With the Raptors celebrating their 25th season, The Athletic will be interviewing some of the franchise’s most memorable faces and voices. The Raptors will be making a case to officials to play out of Toronto. Over their championship season, Ibaka began to feel like an essential part of the Raptors. They chased their best defensive half of the year with an abysmal third quarter. How Arkells lead singer Max Kerman helped Raptors coach Nick Nurse’s guitar hero dreams come true, Max Kerman’s first email address, which is now inactive, was, ‘What’s next?’: With rings on the way, Raptors seek out different motivations. Morris Peterson's buzzer-beater that defied time is one of many strange things to have happened when the Raptors play the Wizards. Rings on their fingers, the Raptors reveal new problems and potential. 10 observations: Raptors' schedule is turning into a bear, but handling Grizzlies is a nice start. Can good vibes and a ‘wild card’ give the Raptors what they’ll need in Game 4? How the Kyle Lowry trade forever changed the Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets and NBA trades. It's free! With Norman Powell out, Davis will have a prolonged opportunity to serve as instant offence off the bench. 6 episodes totalling 6 hours, 23 minutes. The first-year head coach, in a high-pressure situation, is going to put on a mad scientist act in what figures to be the most intriguing, stressful Raptors season of all time. The two big moves Ujiri made — three, if you include swapping in Nick Nurse for Dwane Casey — were intended for moments like this one. Hawks eye view: What DeAndre’ Bembry and Alex Len bring to the Raptors. Over the last two series for the Toronto Raptors, there has been one refrain that has been coming back again and again. As James suffers through the most embarrassing season of his career, the Raptors are not an active participant. Kyle Lowry delivers statement of intent with his arm, brain and (gasp!) 20 Questions with Nick Nurse: On small town glory, little-known teams in England and his big job with Raptors. These Raptors are the antidote to the franchise’s past playoff failures. Kim Gaucher started with the Canadian women’s senior team in 2001, and has watched as her elders and then her peers steadily stopped competing at the highest level of international basketball. After Vince Carter missed that shot in May 2001, I calmly walked the 10 minutes from my friend Matt’s house to mine. * The Athletic’s Raptors fan survey: Your chance to help evaluate the franchise. How Marc Gasol and the Raptors are limiting Nikola Vucevic’s offence. Ranking the Raptors roster by trade value. "He's just got great IQ. Sunday's five-period game, extended so Nick Nurse could see as many roster hopefuls as possible, provided another indication of how Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka will or won't be used together. What is OG Anunoby's ceiling? In 2014, LeBron James waited until July 11 to execute The Decision 2.0, returning to Cleveland after leaving home for South Beach. The two teams have identical records after the Heat won in Toronto 121-110 in overtime on Tuesday night, and they have similar identities. 2-ranked defence. Koreen: Raptors’ 3 positive cases are just start of a scary season. Greg Monroe steps into Jonas Valanciunas' void, showing evolution in Raptors' pre-requisites for role players. Road to extension with Raptors shows NBA championship won’t change Kyle Lowry. Lowry logged 14 points (5-18 FG, 3-11 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 19 assists, three rebounds and one steal Thursday in … Follow along here. Raptors’ problems lie with focus and cohesion, not urgency or effort: Koreen. Why OG Anunoby’s importance to Raptors is evident in series against Celtics. ‘I’m concerned for the world’: Raptors’ Masai Ujiri on an uncertain future. The expectations might have slipped for the new-look Raptors, but that doesn't mean they won't be facing pressure. I’m just focusing on the season. “Don’t look back. Find the best way to get in touch with Eric by joining Muck Rack. Aron Baynes isn't the main problem when Masai Ujiri had ample time to fix the issue at centre and failed to do so. The Athletic's lead Raptors writer Eric Koreen joins the show to discuss Norman Powell's emergence, whether the Raps will be buyers or sellers at the deadline, Lowry's All-Star case (and who he was impersonating), VanVleet's next contract, whether Valanciunas deserved a ring, who's on the Raptors' Mount Rushmore, airport pet peeves, The Gasol statistic, and more. For the first time in a long time, the Warriors are the definite underdogs but they won't go home quietly. ‘This was an emergency situation’: How Sergio Scariolo tried to steer the Raptors to safe harbour. 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