Blake Murphy Sports Writing

Title: Another big comeback and a franchise-record winning streak beg the question: Is anything unlikely for the Raptors anymore?
Date: February 5, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors bucking convention and probability yet again this year, culminating in a franchise-record 12-game winning streak. Read an excerpt!

Title: From Vince to Vince and all the Juan Dixons in between: All 81 trades in Raptors franchise history, ranked
Date: February 5, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I ranked every trade in Raptors history. It was a lot. Read an excerpt!

Title: Areas the Raptors might want to address at the deadline, and some players who might fit
Date: February 3, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about areas for improvement for the Raptors and whether they might be able to shore those up at the trade deadline. Read an excerpt!

Title: ‘Gotta lead the league in something’: Nobody is using challenges quite like Raptors coach Nick Nurse
Date: January 31, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Nick Nurse’s use of the coach’s challenge, a tool he’s experimenting with at a league-leading rate. Read an excerpt!

Title: Progress of Terence Davis II worth tracking ahead of Raptors’ trade deadline, Rising Stars rosters
Date: January 28, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Terence Davis II trying to establish himself as a rotation piece, and as a byproduct, a possible participant in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge. Read an excerpt!

Title: Pascal Siakam shakes off mini-slump against Knicks: ‘I’m excited about it, getting back to being who I am’
Date: January 24, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Pascal Siakam bouncing back from a tough stretch to lift the Raptors against the Knicks and reaffirm his All-Star status. Read an excerpt!

Title: Murphy: All your Raptors trade ideas for 2020 are bad and here’s why
Date: January 23, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I did my annual pre-trade deadline mailbag column, analyzing the trade proposals of readers/followers. Read an excerpt!

Title: Nobody saw Pascal Siakam’s unlikely rise to All-Star starter coming — except him
Date: January 23, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Pascal Siakam being named an NBA All-Star starter, the latest checkpoint in the league’s unlikeliest development story. Read an excerpt!

Title: Raptors might be back to rotating starting lineups, putting all-bench units in a new light
Date: January 21, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about what a return to health means for the Raptors’ rotations and for the potential of all-bench lineups. Read an excerpt!

Title: What can the Raptors do at the trade deadline? A primer on their assets, trade rules and more
Date: January 17, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote my annual trade deadline primer, explaining what assets the Raptors have, what the trade rules they must operate within are, and more. Read an excerpt!