Blake Murphy Sports Writing

Title: Stanley Johnson, Raptors’ 36th starting lineup clinch No. 7 lottery odds; a look at the weirdest lineups of the decade
Date: May 13, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ tank finale, a shorthanded loss to the Bulls featuring some of their strangest lineups yet. Read an excerpt!

Title: Revisiting 15 bold predictions for the Raptors 2020-21 season
Date: May 13, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I looked back at some bold preseason predictions I made for the Raptors season and traced where they went awry. Read an excerpt!

Title: Who is this year’s Ben Uzoh? What we’d like to see in the Raptors’ final games
Date: May 11, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about what I’d like to see in a mostly meaningless final week for the Raptors. Read an excerpt!

Title: For 2020-21 Raptors, tanking ain’t easy. Here’s why: Murphy
Date: May 10, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the criticism that the Raptors didn’t tank hard enough and why it’s misguided. Read an excerpt!

Title: Jalen Harris leads next-gen Bench Mob audition as thinned-out Raptors lose to Grizzlies
Date: May 8, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Jalen Harris getting a big late-season opportunity and why those chances matter for future years. Read an excerpt!

Title: Raptors Report: Year-end play-in, draft lottery scenarios and what Gary Trent Jr.’s qualifying offer means
Date: May 7, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors’ play-in and lottery scenarios over their final five games, as well as what might happen with Gary Trent Jr.’s qualifying offer in free agency. Read an excerpt!

Title: Murphy and Koreen: Raptors could be legends of the fall at Last Chance Saloon
Date: May 6, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, Eric Koreen and I discussed what’s gone wrong for the Raptors in what will likely be their first non-playoff season in almost a decade. Read an excerpt!

Title: Yuta Watanabe, Jalen Harris and unlikely groups keep Raptors close with Clippers, show growth on 1-3 trip
Date: May 4, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about a spirited losing effort with a few young contributors chipping in, which is about all you can hope for right now. Read an excerpt!