutes and more
Date: May 31, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, my playoff day-after playoff column looked at the Raptors starting their first NBA Finals appearance off with a win against the Warriors. Read an excerpt!

Title: The impact of Fred VanVleet’s defence and how it allowed the Raptors to thrive against Golden State in Game 1
Date: May 30, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Fred VanVleet and the Raptors’ defence coming through to go up 1-0 in the NBA Finals.
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Title: Murphy Mailbag: NBA Finals matchups, Raptors and Warriors rotations, unexpected heroes, MOX and more
Date: May 30, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I opened up the mailbag to preview the Raptors in the NBA Finals and more.
Read an excerpt!