Title: Kawhi Leonard’s return a shot at closure as Raptors try to move on
Date: December 10, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto as a member of the Clippers and finding closure where there usually isn’t much. Read an excerpt!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 