Blake Murphy
O.G. Anunoby is a defensive unicorn. How will that impact his contract talks with the Raptors?
Blake Murphy
For the most part, O.G. Anunoby plays positionless basketball for the Toronto Raptors. So when it comes to this offseason or next, how do you value a player, contractually, who has so few comparables at the highest levels of defence?
What the numbers say about optimizing the Blue Jays' 2023 batting order
Blake Murphy
Play-in for what? Raptors come out of All-Star break looking to climb Eastern Conference
Blake Murphy
The Toronto Raptors will be better over their final 23 games than they were over their first 59. That much seems pretty straightforward. The acquisition of Jakob Poeltl, an All-Star break for some of the league’s most overworked players to rest up, and potential returns from injury for two key wings should all push Toronto in the winning direction.
Clapping Hands to Balled Fists: Inside Sami Zayn's quest for redemption in Montreal
Blake Murphy
Sami Zayn will challenge for the title in his hometown of Montreal on Saturday at Elimination Chamber, the odds stacked dramatically against him. But it’s the genuine, authentic humanity he’s played his character with that has him on the doorstep of one of the biggest moments in wrestling history.
How the Raptors' trade deadline outcome could impact roster decisions this off-season
Blake Murphy
NBA Trade Deadline 2023: What offers the Raptors should (and shouldn't) consider
Blake Murphy
The Trade Machine Killjoy is back for another installation of my annual “all your trade ideas are bad” column. Let's sort through dozens of trade proposals from colleagues and readers, picking out the ones that are most interesting to discuss, and explaining why it is or isn’t a plausible deal in my eyes.
Why the Raptors' overall approach on defence is no longer working for this team
Blake Murphy
The Toronto Raptors have followed a very clear formula the last couple of seasons: Be the league’s best transition offence, cobble together an average halfcourt offence and leverage your top-end defence. But the latter part of that equation is not holding up its end of the bargain.
Raptors NBA Trade Deadline 2023 Primer: Rules, assets, future outlook and more
Blake Murphy
How successful have the Raptors really been at finding value in signings?
Blake Murphy
While the team has been a success for a decade under the stewardship of Masai Ujiri, free agency has rarely been a key part of that strategy. It’s been a successful part of the strategy even more rarely.