Title: Five thoughts ahead of Game 5: How Raptors respond if Kevin Durant plays, Warriors’ bench and more
Date: June 10, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Kevin Durant’s potential return to the NBA Finals and a number of other matchup-specific thoughts ahead of Game 5.
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Title: Raptors can’t close out Warriors as Kevin Durant’s injury casts cloud over championship-chasing energy
Date: June 10, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about a difficult night for Game 5 of the NBA Finals, where the Raptors failed to close out but Kevin Durant’s injury felt far more important.
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Title: Raptor Recalibration, Game 4: Grinding it out in Oakland, Fred VanVleet as a second-half starter and more
Date: June 8, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, my playoff day-after playoff column looked at the Raptors moving within one win of a title with a Game 4 victory against the Warriors. Read an excerpt!
Title: Kawhi Leonard and a couple of ‘F-You shots’ put the Raptors within a win of a championship
Date: June 7, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Kawhi Leonard’s “F-You” shots against the Warriors bringing the Raptors within one win of a title.
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Title: Raptors surviving dangerous offensive game with glacial half-court pace against Warriors
Date: June 7, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ slow pace in their half court offense and why that’s a dangerous game as the NBA Finals extend.
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Title: Raptor Recalibration, Game 3: VanVleet shadowing Curry, pick-and-roll depth, 50/40/90 and more
Date: June 6, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, my playoff day-after playoff column looked at the Raptors taking control of the NBA Finals back with a Game 3 victory against the Warriors. Read an excerpt!
Title: Warriors’ whirring offence testing limits of Raptors’ mental endurance
Date: June 5, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Warriors’ offense, which is designed to exhaust even the smartest teams, testing the Raptors’ mental endurance.
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Title: ‘Let it rip’: Danny Green follows through in a game Raptors absolutely had to have against depleted Warriors
Date: June 5, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about an anonymous message on the Raptors’ whiteboard, Danny Green letting it rip, and the Raptors winning Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
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Title: Raptor Recalibration, Game 2: Not fouling late, Leonard’s passing in traps, Lowry’s foul-drawing and more
Date: June 3, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic, my playoff day-after playoff column looked at the Raptors dropping a winnable Game 2 of the NBA Finals to the Warriors. Read an excerpt!
Title: Raptors’ box-and-one nearly allows defence to take Game 2 from Warriors
Date: June 2, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors turning to an unlikely defensive technique late in Game 2 of the NBA Finals and it nearly stealing them the game.
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Blake Murphy Sports Writing 