Blake Murphy Sports Writing

Title: Raptor Recalibration, Game 3: Late-game process, Magic risk-seeking and more
Date: April 20, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, my new playoff day-after playoff column looked at a narrow Game 3 victory for the Raptors over the Magic, some adjustments the Raptors had to play through, and what the Magic might try from here. Read an excerpt!

Title:Raptors win Game 3 on strength of starters as Magic look for soft spots in their depth
Date: April 19, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, I wrote about the Raptors’ starters dominating in Game 3 but the Magic finding some weaknesses to poke at in the second unit. Read an excerpt!

Title: The Athletic Raptors Q&A
Date: April 18, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: I hosted a live Raptors Q&A at The Athletic Toronto.
Read an excerpt!

Title: Raptor Recalibration, Game 2: Managing Leonard’s foul trouble, shooting regression, heavier switching and more
Date: April 17, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, my new playoff day-after playoff column looked at a Raptors bounce-back win against the Magic in Game 2, some minor adjustments, managing minutes through foul trouble, and more. Read an excerpt!

Title: ‘What are you gonna do? He was great’: Raptors make statement in Game 2 as Kawhi Leonard’s star shines brightest
Date: April 16, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, I wrote about the Raptors bouncing back in Game 2 against the Magic, evening the series and looking like the Playoff Raptors they initially expected. Read an excerpt!

Title: How The D.J. Augustin Game unfolded, and halftime changes the Raptors made that could influence Game 2
Date: April 15, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, I broke down D.J. Augustin’s big Game 1 performance against the Raptors and how they may look to avoid a repeat. Read an excerpt!

Title:Raptor Recalibration, Game 1: The final minute, the D.J. Augustin matchup, playoff interpretations and more
Date: April 14, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, I introduced a new playoff day-after column where I’ll look at key plays, statistical trends, matchups and more from the Raptors’ playoff run. The first looks at a Game 1 loss to the Magic. Read an excerpt!

Title: ‘New’ Raptors suffer all-too-familiar loss in playoff opener, but Siakam offers chance for change
Date: April 13, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, I wrote about the Raptors’ Game 1 performance being all too familiar but Pascal Siakam offering a glimpse of change to the narrative. Read an excerpt!