The Raptors’ top-5 defense isn’t just good, it’s an identity. Zulfi’s column today unravels the ‘cobra mentality’ behind it: from Summer League ‘ung ung’s’ and a mysterious staff, to how they learned to strike with deadly, calculated intention. You won’t look at this D the same way. Good stuff Z!

Gone are the days of multiple annual US trips—NYC, winter south. We’re done. 1) It’s frankly not safe. 2) And respectfully to good Americans, our dollars won’t touch the US economy until Taco McTitties is impeached, removed, dead, or locked up. Europe, we’re returning this summer. Fuckin’ eh!

Will Tucker really take a long-term deal to play in tiny little Toronto, Canada—population: “basically a cul-de-sac”—instead of the bustling hamlets of New York and Los Angeles? Anyway, welcome to the small-market backwater known as… the 4th-largest city in North America. 😐

Kyle Tucker news: “could decide as early as tomorrow.” Tomorrow, I’ll be refreshing my feed like a Raptors fan tracking Kawhi Leonard’s flight logs back in 2019. Don’t make us boo you like we do Ohtani.

Very shorthanded tonight (not an excuse—the Pacers have dealt with it all year), but that was a gutsy win by the guys. Kudos to Indy for making it a game. Raptors have to get better vs zone—clearly an Achilles heel.

Not surprised this one’s close—Raptors were up 27 and now it’s down to 4. Feels like more teams are going to lean into zone against us too; we’ve been subpar vs it all season.

Scottie Barnes makes basketball look like art sometimes.

I enjoy Scottie Barnes dunks

Jay Huff with some great awareness—catches it and instantly goes up for the reverse dunk without even looking, knowing Shead isn’t going to contest at the rim.

Scottie’s having himself a GAME—sweet assist to Ingram for his 11th dime, then comes down and throws down the two-hander.

Scottie already has 9 assists and it’s not even halftime.

If Gradey Dick can ever find his shot consistently, he’s got real 6th-man potential. Here’s hoping tonight is the start of some momentum.

Scottie with a filthy no-look dime to Gradey. And after a rough few games offensively, it’s awesome seeing Dick finding success tonight.

Scottie just dunked straight through my TV—sweet two-handed slam. Great 1st quarter from the Raptors too: found the shooting touch they couldn’t buy last game, and the defensive start has been unreal.

Check out Gradey Dick’s body control on that basket—beauty!

Andrew Nembhard is just pure fun to watch play basketball. Such a calm, clever game.

Jamison Battle’s sporadic shoulder hair has me thinking I can’t be the only one itching to go at it with a razor or some wax for him.

Come on Blue Jays—Tucker’s supposedly announcing soon. Let’s talk this into existence: Toronto, please.

Ernie’s from Rochester, NY but somehow feels more Canadian than half the Jays—honestly, only Vladdy has stronger honorary-citizen energy being born in Montreal. Give Ernie an honorary Team Canada spot at Worlds in March.

The Québec Nordiques jerseys are so good they make you miss a team that hasn’t existed in decades. All-time pro sports threads.

Thank you Kyle Lowry! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

“We want Lowry” chants breaking out at Scotiabank. Love it.

Raptors’ wing depth is legit. If they move a wing at the deadline (especially to add some big-man depth) they’ve got enough bodies there that it won’t even sting that much.

Kinda feel for Gradey—he’s busting his ass out there, but the shots just aren’t falling lately.

Okay, I’m only watching this blowout to see Lowry check in. If Nurse doesn’t play him, Nick’s dead to me. 🤬

Definitely feels like one of those nights for the Raptors. Silver lining though—quicker we get to see Kyle subbed in for the Sixers.

Raptors opted out of playing defence tonight, apparently. Giving up 45 points in the first quarter is certainly a choice. 😐

Tonight might be the last time the greatest Raptor ever, Kyle Lowry, plays an NBA game in Toronto. Scotiabank’s going to explode when he checks in. Can’t wait. Nice touch by the Raptors with the Klow tribute they displayed at the arena.

nick nurse has the opportunity to be cool for the first time ever by starting Kyle Lowry tonight and taking him out at the first stoppage. being nick nurse, I doubt he'll seize this chance.

Psst… hey Staios, no moral compass I see eh? Signing a guy who openly refused to participate in Pride night is a brutal look. LGBTQ+ fans deserve better. Fuck you! 🖕🏻

Asked Scottie Barnes about his intentional free throw miss with 1pt lead and 0.8 seconds remaining in OT. Really appreciate the candid response: "I was already thinking it but wanted to get a confirmation from the sideline, I didn't really know what they were saying..."

NEW VIDEO: Collin Murray-Boyles DOMINATED in the Raptors overtime win over the Sixers #NBA I went through the key plays in OT by both CMB and Alijah Martin. The Raptors Rookies were ready for the moment! CMB defense Alijah Martin awareness Shead and Quickley Creation youtu.be/Xx17zEbky-o

Quick Reaction: Sixers 115, Raptors 116

Scottie giving Alijah Martin his flowers, complimenting the energy he’s brought to the team lately. Love seeing the rook get that acknowledgment.

Tomorrow night should be a fun game. You know Nick Nurse is pissed. Kudos to the Raps.

Murray-Boyles is a beast out there. The Raptors really snagged a good one in last summer’s draft.

This is one of those moments where Barnes still has a bit of growing up to do.

Collin Murray-Boyles with the put back dunk.

Scottie’s feelin’ it tonight!

Kyle Lowry pulling up to Scotiabank in an Auston Matthews Leafs jersey… come on, man. Leafs are irrelevant again. Next time throw on a Vladdy or Okamoto jersey—rep a relevant team.

We could be witnessing Kyle Lowry’s last games in Toronto today and tomorrow. Let’s hope Nurse puts him in so he can get the well-deserved ovation the greatest Raptor of all time deserves.

Legacy media’s cringing at Dem leaders dropping “fuck” and dialing down the heat. Fuck that – the Trump admin’s been gaslighting with violent rhetoric since Day One. Dems finally matching the tone is long overdue, and we need more politicians with this backbone. ✊🏻

Soooo, I guess Green Day won’t be playing at the “Orange Tub-of-lard/Kennedy Center anytime soon.

No worries. Scottie’s got us …. I hope! 🤞🏻

“Heavy Foot” by Mon Rovia feels like a long walk with a heavy heart … carrying the past, refusing to harden, still moving forward. In this political climate, it hits like a reminder to stay human. Great lyrics, huge atmosphere, unreal vocal. music.apple.com/ca/music-vid...

Katie’s latest is a critical read: connecting the Wolves’ response to Renee Nicole Good’s murder with Arendt’s warnings on totalitarianism, the blurring of fact/fiction, and the collective’s struggle against suppressed urgency. A powerful, timely piece.

Folks, the "Minister of AI" has the moral backbone of a sleazy backroom art dealer.

Another domino falls. Bregman to Toronto never felt real, especially post-Okamoto signing. If we’re getting a bat, my money’s on an OF like Tucker or Bellinger. Bo’s ship, I think, has likely sailed. 😔

I just signed a petition demanding the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Ban X/Twitter in Canada. Join me in signing here: you.leadnow.ca/petitions/ba... you.leadnow.ca/petitions/ba...

RIP Bob Weir. We lost a real one today—one of the true Grateful Dead originals. Wild to think it now leaves Bill Kreutzmann as the last one standing. Thanks for the songs, Bobby. music.apple.com/ca/album/cas...