Raptors free agency: Toronto competing with two rivals for Nerlens Noel

Raptors free agency: Toronto competing with two rivals for Nerlens Noel

Despite the fact that Masai Ujiri remains unsigned the Toronto Raptors offseason is starting to properly kick off in the coming days, with the annual Raptors free agency blitz slated to really get started in August. One target that has been linked to Toronto frequently given their lack of quality at the center spot is […]
Raptors free agency: Toronto competing with two rivals for Nerlens Noel – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Practice Shenanigans: Robertson promoted to the second line, Matthews and Nylander return, Sandin participates

Despite the Leafs not playing a game on Saturday night, they still made things interesting with what happened on the ice.

#Leafs lines at practiceGalchenyuk-Matthews-MarnerRobertson-Tavares-NylanderMikheyev-Kerfoot-HymanThornton-Spezza-Simmondsextra: Engvall, Brooks
DefenceRielly-BrodieMuzzin-HollDermott-BogosianExtra: Marincin, Liljegren Sandin
GoaliesCampbellRittich
— David Alter (@dalter) April 17, 2021

The key thing to notice here is that Nick Robertson will be getting a shot on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander, which is a well-deserved honour. Robertson has been very noticeable in his three games since getting brought up and is playing with intensity on each passing shift. Similar to how managed to make the roster during the 2020 bubble, he has willed his way into a bigger role and has forced Sheldon Keefe into making a tough decision on who to take out so Robertson can play.
Judging by the pairings, it appears that Pierre Engvall is going to be a healthy scratch as a result of this move and I imagine this is Keefe’s way of sending the Swedish centre a message. Engvall has had a rough stretch of games predating Robertson’s promotion, resulting in instances where the former has been benched by his coach for long stretches. Hopefully, this motivates him to get his season back …

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Author: Michael Mazzei / The Leafs Nation

Toronto Raptors: Is Khem Birch going to start a movement that gets Canadians to Toronto?

Toronto Raptors: Is Khem Birch going to start a movement that gets Canadians to Toronto?

Despite the fact that basketball is flourishing like never before in Canada, the number of Toronto Raptors Canadians remains comparatively small. While only a handful of Canadians, including Chris Boucher and Cory Joseph, have ever suited up in Raptors red and black, they added another one to the mix with the addition of center Khem […]
Toronto Raptors: Is Khem Birch going to start a movement that gets Canadians to Toronto? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Are the Toronto Raptors legit contenders in the crowded East?

Are the Toronto Raptors legit contenders in the crowded East?

Despite starting the season 2-8, the Toronto Raptors now see themselves sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 17-17 record and 5 games back of first place. After a rocky start to their 2021 season, the Raptors have now strung some wins together and look more and more like the old Raptors […]
Are the Toronto Raptors legit contenders in the crowded East? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Joseph Zita / Raptors HQ

Tweaking the league’s second best powerplay

Despite having one of the best powerplays this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have really struggled to create chances at times. It can be incredibly frustrating to watch Mitch Marner shoot the puck in the middle of goalies’ chests, but it’s just as frustrating to see Morgan Rielly take one-timers from the right side when the ideal person to do so is Auston Matthews.
After Saturday night against the Oilers, the Leafs had the league’s best powerplay percentage at 33.3%, with Chicago, Buffalo, Washington, and Dallas just behind them. Since the 2018/19 season, the Leafs have trailed Tampa, Boston, Edmonton, and Florida, who have had a powerplay percentage of 24% or better. That’s not to say the Leafs’ 23.8% effectiveness is bad, but they don’t look as dominant as Tampa or Boston have been in recent years.
One of the constants that could change is how the Leafs generate a number of chances from the middle of the slot and the right side of the ice. We can point to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for that, as the two send the puck towards the net from the right side of the ice a lot more than they do from …

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Author: Matthew Henriques / The Leafs Nation

Raptors: 5 best individual games so far in the 2020-21 season

Raptors: 5 best individual games so far in the 2020-21 season

Despite an up-and-down first few months, the Toronto Raptors have had no shortage of standout individual performances this season. Throughout Masai Ujiri’s tenure, Toronto has assembled deep rosters with multiple players capable of going off on any night, and the lack of a traditional superstar on this year’s team means that there is plenty of […]
Raptors: 5 best individual games so far in the 2020-21 season – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Kyle Oliveira / Raptors HQ

Raptors: Will Toronto’s All-Star streak be snapped after seven years?

Raptors: Will Toronto’s All-Star streak be snapped after seven years?

The NBA All-Star Game appears to be happening, despite the pandemic. Voting is officially open and the league and player’s association are reportedly working towards an agreement that will see the mid-season exhibition take place in Atlanta on March 7. While there have been several Toronto Raptors All-Star players in recent years, 2020-21 might leave […]
Raptors: Will Toronto’s All-Star streak be snapped after seven years? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Ben Fisher / Raptors HQ

Raptors: Panic or patience on 3 struggling players

Raptors: Panic or patience on 3 struggling players

Despite the 7-11 record, this a better Toronto Raptors team right now than the team at the beginning of the season. Some of the reasons why the Raptors were struggling were because the defense was not as effective as last season and Pascal Siakam’s struggles in the bubble came with Siakam to Tampa. Even though […]
Raptors: Panic or patience on 3 struggling players – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Pirasanth Gunasekaram / Raptors HQ

Toronto Raptors player of the Week: Pascal Siakam

Toronto Raptors player of the Week: Pascal Siakam

Despite the losing record, Toronto Raptors’ All-Star Pascal Siakam just gave his best week of basketball in nearly a year. It’s been a rough few months for Pascal Siakam (and the Toronto Raptors).  Since his mid-season groin injury, last year his play and his approval rating on and off the court have been trending steadily […]
Toronto Raptors player of the Week: Pascal Siakam – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Avishai Sol / Raptors HQ

Toronto Raptors: Which player should be taking the last shot?

Toronto Raptors: Which player should be taking the last shot?

Despite several strong performances from Pascal Siakam recently, the Toronto Raptors #1 option has come short in the clutch on back-to-back nights, forcing the Raptors to pull back and evaluate their options on who should have the ball in their hands at the end of the game. Although Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam was unable […]
Toronto Raptors: Which player should be taking the last shot? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Kyle Oliveira / Raptors HQ