Title: Pascal Siakam’s return is refreshing but doesn’t fix everything for Raptors
Date: January 12, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the returns of Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell, enough to spark the Raptors for a half but not fix everything at once. Read an excerpt!
Title: How are the Raptors still an elite defence while surrendering a historic number of corner threes?
Date: January 10, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I dove deep into the Raptors’ defensive profile to try to figure out how they can be a top defense while allowing so many threes, and whether that’s sustainable. Read an excerpt!
Title: Terence Davis II responds to Nick Nurse criticism, first start with career night in Raptors’ OT victory
Date: January 8, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Terence Davis bouncing back from Nick Nurse’s criticism and having a career night in his first start. Read an excerpt!
Title: Fred VanVleet bobblehead night, a pair of call-ups and a request for assignment highlight a big night for Raptors 905
Date: January 7, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Fred VanVleet bobblehead night and what it – with some other notable roster moves the same day – means to Raptors 905. Read an excerpt!
Title: Matt Thomas ready to step back into a role for Raptors following rare G League rehab assignment
Date: January 6, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Matt Thomas using the G League for a rehab assignment of sorts, something basketball is beginning to borrow from baseball. Read an excerpt!
Title: Analyzing the Raptors’ historically poor shooting performance against the Heat’s zone coverage
Date: January 3, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I analyzed the Raptors’ near-historic struggles to shoot against the Heat’s zone defense. Read an excerpt!
Title: OG Anunoby’s move to bench punctuates Raptors’ defining flexibility of 2019, plus Raptors’ year-end mixtape
Date: December 31, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about OG Anunoby’s move to the bench as a symbol of the Raptors’ 2019 identity, then provided a mixtape of the Raptors’ favorite albums of 2019. Read an excerpt!
Title: Raptors Tactical: Analyzing Patrick McCaw at the point, Serge Ibaka’s pick-and-roll defence
Date: December 30, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I broke down the Raptors using Patrick McCaw as more of a point guard and Serge Ibaka as a deep drop-back center. Read an excerpt!
Title: The Patrick McCaw Game (with Oshae Brissett support) helps Raptors bounce back against Celtics
Date: December 28, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about a spirited victory in Boston for the shorthanded Raptors, sparked by unlikely heroes Patrick McCaw and Oshae Brissett. Read an excerpt!
Title: Raptors’ return to Christmas Day slate hampered by injuries, tough Celtics loss
Date: December 25, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ disappointing, shorthanded return to the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule. Read an excerpt!
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 