Doug Smith
@smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social
Been chronicling the zaniness of the Raptors and NBA for nigh on three decades now. Survived everything, too
After the 44-26 third quarter blitz, Raptors are up 100-80 with 9:43 left and we're just about done here
Barnes has 21 and 12 and the season-long homestand draws to an end Wednesday when the Pistons are here.
(Go, Seahawks!!)
Barnes has 21 and 12 and the season-long homestand draws to an end Wednesday when the Pistons are here.
(Go, Seahawks!!)
February 8, 2026 at 10:06 PM
After the 44-26 third quarter blitz, Raptors are up 100-80 with 9:43 left and we're just about done here
Barnes has 21 and 12 and the season-long homestand draws to an end Wednesday when the Pistons are here.
(Go, Seahawks!!)
Barnes has 21 and 12 and the season-long homestand draws to an end Wednesday when the Pistons are here.
(Go, Seahawks!!)
Indy's Furphy threw down an impressive dunk but then collapsed on the baseline; did not look good from this vantage point
February 8, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Indy's Furphy threw down an impressive dunk but then collapsed on the baseline; did not look good from this vantage point
This has been a Scottie Barnes clinic this quarter
February 8, 2026 at 9:42 PM
This has been a Scottie Barnes clinic this quarter
Raptors play something close to thelr level for about five minutes and all of sudden they're up 13
February 8, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Raptors play something close to thelr level for about five minutes and all of sudden they're up 13
That was some flat out boring and bad basketball right there.
Pacers up 48-46 on Raptors at halftime.
Pacers up 48-46 on Raptors at halftime.
February 8, 2026 at 9:11 PM
That was some flat out boring and bad basketball right there.
Pacers up 48-46 on Raptors at halftime.
Pacers up 48-46 on Raptors at halftime.
Raptors up to 8 turnovers and their lead is down to 1 point
February 8, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Raptors up to 8 turnovers and their lead is down to 1 point
Collin Murray-Boyles re-aggravates the left thumb that's been bugging him for weeks and his afternoon is done
February 8, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Collin Murray-Boyles re-aggravates the left thumb that's been bugging him for weeks and his afternoon is done
The Trayce Jackson-Davis era dawns.
February 8, 2026 at 8:42 PM
The Trayce Jackson-Davis era dawns.
Wow. That was something purporting to be NBA basketball
Raptors up 21-20 after one, most witnesses still awake. Not all, I imagine
Raptors up 21-20 after one, most witnesses still awake. Not all, I imagine
February 8, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Wow. That was something purporting to be NBA basketball
Raptors up 21-20 after one, most witnesses still awake. Not all, I imagine
Raptors up 21-20 after one, most witnesses still awake. Not all, I imagine
This game is not proceeding at breakneck speed
February 8, 2026 at 8:34 PM
This game is not proceeding at breakneck speed
Pacers up 11-10 after dull start; Siakam just got T'd. up when officials missed what sure looked like a Raptors foul
February 8, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Pacers up 11-10 after dull start; Siakam just got T'd. up when officials missed what sure looked like a Raptors foul
Shockingly, Raptors snubbed for all-star weekend three-point shootout.
It'll be Devin Booker, Kon Knueppel, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Bobby Portis Jr.,
and Norman Powell.
It'll be Devin Booker, Kon Knueppel, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Bobby Portis Jr.,
and Norman Powell.
February 8, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Shockingly, Raptors snubbed for all-star weekend three-point shootout.
It'll be Devin Booker, Kon Knueppel, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Bobby Portis Jr.,
and Norman Powell.
It'll be Devin Booker, Kon Knueppel, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Bobby Portis Jr.,
and Norman Powell.
It'll be Quickley, Barrett, Ingram, Barnes and Murray-Boyles for the Raptors and Nembhard, Nesmith, Furphy, Siakam and Huff for the Pacers to start
February 8, 2026 at 7:49 PM
It'll be Quickley, Barrett, Ingram, Barnes and Murray-Boyles for the Raptors and Nembhard, Nesmith, Furphy, Siakam and Huff for the Pacers to start
Indy's Rick Carlisle, one of my favourite NBA coaches to chat with, opens his pre-game chinwag today with this:
"I turned on the TV today and it's hard not to live and die with the Canadian curling team today. They got some bad luck today. I think they'll be ok."
"I turned on the TV today and it's hard not to live and die with the Canadian curling team today. They got some bad luck today. I think they'll be ok."
February 8, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Indy's Rick Carlisle, one of my favourite NBA coaches to chat with, opens his pre-game chinwag today with this:
"I turned on the TV today and it's hard not to live and die with the Canadian curling team today. They got some bad luck today. I think they'll be ok."
"I turned on the TV today and it's hard not to live and die with the Canadian curling team today. They got some bad luck today. I think they'll be ok."
Quickley's ankle is fine and he's a go for the Raptors against Indy, Poeltl's taking another day. "“For the last five, seven days, everything we’re doing is just reconditioning. It’s just getting him to the point where he’s going to be physically feeling fine out there," Rajakovic said of Poeltl
February 8, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Quickley's ankle is fine and he's a go for the Raptors against Indy, Poeltl's taking another day. "“For the last five, seven days, everything we’re doing is just reconditioning. It’s just getting him to the point where he’s going to be physically feeling fine out there," Rajakovic said of Poeltl
I certainly know nothing about mixed curling but I do know this woman playing for Canada is having a helluva game.
(Yes, the Olympics do adjust TV viewing priorities)
(Yes, the Olympics do adjust TV viewing priorities)
February 8, 2026 at 2:53 PM
I certainly know nothing about mixed curling but I do know this woman playing for Canada is having a helluva game.
(Yes, the Olympics do adjust TV viewing priorities)
(Yes, the Olympics do adjust TV viewing priorities)
The Ye Olde Mailbag's delivered, there were a few that landed after I'd filed yesterday, I'll catch up with them next week for sure.
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...
Raptors mailbag: Could a Chris Boucher reunion be in the future?
In this week’s mailbag, Doug Smith addresses all the trade deadline rumours (and aftermath), NBA players in G League, and a rethink on draft system.
www.thestar.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:56 PM
The Ye Olde Mailbag's delivered, there were a few that landed after I'd filed yesterday, I'll catch up with them next week for sure.
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...
One final kick at the trade deadline can:
Webster puts some stock in his roster, can the roster repay the confidence?
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...
Webster puts some stock in his roster, can the roster repay the confidence?
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...
The Raptors get a vote of confidence at the deadline and an ultimatum, too
The first two-thirds of the season have been nice but it's the final third that matters to GM Webster.
www.thestar.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:36 PM
One final kick at the trade deadline can:
Webster puts some stock in his roster, can the roster repay the confidence?
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...
Webster puts some stock in his roster, can the roster repay the confidence?
www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...
The dust has settled and there might be questions lingering. The best place to get them answered is Ye Olde Mailbag on the weekend and all it takes to get in is an email to askdoug (at) thestar dot ca.
Ready, set, send!
Ready, set, send!
February 6, 2026 at 4:06 PM
The dust has settled and there might be questions lingering. The best place to get them answered is Ye Olde Mailbag on the weekend and all it takes to get in is an email to askdoug (at) thestar dot ca.
Ready, set, send!
Ready, set, send!
Buck retires and, man, what a ride it's been. He was the face/voice of the franchise for generations of fans. One of the all-timers
Legendary Blue Jays Broadcaster Buck Martinez Announces Retirement
Press Release: www.rogerssportsandmedia.com/the-latest/l...
Press Release: www.rogerssportsandmedia.com/the-latest/l...
February 6, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Buck retires and, man, what a ride it's been. He was the face/voice of the franchise for generations of fans. One of the all-timers
Businesslike job by the Raptors to dispatch discombobulated Bulls
Pacers here Sunday as never ending home stand rolls on
Pacers here Sunday as never ending home stand rolls on
February 6, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Businesslike job by the Raptors to dispatch discombobulated Bulls
Pacers here Sunday as never ending home stand rolls on
Pacers here Sunday as never ending home stand rolls on
Most definitely it hasn't been a classic, Raptors up 100-88 on Bulls after 3, BI with 31, Quickley with 17
February 6, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Most definitely it hasn't been a classic, Raptors up 100-88 on Bulls after 3, BI with 31, Quickley with 17
Certainly not nearly their best but Raptors up 65-58 on Bulls at half. Ingram has 22
February 6, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Certainly not nearly their best but Raptors up 65-58 on Bulls at half. Ingram has 22