Toronto Raptors

Drake Blamed For Recent Toronto Raptors Loss

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The Toronto Raptors were eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday night. The loss was heartbreaking as the team couldn’t find a rhythm from the free throw line. However, could there be other reasons to blame for the poor performance by the Raptors? For one radio curse, a certain curse could have returned involving a celebrity Raptors fan. The fan in question is one of the biggest musicians of his era. Has the Drake sports curse hit the Raptors franchise again?

On Thursday’s edition of the D.A. Show, Pat Boyle seems to think Drake could be to blame for the loss in Toronto. Boyle believed the Toronto superfans’ presence at the game could have canceled out DeMar DeRozan’s daughter shrieking. DeRozan’s daughter could be heard letting out a loud screech during each trip to the free-throw line. Her vocal performance immediately made Diar DeRozan a viral sensation. Whereas a Toronto superfan was nowhere in site“If you don’t have Drake, and if that doesn’t work, the niceties of offering her things to make her stop shrieking, you get physical. You get her out,” Boyle said.

Radio Host Calls For Drake’s Toronto Raptors Fan Card

Generally, it has been a long-running joke that whatever side Drake chooses in an athletic endeavor will eventually lose. One of Drake’s most notable fandoms is his passion for the University of Kentucky’s college basketball team. Drake joined the team during the pre-season of one of their more memorable seasons. The Wildcats were on the verge of becoming history in 2015. Until the team lost their first game of the season in the Final Four. Drake was a huge supporter of the 38-1 Wildcats. Undeniably there is evidence behind the mythical curse.

The Toronto Raptors are now preparing for the off-season. Undoubtedly the potential Drake curse wasn’t the only pain last night. But Patrick Beverley also threw salt into the wounds after the game. The Bulls star was heard telling the Raptors GM that his team was trash. It hasn’t been an ideal 24 hours for the city of Toronto. However, the Raptors are not far removed from their own championship run. A moment the city of Toronto or Drake will never forget. For the latest news involving the NBA, stay locked in right here at HNHH.

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Patrick Beverley Takes Shot At Toronto Raptors

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Patrick Beverley is no stranger to trash talk. No matter who the opponent may be, Beverley will talk that talk. Just the season, the Chicago Bulls star made it his mission to try and end the Los Angeles Lakers season. Beverley wanted the chance to prove that his old team needed him. The Bulls got the win. However, the Lakers still punched their playoff ticket. Since then, Beverley has had bigger fish to fry. His Bulls are looking to punch their own playoff ticket. However, they would need to get by the Toronto Raptors first.

Indeed the Bulls passed their first test in the play-in tournament. On Wednesday, the team would defeat the Raptors to move on to the eighth-place matchup with the Miami Heat. But after the game, Beverley wanted to remind Toronto just who sent them home this season. Raptors TV broadcast assistant Mike Roach caught a Beverley moment as the Bulls guard ran past Raptors GM Bobby Webster. “I knew they were f****** trash.” Obviously, the they Beverley was referring to was Webster’s Raptors. But the Bulls didn’t win the game so easily.

Patrick Beverley Lets The Raptors Know

If you watched the game, you would know this one came down to free throws. The Raptors threw up brick after brick from the charity stripe. All those misses came back to haunt the team in their nail-biting defeat. Beverley is no stranger to becoming an icon of the play-in tournament. During his time in Minnesota, the Timberwolves earned a playoff spot through the tournament. Culminating in Beverley becoming a living GIF by throwing his jersey in the crowd in celebration.

As the great Kobe Bryant once said, the job is not finished. In order for Beverley in the Bulls to make the playoffs, they will need to defeat the Miami Heat on Friday night. The two teams will be competing for the final spot in the Eastern Conference. However, now it seems Patrick Beverley has made a new enemy with the entire city of Toronto. What are your thoughts on Beverley’s shot toward the Raptors? Do you think it was petty or just a part of the game? Sound off in the comment section with your thoughts. For the latest NBA news, keep it right here with HNHH.

Twitter Loves Diar DeRozan’s Free Throw Screams

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Getting loud during free throws is a time-honored basketball tradition. For a player, thousands of people trying to break your concentration can be incredibly daunting. Additionally, the energy is exponential – every missed free throw will only make the crowd louder. At this point, it is simply a part of basketball culture.

But to go viral for screaming at free throws, you need to really stand out. With thousands of other people doing the exact same thing, it’s truly a feat for your voice to be heard. However, that’s exactly what happened at the crucial Bulls-Raptors Play-In game. And the viral figure in question just happens to be the daughter of one of the players on the court.

Raptors Miss 18 Free Throws Thanks To DeMar DeRozan’s Daughter

In a do-or-die match to stay alive in the NBA playoffs, the Chicago Bulls traveled to Scotiabank Arena to face the Toronto Raptors. The teams finished ninth and tenth in the regular-season standings. As the ninth and tenth-seeded teams, the winner would face the Heat for the last place in the playoffs while the loser would start their offseason. The Bulls were looking to reach the playoffs in back-to-back playoffs for the first time since 2014. The Raptors were looking to do the same for the first time since 2020. It was a vital matchup for two teams coming off mediocre regular seasons.

The Raptors got off to the better start and were up by 11 at halftime. However, they were outscored by 16 in the second half to lose by four, 109-105. What would have helped the Raptors hold onto their lead would have been better free-throw shooting. The Raptors missed a season-high 18 free throws, eventually going 18-36 from the line. Notably, Diar DeRozan, daughter of the Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan, was incredibly vocal during every Raptors trip to the line. She is now being credited with being an essential part of the Bulls’ win. Her father put up 23 points and 7 rebounds for the Bulls. Zach LaVine led all scorers with 39 points. The Bulls will now face Miami for the East’s eight-seed on Friday.

Twitter Reacts

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Fred VanVleet Goes Off On NBA Referees In Uncensored Rant: Watch

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Fred VanVleet has been the backbone of the Toronto Raptors over the past couple of seasons. Overall, he was a large reason why the Raptors were able to win a championship back in 2019. He was the backup to Kyle Lowry, and there were some nights when he lit up the scoreboard. Subsequently, he has become the veteran voice of the Toronto Raptors, who have had some ups and down this season. Over the past few games, their ups and down have been at the mercy of the officials.

Against Denver, there was a situation in which Scottie Barnes was completely tossed from the game. Moreover, last night against the Clippers, the Raptors felt like they got completely hosed. Following the game, VanVleet decided to take to the podium where he went in on the referees. In the video down below, VanVleet made sure to lay it all out there. He ripped into head official Ben Taylor, while additionally giving us lots of profanity. It was an amazing rant that speaks to how frustrated the players are.

Fred VanVleet Doesn’t Hold Back

“I’ll take a fine, I don’t really care. I thought Ben Taylor was f—ing terrible tonight. For most nights, out of the three [officials] there’s one or two that just f— the game up,” VanVleet said. “It’s been like that a couple games in a row. Denver was tough, obviously. You come out tonight competing pretty hard, in the third quarter, I get a bulls—t tech, [it] changes the whole dynamic of the game, changes the whole flow of the game. Furthermore, VanVleet said that the officials are trying too hard to be the stars of the game when the fans just want to see the players.

Overall, this is a rant that is going to get VanVleet fined. However, this is something that needed to be said. NBA officiating has been ridiculous this season, and it is cool to see a player stand up for themselves in this way. Although, it will also be interesting to see how much the league fines him as these are uncharted waters.

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Toronto Raptors Apologize For Deleted Women’s History Month Video

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All they wanted to do was express gratitude for Women’s History Month, but the Toronto Raptors missed the mark with fans. March 1 ushered in a new month and a new celebratory season. The Raptors shared a brief, 13-second video highlighting WHM, but it quickly fell flat. Players were asked, “Beyoncé said girls run the world. Why do you think that’s true?” This is where things took a turn.

Malachi Flynn answered, “They are the only ones that can procreate.” Precious Achiuwa added, “They birth everybody.” The clip concludes after Scottie Barnes chimes in with, “All women are great because they’re all queens.” Viewers took to social media to complain that the video seemed awkward while highlighting that not all women can give birth and procreate.

The Video Disappears

TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 26: The team logo decal at center court on Welcome Toronto night during the Toronto Raptors NBA game against the Utah Jazz at Air Canada Centre on January 26, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

The video was supposed to be empowering, but that didn’t translate for the public. It didn’t take long for the clip to mysteriously vanish from the Raptors’ socials, but it was too late; people were already firing off hot takes after screen recording the post. “In case you were worried no sports team would completely bungle their Women’s Empowerment Month goodwill this year,” one person tweeted in the video’s caption. “Here’s an already-deleted video from the Toronto Raptors. Speechless.”

LGBTQIA+ allies were also upset because it was stated by the players that only women can have children. Transgender equality advocates said that women weren’t the only ones who could become pregnant, prompting another fiery debate online. Later, the Toronto Raptors issued an apology via CTV News. “We’re an organization that prides itself on doing the right thing when it comes to inclusion and representation, and we made a mistake yesterday.”

Supporters Come To Team’s Defense

Still, despite deciding to take down the video, the Raptors had plenty of supporters in their corner. As podcast hosts were in a flurry to jump on a microphone and discuss the controversy, others questioned why this was an issue. The topic of transgender rights has caused a divide, and online, the Raptors are being defended. Check out the clip from the Toronto Raptors above, and let us know if you think it’s controversial.

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An NBA All-Star Described Drake’s Basketball Skills As ‘Just Old-Man YMCA Game’

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Drake December 2022
Getty Image

Drake’s love for sports is well-documented. The Canadian musician has even formed close-knit friendships with some players. The rap superstar is often photographed courtside at some of his favorite basketball teams’ games. He’s given commentary during showdowns or even been the center of the commentary due to his fashion choices. He’s even found himself in a couple of social media spats while defending his hometown team, the Toronto Raptors.

When the entertainer isn’t on the road or working, he runs his own league, Sanctuary Basketball League (SBL). In contrast to rapper J. Cole, the OVO Sound boss’ likelihood of playing at the professional level is highly unlikely due in part to recurring ankle injuries. However, professional basketball player Fred VanVleet believes Drake could never make it in the league because of his lack of skill.

During the shooting guard’s appearance in a video segment from Canadian sports network Sportsnet, when asked about his opinion on rappers with a passion for the game, VanVleet replied, “[J. Cole] can play a little bit. You know what I mean? Not professionally, obviously. Drake is just old-man YMCA game. He just doesn’t move like a basketball player.”

Ironically, as much public support Drake shows the Toronto Raptors, it much hurt to hear their star guard doesn’t have faith in your game.

Usually, the self-proclaimed 6 God is quick to clap back. However, the rapper is still running off a high after celebrating his son Adonis’ 5th birthday.

Meanwhile, other players chimed in, too, like Scottie Barnes, who said of Cole, “He’s actually one of the artists that really knows how to play basketball.”

Drake & J. Cole’s Basketball Skills Rated By Toronto Raptors

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Some starts from the Toronto Raptors recently rated Drake and J. Cole’s hooping skills. Moreover, they had to distinguish between the court and the booth, as they’re two dominant MCs. However, their answers as to each rapper’s skills as a basketball player may surprise you.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 03: (L-R) Rapper’s Drake and J. Cole attend First Down Friday at Sensu on February 3, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

“[J. Cole is] actually one of the artists that really knows how to play basketball,” expressed Scottie Barnes, winner of the Rookie of the Year award in 2022. While Drake is an official ambassador for the franchise, some acknowledged the Dreamville artist’s skill. After all, he played in various professional leagues over the years and impressed many with his movement.

Meanwhile, guard Fred VanVleet said “[J. Cole] can play a little bit. You know what I mean? Not professionally, obviously. Drake is just old-man YMCA game. He just doesn’t move like a basketball player.”

“J. Cole moving super fluent so I’ma have to go with Cole,” fellow guard Gary Trent Jr. added. Furthermore, he pitted each GOAT contender against each other in a one-on-one for his thought process.

However, when it came to pitting their careers in music against each other, the Toronto Raptors surprised no one. While many gave love to the North Carolina lyricist, the 6 God clearly has a home-court advantage on their playlists.

“Drake’s low-key like the GOAT,” added Rookie of the Year Barnes. “Not low-key, [but] high-key. Whatever he drops is a banger.”

Furthermore, the OVO head honcho’s musical moves made for a stellar 2022 for him. However, J. Cole has refined his hooping chops with a lot of experience over the years. Moreover, he played for some African and Canadian leagues, and Drake helped him get on the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Specifically, he joined the Scarborough Shooting Stars in 2022.

Still, it’s no surprise considering the League’s co-owner, Nicholas “Niko” Carino. Also, he co-founded OVO and is Drizzy’s close friend, who linked up with Cole at Drake’s birthday party in 2021.

“You know, Dreamville and OVO are family,” Carino remarked. “Drake had a birthday party in L.A. last year. The conversation was, ‘I heard you have your team.’ It organically grew from there.”

Still, what do you think of the Toronto Raptors rating Drake and J. Cole’s basketball skills? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, stay tuned to HNHH for more curious crossovers in the worlds of hip-hop and basketball.

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Drake & Adonis Have A Blast At The Raptors Game

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Drake has always been a huge Raptors fan, and that will not change anytime soon. The legendary artist still lives in Toronto, which means he’s able to attend Raptors games quite frequently. Overall, his presence is always welcomed, and the fans love having him there.

These days, however, the artist can typically be seen at the games with his son Adonis. Adonis has become a frequent fixture at these games as he is chomping on some candy. Fans love seeing them both there, and it feels like the Raptors play their best ball with Drake in the building.

Rapper Drake and his son Adonis Graham watch as the Raptors mascot goofs around in front of them during a timeout in the first half of the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers at Scotiabank Arena on December 7, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Drake & Adonis Back Again

Last night, Drake and Adonis were back in Toronto for the Raptors’ game against the Charlotte Hornets. The Raptors ended up winning the game, so you know both father and son were treated to a show. In some images below, posted by the NBA, the two seemed to be having a blast.

Interestingly enough, Adonis was wearing a pair of LaMelo Ball signature sneakers. Sure, Melo might play for the other team, although Drake and Adonis decided to show love anyway. As for Drizzy, he wore some bizarre platforms with a fuzzy top.

The Toronto Raptors have struggled at times this season, however, they have a couple of wins over the last few games. They are looking to make the playoffs, and their ascent is beginning now. Only time will tell whether or not they have the juice to actually get into the play-in.

Let us know what you think of Drake and Adonis’ footwear, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

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J. Cole Appears In Toronto For Raptors Game

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If you know anything about J Cole, then you understand that he is a huge basketball fan. In fact, he has had some opportunities to play at the professional level. From the BAL in Africa to the Canadian Elite Basketball League, Cole has been able to showcase his talents.

Overall, Cole wasn’t able to give his full time and attention to these opportunities. After all, he is a massive recording artist who has tours and other engagements to think of. However, that doesn’t mean he has lost his love for the game. For instance, Cole has frequently attended NBA games this season.

J Cole performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on July 30, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic)

J. Cole x Raptors

Recently, we reported on how Cole was sitting courtside at a Miami Heat game. On Tuesday, J Cole continued his NBA tour by hitting up Toronto. The Raptors were taking on the Charlotte Hornets, which made it the perfect occasion for Cole to visit the Six.

In the video below, you can see that Cole was chilling courtside in a hoodie and come camo pants. Consequently, Cole got plenty of attention at the game as all of the cameras were on him. Typically, the artist is not a fan of having the cameras in his face, although it comes with the territory at this point.

Unfortunately for Cole, his team ultimately lost the game. The Raptors came through with a 132-120 victory that was aided by Pascal Siakim’s 28 points. Overall, the Hornets have had a very difficult season, and that isn’t likely to change, anytime soon. Hopefully, for J. Cole, this team will get back on track and showcase its full potential. Or maybe they can get Victor Wembanyama.

If you saw last night’s game, let us know what you thought, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

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