Category Archives: Analysis

OG Anunoby and Marc Gasol lead Raptors to defence-fueled escape of an ugly loss in Chicago

Title: OG Anunoby and Marc Gasol lead Raptors to defence-fueled escape of an ugly loss in Chicago
Date: December 9, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ bare-minimum victory against the Bulls, one that stopped a mini-skid but really shouldn’t have been such a close call. Read an excerpt!

Third straight loss highlights Raptors’ small margin for error against league’s best

Title: Third straight loss highlights Raptors’ small margin for error against league’s best
Date: December 8, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ first three-game losing streak in over a year and how it highlights a small margin for error against the league’s best. Read an excerpt!

James Harden, Rockets highlight risks inherent with Raptors’ aggressive star-stopping strategy

Title: James Harden, Rockets highlight risks inherent with Raptors’ aggressive star-stopping strategy
Date: December 6, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ extreme defence against James Harden, how it worked, and the opportunities it opened up for the Rockets. Read an excerpt!

‘Terrible’ shooting night aside, Kyle Lowry’s return to Raptors is now a novel question of ceiling rather than floor

Title: ‘Terrible’ shooting night aside, Kyle Lowry’s return to Raptors is now a novel question of ceiling rather than floor
Date: December 4, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Kyle Lowry’s return to the Raptors and whether he’s more important to the ceiling than the floor now. Read an excerpt!

Raptors show serious ceiling in first-half dismantling of Jazz, merely survive third-quarter rubber banding

Title: Raptors show serious ceiling in first-half dismantling of Jazz, merely survive third-quarter rubber banding
Date: December 2, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ picking apart a quality Utah Jazz team by 40 in a half. Read an excerpt!

Norman Powell’s career night, tremendous team defence lift otherwise punchless Raptors in Orlando

Title: Norman Powell’s career night, tremendous team defence lift otherwise punchless Raptors in Orlando
Date: November 29, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Norman Powell coming through with a career-best scoring night for the Raptors when they needed it most. Read an excerpt!

Murphy Mailbag: What happens if the team gets healthy, has willingness to trade shifted and more

Title: Murphy Mailbag: What happens if the team gets healthy, has willingness to trade shifted and more
Date: November 27, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I opened up the mailbag to answer questions about the Raptors’ rotation, willingness to trade, and more. Read an excerpt!

RJ Barrett, Jamal Murray and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander commit to Canada and give Olympic hopes early boost

Title: RJ Barrett, Jamal Murray and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander commit to Canada and give Olympic hopes early boost
Date: November 27, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about a handful of young Canadians making an early public commitment to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and, potentially, the Olympics.
Read an excerpt!

Marc Gasol’s work in holding Joel Embiid scoreless once again puts Raptors defence in spotlight

Title: Marc Gasol’s work in holding Joel Embiid scoreless once again puts Raptors defence in spotlight
Date: November 26, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about another lock-down defensive performance from Marc Gasol against Joel Embiid. Read an excerpt!

The 2010s: The deepest, most unconventional and yet ultimate Toronto Raptors all-decade team

Title: The 2010s: The deepest, most unconventional and yet ultimate Toronto Raptors all-decade team
Date: November 25, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I created an extremely on-brand Toronto Raptors All-Decade team.
Read an excerpt!