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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 1d

Had a lot of fun guesting on The Survivor Buff podcast, chatting all things Survivor with Zale and Eric. We broke down last week’s historic episode (🐍) and talked season 49 + the state of the show. Check it out.

🍎: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/7...

🟢: open.spotify.com/episode/1ZVq...

79. Survivor 49 Episode 3

Podcast Episode · The Survivor Buff · 2025-10-14 · 1h 21m

podcasts.apple.com

Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

The Raptors improve to 3-1 in preseason. O is still a work in progress but D has been impressive. They’ve forced 98 turnovers and scored 111 points off them.

That’s an average of 24.5 opponent turnovers and 27.8 points off turnovers.

Their averages last season: 15.1 (7th in NBA) and 18.5 (10th).

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

On Friday, Olivier Sarr picked up 5 fouls in 8 minutes. Darko subbed him out in garbage time, presumably to save him the embarrassment of fouling out. Today, in his first ever organized game against his younger brother, he hits the winner.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Another Raptors preseason thriller. The kids nearly blew a 16-point lead in the final 5 minutes, with Washington going up by 1 on free throws. For the second straight game, Darko wins it on a brilliant ATO: a lob to Sarr on the inbound with 0.8 on the clock.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

In 40 preseason minutes, Scottie Barnes has only attempted 3 shots in the paint and 1 in the restricted area.

Shot spectrum:
Paint: 1-for-3
Mid: 2-for-9
3: 0-for-5

Preseason… so, grain of salt, but he’ll need to be far more aggressive. Hopefully it comes with more reps next to Ingram (no BI today)

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Great Quickley game. The 3PA (10) are every bit as encouraging as the 3PM (5). He told us he thinks he can get 10 of ‘em up per game. That’s going to be tough with Ingram out there (+ Barnes/Barrett) but they need him to be aggressive with it. Somewhere in the 7-9 range is a reasonable expectation.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Sandro is very fluid for a big. Obviously, the ability to step out & shoot is nice (much needed on this team from that position) but can also handle/finish at the rim. Should be a good complement behind Poeltl (and, not sure we'll see it much, but can probably play with him too).

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Barnes' first 3 shots of the game were 3-pointers, all misses. On each of his last 3 attempts, he's attacked the smaller Kispert, leading to 2 made mid-range jumpers and a pair of free throws. Much better process.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Even with Quickley/Shead active, Chucky Hepburn gets an early look. Rewarding the rook after his heroics in Friday's 27-point comeback win.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Scottie Barnes' first field goal of 2025-26 (a mid-range pull up) comes 24 minutes into his preseason and 153 minutes into the Raptors' preseason. He missed his first 9 shots. (He's up to 4 steals, though)

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Somehow, this is the Wizards’ first preseason game. The Raptors have already played 4 games this week - very unpreseason-like.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Right hip stiffness for Ingram, per Raptors.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Poeltl (back/illness) and Murray-Boyles (elbow) remain out for the Raptors. Ingram is also inactive vs Washington today.

Walter and Mamu will start with Barnes, Quickley and Barrett.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Chucky torturing the Celtics in the 4th:

a chucky doll with blue eyes is smiling and talking to someone .

ALT: a chucky doll with blue eyes is smiling and talking to someone .

media.tenor.com

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

X-rays negative on Murray-Boyles’ elbow, per Darko.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

The baby Raptors just came back from 27 down to beat Boston. Mogbo with the winner on an awesome ATO. Very fun Chucky Hepburn game: 13 points, 8 assists, 4 steals.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

More fun with numbers (because this game is devolving pretty quickly). The Celtics have a 99, an 88, a 77, a 55 and a 44. Somebody should really change their number to 66; a missed opportunity.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Through 3 quarters...

Hepburn: 6 points, 6 assists, 2-5 3P in 18 minutes
Martin: 9 points, 2-3 3P in 12 minutes

Not bad for a couple of two-way guards, and the 3-point shooting is especially encouraging.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

The Raptors definitely have a type at the point guard position. Chucky Hepburn and Alijah Martin (not unlike Shead, and VanVleet/Lowry before him) are pests defensively - and I say that in the best possible way. They've both looked good in expanded roles tonight.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Collin Murray-Boyles is done for the night with a right elbow contusion. Didn't see what happened but he never came back in the game after subbing out at the 4:07 mark of the 1st quarter. Walter starts the 2nd half in his place.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Chris Boucher having a game. He really downplayed the return angle when I spoke to him earlier ("It's a bit too soon") but after spending 7 years here (and especially after how the last few went) you know he wanted to show out. His young son is in the crowd too. Happy for him.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Even after 7 seasons as a Raptor, this is only the 7th time that Boucher has started in this building, btw.

Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Boucher has played 185 career games in Toronto. Tonight, will be his first as a visiting player. I asked Chris about his return and he said it’s coming a little too soon so he hasn’t had much time to think about it. He’s excited about this opportunity with Boston.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

With the regular starters resting, the Raptors will open with their usual 2nd unit: Shead, Agbaji, Dick, CMB, Mamu. Boucher starts for Boston in his Toronto return.

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Players to wear jersey No. 99 in the NBA, with stars next to those who wore it for Boston:

Ariel Maughan
George Glamack
George Mikan
Roy Rogers (*)
Darko Milicic (*)
Jae Crowder (*)
Tacko Fall (*)
Justin Champagnie (*)
KJ Martin
Yuri Collins
Chris Boucher (*)

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Josh Lewenberg @jlewenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Channelling my inner @keerthikau.bsky.social with this fun fact: Chris Boucher is the 11th player in NBA history to wear No. 99 (6 of the 11 have worn it for the Celtics).

His old No. 25 is retired in Boston, along with 22 other numbers, so Chris told me he chose 99 to represent new beginnings.

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