The rookie forward had an up-and-down debut, but it was a fun glimpse into what he can contribute this season.
The Toronto Raptors struggled to find themselves last season.
That much was obvious after the team utilized 39 different starting lineups, a franchise record.
This year’s Summer League Raptors know who they are. A defence-first team that morphs the court’s dimensions and compresses passing lanes, a philosophy that harkens back to the mentality of the beloved 2019 championship roster.
Collin Murray-Boyles was finally added to that mix and made his debut in the Raptors’ 89-86 win over the Orlando Magic.
Let’s take a closer look at the rookie’s debut and where he left an impression.
Full court pressure
Although the game occasionally felt sped up for Murray-Boyles, he still found ways to impact the final result. The No.9-overall pick looked most comfortable when he didn’t have to overthink, like when he was asked to pressure 2025 second-rounder Noah Penda.
Penda, 20, was praised by scouts for his handle at six-foot-six. But the French forward was visibly uncomfortable with Murray-Bolyes’ relentless ball-pressure. The first clip potentially highlights what the Raptors’ front office envisioned: a labyrinth of defenders that makes switch-hunting nearly impossible.
Cleaning the glass
Murray-Boyles finished with a game-high five offensive rebounds. It was an encouraging sign to those who questioned his undersized stature.
The first clip captures what Murray-Boyles means as a connector. He assists with the press-break and the launches himself at the offensive rebound. Before Murray-Boyles fully lands, he throws a pass to Jamison Battle. Even though it doesn’t result in a clean look, it demonstrates his active vision.
Murray-Boyles can carve out an early reputation for creating advantages in scenarios that opposing teams choose to live with. For example, in the second clip, the Magic hide rookie Jase Richardson after the Raptors get him switched onto Jonathan Mogbo. Penda points him to Murray-Boyles’ corner, something that could happen often as teams pre-plan for the drive-and-kick, banking on the Raptors youngster to miss from deep. When teams hide smaller players or try to give star guards a breather on defence, Murray-Boyles must make them pay on the glass like he does against the Magic.
Designing a playbook
Early signs indicate that this year’s Raptors may experiment more with 45 pick-and-rolls (PnR), which feature the power forward and centre in the action. The first two clips showcase Mogbo as the ball handler and Murray-Boyles as the screener. It’s an optimal way to keep the team’s shooters off-ball, and maximizes the Raptors’ playmaking at the four and five positions.
Like Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Mogbo, Murray-Boyles can also take off after grabbing rebounds, creating mismatches against a disorganized defence.
Room for improvement
Murray-Boyles also finished with a team-worst five turnovers. His ability to take care of possessions will affect his playing time. The Raptors’ rookie also badly missed both of his three-point attempts.
Defence wins championships
Even if the jumper doesn’t materialize in a meaningful way this season, Murray-Boyles can help the Raptors return to the playoffs with his defence. Murray-Boyles has an uncanny ability to snare passes at point-blank range, even when he’s simultaneously defending two players like in the first clip.
Fans will also enjoy how engaged he is off-ball. Between Barnes, Mogbo and Murray-Boyles, the Raptors can deploy a free safety for all 48 minutes.
One thing to keep track of during Murray-Boyles’ rookie season will be how he holds up against smaller players. The Raptors still don’t have a proper point-of-attack perimeter defender, and Murray-Boyles may not fit that archetype.
Interior defence
The Raptors’ interior defence is flimsy past Jakob Poeltl. Any injury to Poeltl has often meant disaster for the Raptors in past seasons. In the first clip, Murray-Boyles shows fans where those Draymond Green comparisons originate from. He understands how to leverage his lower centre-of-gravity against post-scorers, negating his shorter wingspan and weaker standstill vertical.
Murray-Boyles shines off-ball as a weak side defender and is explosive when he gets a small running start.