The rookie has had a very productive season, but the Raptors will need him to step up even more if they want to beat the Cavaliers in the first round.
After three straight years of missing the NBA playoffs, the Toronto Raptors are headed to the first round to play the Cleveland Cavaliers. Game 1 is on Saturday at 1:00 PM EST at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, and the Raptors will need to win a game on the road if they want to steal home-court advantage and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
With an extremely inexperienced team, the Raptors will need to rely on their defense to get them through the first round. The only players in the rotation with double-digit playoff games are RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl. Still, those four do not combine to have even half the amount of playoff games as 11-time All-Star James Harden and seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell.
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) | © David Richard-Imagn ImagesCollin Murray-Boyles represents the Raptors as the lone rookie in the playoff rotation. His standout first season in the NBA has been highlighted by his stellar defensive ability, both on the perimeter and in the interior. His length and athleticism have allowed him to be a great counterpart to Defensive Player of the Year contender Scottie Barnes, making the Raptors’ defense a force to be reckoned with.
Going into his first playoff game, Murray-Boyles discussed his expectations for the team after being drafted, including returning to championship contention.
“I expected us to be [in the playoffs] right now,” said Murray-Boyles. “I expected us to have an opportunity to bring the organization back to a championship level. It’s been really encouraging to see the progress that this team has made … A lot of things I didn’t expect as well. I got a lot of trust instilled in me, being able to guard such great players … I like it though, that was something I had to adjust to quickly.”
It’s easy for players to claim they expected to be in the playoffs; athletes typically expect the best of themselves and their teams. The former No. 9 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft showed humility, admitting he didn’t expect to have such a prominent role on a playoff team in his first season.
Consequently, his presence will be extremely important for the Raptors to have success. They will need to make the superstar backcourt duo uncomfortable with the ball in their hands, and having the former South Carolina Gamecock on the floor will greatly add to completing that task. Whether he is guarding the ball on the perimeter, interrupting the passing lanes, or clogging the lane in a pick-and-roll, Murray-Boyles’ aggressiveness in all aspects will be essential to forcing turnovers and scoring in transition, something the Raptors have thrived at all season.