Author | Lightnews

Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 32m

And a little inter-office chinwag to set it all up

www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...

Raptors roundtable: Who fits with Barnes? Toronto hopes Ingram will do what others could not

The Toronto Star’s team of basketball writers tackled some of the hot topics for the Raptors ahead of their season-opener on Wednesday.

www.thestar.com

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 33m

Biggest game of the season so far for the Raptors. They'll start Quickley, Barrett, Ingram, Barnes, Poeltl in Atlanta against Young, Daniels, Risacher, Johnson, Porzingis

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 2h

Helluva hire

The IX Basketball @theixbasketball.bsky.social · 3h

BREAKING: Per @howardmegdal.bsky.social, Sandy Brondello will be the first coach of the expansion Toronto tempo.

BREAKING WNBA NEWS: Sandy Brondello is the first head coach in Toronto Tempo history! #wnba

YouTube video by The IX Sports

youtu.be

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 7h

Raptors have declared Collin Murray-Boyles (right forearm muscle) and Ja'Kobe Walter (illness) out for the season opener tonight in Atlanta

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 10h

Raptors move start times for games Friday and Wednesday to 6:30 pm to accommodate World Series games, Leafs move starts to 5 pm Saturday and 6 pm Tuesday

Ball games on scoreboard at SBA post-game for all 4 of them

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

Raptors do some bookkeeping and exercise 2026-27 contract options on Gradey Dick (4th year) and JA’Kobe Walter (3rd). Totally a formality and expected

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

Appreciate that. There does seem to be just something about him

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

And, finally, some zany predictions that I'm sure no one will hold me to

www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...

Brandon Ingram an all-star again? Collin Murray-Boyles a top rookie finalist? Here are five bold predictions for the Raptors’ season

Could Brandon Ingram make the all-star team? Will Scottie Barnes get recognized for his defensive mastery? And what about playoffs?

www.thestar.com

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

And who are these guys? Well, this is them.

www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...

Raptors 2025-26 roster breakdown: An all-star addition and a deep rotation

A look at Toronto’s roster ahead of the start of the NBA regular season Wednesday.

www.thestar.com

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

And a local guy who just does what he does, help his team
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...

RJ Barrett isn’t a star on this Raptors squad. And that might be his X factor

The Mississauga native has impressive numbers since joining Toronto and been a steady contributor without playing a true star role. The team is better for it.

www.thestar.com

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

Perhaps you've heard between innings of Blue Jays playoff games but there's a Raptors season starting tomorrow.
Because we love The People and want to serve them, what we've prepared to get you ready:
First, there's a new guy in town
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...

Why Brandon Ingram’s connection to his Raptors teammates goes deeper than basketball

Months of enforced idleness offered Brandon Ingram, the former NBA all-star, a chance to learn the values of his new colleagues. It’s what leaders do.

www.thestar.com

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

I don't know the order and I'm not sure it matters but if the first pitch World Series honours don't go to Cito Gaston and Joe Carter on Friday and Saturday, somebody's asleep at the switch

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

Anyone else drawn to load up the playlist with all kinds of Rush today for some reason?

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

My goodness gracious
What a tremendous game

Sports, man. It’s the bees knees

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

Do you run Bassitt out for the ninth? I would

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 1d

I would submit that Game 7 has lived up to Game 7 expectations

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 2d

I have been impressed all summer by the true passion - and brief moments of insanity - of Blue Jay fans.

As hard as it may be, try to enjoy tonight, it may be a once in a lifetime and you should savour it

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 2d

Just saw an email that Mike Morreale is stepping down as commissioner of the CEBL. I've followed that league pretty closely since inception and I can tell you that basketball people across Canada owe a huge debt of gratitude to him.

No joke; there's no CEBL without Mike.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 2d

Delightful game. Team that turned 3 DPs beat team that committed 3 errors
Funny, that

Monday ought to be fun

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 4d

We are fortunate to be living in the era of Ohtani

This, given the stakes and the game, has to be one of, if not the, best baseball games ever played by one person

And I don’t think that’s hyperbole

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 4d

That's managerial malpractice

Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 4d

Highest leverage inning of the season?
Sure, Brendon Little. Obviously.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 4d

Highest leverage inning of the season?
Sure, Brendon Little. Obviously.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 4d

I know nothing but I know Little was a big, big bad gamble

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 4d

Gausman should have screamed at Schneider just for the jokes

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 5d

The caveats (big, big caveats) being that it's the pre-season and those are the Nets but that's as good a quarter as Scottie Barnes has played in a long time.
He's got 13 points and 3 steals, Raptors up 37-27 after one

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