Blake Murphy Sports Writing

Title: Raptors run into familiar issues, still win in OT, but fortunately have opportunity for quick improvement
Date: March 20, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors blowing a 20-point lead in Oklahoma City, still coming out with a win, and getting to do it all again Friday in a two-game playoff tune-up series.
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Title: Maple Madness: Your guide to Canadian players to watch at the NCAA Tournament
Date: March 19, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about all of the Canadians playing in the NCAA Tournament, potential high-CanCon games, and the NBA potential for some top Canadian prospects.
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Title: Raptors’ inconsistent regular-season rotations could end up helping them come playoff time
Date: March 19, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ inability to field a full, healthy rotation and how that may have revealed some important notes about their potential playoff rotation.
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Title: Breaking down Canada’s ‘Group of Death’ draw for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup
Date: March 16, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I broke down Canada’s tough draw for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, how it came to be, and what comes next.
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Title: Serga Ibaka, Raptors lose their cool in Cleveland disaster; Malcolm Miller’s streak is over
Date: March 11, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors turning a meaningless game in Cleveland into a borderline disaster and the death of Malcolm Miller’s near-historic winning streak.
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Title: How the Raptors have fared against elite opponents this season
Date: March 8, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ performance against the league’s best teams and what it might suggest about their playoff potential.
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Title: Harden, Rockets break bench in what has become an ongoing problem for Raptors
Date: March 6, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ persistent bench struggles following another bench-led loss to the Rockets.
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Title: Casey gets better of Raptors again, and 9 other takeaways from an overtime loss to the Pistons
Date: March 3, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Dwane Casey’s Pistons beating the Raptors in another tight game despite Kyle Lowry’s best efforts.
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Title: Raptors’ crunch-time execution against Blazers should help expedite the top lineup’s chemistry
Date: March 2, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors getting a lot of high-intensity reps in a tight win over Portland, reps that could be big in forging a necessary chemistry.
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Title: Pascal Siakam’s growth as a shooter could make the Raptors tougher to solve
Date: March 1, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Pascal Siakam’s growth as a 3-point shooter and how it could make the Raptors more difficult to solve in the playoffs.
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