Locked On Raptors

The Toronto Raptors have lost five games in a row, are a bottom-3 defensive team, and are still missing Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown and Ja'Kobe Walter due to injury -- but that's OK! In Episode 1749, Sean  Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (Locked On NBA Newsletters, Basketball Feelings) for another round of Toxic Positivity Friday on the show, where we put up the blinders to all that bad going on with the team to focus only on the good stuff. They start off by chatting about the hopefulness of things (probably) only looking up from here, as the Raptors' season as started about as roughly as you could have possibly foreseen between the rash of injuries and the 2-10 start against a challenging schedule. Sure things are bad. But they could be the Pelicans! Next, Sean and Katie examine the excellent play of Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick, the two bright spots of the season so far. Will their lights out play sustain once the rest of the team's health is restored? Lastly, Sean and Ka

How's Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic performing now into his second season on the sidelines? In Episode 1748, Sean Woodley goes solo to field a handful of listener questions about Darko Rajakovic's grade as the Raptors' bench boss so far, the upcoming 2025 Draft (yes, we're there already) and the future of a couple bench pieces on the Raptors with very different long-term outlooks. Off the top, Sean assesses the performance of Rajakovic so far, digs into how he's excelled in the developmental part of his job, and why we're still very much unclear on Darko's acumen as a late-game coach. Is he the type of coach who will need to replaced once the Raptors are competitive? Maybe! But we have no clue just yet. Next, Sean digs into what the ideal player archetype for the Raptors to add in this summer's draft would be based on the state of the team, before tackling a What's More Likely scenario regarding Cooper Flagg. Lastly, Sean discusses the short and longer team plans for Jonathan Mogbo, and whether h

The Toronto Raptors lost a rock fight with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night to open up the NBA Cup, falling 99-85 in a game where their identity as a team betrayed them. In Episode 1747, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob to talk about the Toronto Raptors' loss the the Bucks to open the NBA cup, the wretched math that cost the Raptors despite the Bucks having an awful offensive night, and the struggles of RJ Barrett. Next, they chat about Immanuel Quickley getting injured again, and the bigger picture concerns that come with this team still not getting to see the BBQ trio play together. Lastly, Sean and Vivek run through The Good (Gradey Dick, Bruno Fernando's poster on Giannis), The Bad (AJ Green's existence, rim scoring, rookie struggles) and The Hmmm (the Bucks being screwed, NBA Cup-date) to round out the show. Discord: https://discord.gg/cz3GDT46Newsletter: https://newsletters.lockedonpodcasts.com/nba/raptorsYour favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league cover

The NBA Cup is here, and the 2-9 Toronto Raptors kick their cup quest off on Tuesday night against the 2-8 Milwaukee Bucks to close out their extended road trip -- do they have a shot at coming out of Eastern Conference Group B ahead of the Bucks, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers? In Episode 1746, Sean Woodley is joined by James Herbert (CBS Sports) to talk about the Cup concept and how it's worked going into year two, the Raptors' chances of competing in Group B in the East, the field they'll be competing against, and how they envision the rest of the groups in the East and West shaking out ahead of the grand conclusion in Vegas next month. Can the Raptors overcome their injury issues and get some results against teams with their own struggles? Who is the favourite to emerge from Group B? Who wins the whole thing? We get into it all on today's show! ** NOTE - Recorded before the news of Immanuel Quickley's sprained elbow leaving him questionable for Tuesday, as well as Damian Lillard being rule

The Toronto Raptors saw the long-awaited return of starting point guard Immanuel Quickley over the weekend, but dropped a pair of games to the Clippers and Lakers on a tour of Los Angeles that saw the team get something of a reality check on their current station within the league. In Episode 1745, Sean Woodley goes solo run through his big takeaways from the weekend, Quickley's up-and-down return through two games, Ochai Agbaji's trustworthiness and much more. Off the top, Sean digs into the reality checks experienced by head coach Darko Rajakovic, big man Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett, all of whom had their struggles over the weekend. Next, Sean digs into the return of Immanuel Quickley to the lineup, how he aids their late-game offense, his issue with killing his dribble too soon, and the potential return of his floater touch. Lastly, he runs through The Good (Ochai Agbaji), The Bad (Jamison Battles' missed threes, fouling up 3 not being a federal crime) and The Hmmmmm (can the Raptors get right against the

The Eastern Conference is a complete mess, and the Toronto Raptors seem to be inching towards returns for their two most important offensive players; is surprise climb into the East's Top-6 a total pipedream, or a distinct possibility? In Episode 1744, it's Toxic Positivity Friday, where Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (Locked On Newsletters, Basketball Feelings) to talk about Immanuel Quickley nearing a return and what it means for a Raptors team that's dying for their three-point launching point guard's skillset, whether a healthy version of the Raptors can parlay its early-season depth discovery into a run up the shambolic Eastern Conference on the back of an offense that has a chance to be very good, and why though it might defy the preseason tanking edict, it would in fact be a good thing for the Raptors to make a jump to playoff status. How much will Quickley's return help solve some of the recurring issues the 2-7 Raptors have faced? Are there any teams in the Eastern Conferenc to truly be feare

The Toronto Raptors dropped to 2-7 on the young season with a 122-107 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night in a game that tight until DeMar DeRozan and the Kings turned on the jets to pull away from a shorthanded Raps squad in the fourth quarter. In Episode 1743, Sean Woodley goes solo to run through his takeaways on the fourth quarter collapse by the Raptors, Davion Mitchell finding his way as an effective albeit somewhat maddening energy guard, and the best, worst and most interesting from the Raptors' loss in Sacramento. Off the top, Sean outlines how a stark disparity in shot-making talent and the Raptors' increasingly troublesome issues on the defensive glass were just too much for the Raptors, who badly need Immanuel Quickley back in the lineup. Next, Sean sings the praises of Davion Mitchell, who, despite some frustrating elements of his game, is carving out a nice niche for himself as his return to the bench draws near with Quickley slated to return as early as the weekend. Lastly, Sean run

It's still small sample season, but the Toronto Raptors are now a tenth of the way into the season; will the hot starts of Gradey Dick, RJ Barrett, Ochai Agbaji and Jakob Poeltl hold up throughout the season? In Episode 1742, Sean Woodley is joined by Zulfi Sheikh (Sportsnet, Raptors Republic) to chat about how sustainable the starts of some key Raptors might be as we progress further into the season. Can Gradey Dick maintain his efficiency while hunting such a steady diet of difficult shots? Is RJ Barrett's playmaking leap going to hold up as the Raptors get healthier? What about Ochai Agbaji's incredibly accuracy on corner threes and at the rim? Plus, will Jakob Poeltl keep on pace to have a career year? And is Davion Mitchell due for a reshaped role once Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes return to action? All that and more on today's show! Join us over on the Locked On Raptors Discord server: https://discord.gg/Skmvk8CHSubscribe FOR FREE to the daily Locked On Raptors newsletter: https://newsletters.loc

The Toronto Raptors dropped a second heartbreaker to the Denver Nuggets in as many Mondays as RJ Barrett's would-be winner popped in and out at the buzzer, dropping the Raptors to the most thrilling 2-6 record you've ever seen. In Episode 1741, Sean Woodley goes solo to recap a game that featured all kinds of great flashes from Gradey Dick and RJ Barrett, along with some learning moments for them both as well. Plus, the Raptors strung together their best defensive half of the season in the opening 24 minutes; is there something to build on there? Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (Jakob Poeltl, offensive juggernaut), The Bad (Chris Boucher getting walked, all the time) and The Hmmmm (just how good is Gradey Dick going to be?) to wrap up the show. Join the Locked On Raptors Discord server! https://discord.gg/Skmvk8CHSubscribe for FREE to the Locked On Raptors daily newsletter: https://newsletters.lockedonpodcasts.com/nba/raptorsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SKIMSShop SKIMS Mens at SKIMS.com. Let them

It was an absolutely loaded weekend of Toronto Raptors basketball, as the team lost to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night before celebrating franchise icon Vince Carter in a note-perfect jersey retirment ceremony on Saturday night as the Toronto Raptors took down the Sacrameno Kings in overtime, while RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick carried the day. In Episosde 1740, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Raptors in 7, Sportsnet) to talk about the Toronto Raptors 1-1 weekend, RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick turning out star performances against both the Lakers and Kings as the Raptors continue to battle injuries, the Vince Carter retirement ceremony and the Good, Bad & Hmmm from a loaded weekend. Off the top, they get into Barrett's burst of incredible playmaking over the last three games, what it means for the team, and Grady Dick's incredible shot-making and defense-bending. Next, they get into the Vince Carter retirement ceremony, why the Raptors absolutely nailed it, and the emotions of see

The Toronto Raptors are without Scottie Barnes, but that can't dampen Toxic Positivity Friday, especially not on a weekend where LeBron James is coming to town and Vince Carter is getting his jersey retired. In Episode 1739, Sean Woodley goes solo to talk about the silver linings of Scottie Barnes being out the lineup, Jonathan Mogbo's pathway to a serious Rookie of the Year case with Barnes out of the lineup for extended time, Immanuel Quickley getting the kes to the team upon his return, and a weekend that will be full of nostalgia as LeBron James and Vince Carter, two major figures in Raptors history, will be in town for very different reasons. Off the top Sean dives into why Mogbo getting to start in Barnes' place not only makes sense, but sets him up to rack up the kinds of numbers that could vault him into Rookie of the Year contention is a down year for first-year guys. Next, Sean talks about the heavy offensive burden Immanuel Quickley is going to carry in Barnes' absence once he returns to action, an

The Toronto Raptors started life without injured star Scottie Barnes on Wednesday night with a wildly entertaining 138-133 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on the road. In Episode 1738, Sean Woodley goes solo just after the buzzer to run through his biggest takeaways from the game, Jonathan Mogbo starting and Jamal Shead impressing again, and more from a loss that sends the Raptors to 1-4 on the season. Off the top, Sean digs into how the Raptors pillars of competence: Jakob Poeltl (20 points, 16 rebounds), RJ Barrett (31 points, 8 assists, 4 threes) and Gradey Dick (a career-high 30 points on 11/17 shooting) figure to give this team far more structure and purpose than the Raptors had when Scottie Barnes last missed time to close the 2023-24 season. Immanuel Quickley, who probably wins this game for the Raptors if available,  figures to be that fourth pillar soon. Next, Sean talks about the efforts of the rookies. Jonathan Mogbo got his first career start and looked pretty solid doing it. Jamal Shead dishes 9 as

Toronto Raptors star forward Scottie Barnes is out for the team's game against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday as he undergoes testing on the eye injury he sustained against the Denver Nuggets on Monday; can the Raptors withstand a prolonged Barnes absence? In Episode 1737, Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (Locked On NBA Newsletters, Basketball Feelings) to chat about the injury to Barnes, the rotten injury luck he's faced in 2024, and how the Raptors can weather their best player's absence. Next, they chat about Ochai Agbaji having his fourth-year option picked up by the team and the early returns on his revamped game so far this year. Lastly, they check in on the state of the team after one week of games. How are we all feeling compared to where we were at a week ago before the season began? And just how valuable is a revitalization of the team's vibes? Join us on the Locked On Raptors Discord server: https://discord.gg/qFXb6t5XAnd subscribe for FREE to the Locked On Raptors daily newsletter: https

The Toronto Raptors dropped a thrilling overtime game with the Denver Nuggets on Monday night as Nikola Jokic went full MVP mode and the young Raptors learned some tough lessons in closing games against good teams. In Episode 1736, Sean Woodley digs into why the loss was the type you can live considering all the good we saw out of the Raptors throughout, the Young Team Stuff that caused the Raptors to lose the rope, Scottie Barnes going down with an injury after a strong 21-12-9-5-1 effort, and more. Off the top, Sean digs into why this was the type of loss you can live with if you're a Raptors fan, the energy in the building, and some of the brightspots from a game that was distinctly unlike most games played at Scotiabank Arena in the post-COVID era. Next, Sean digs into where things went wrong for the Raptors and we hear from Darko Rajakovic on why this is the type of game the team can learn from. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (Jakob Poeltl's noble efforts on Nikola Jokic), The Bad (Scottie Barnes tak

The Toronto Raptors split a pair of weekend games against the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves, and there were a whole lot of positive things to take away about the team's crew of rookies, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji and more. In Episode 1735, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Raptors in 7, Sportsnet) to talk about their biggest takeaways from the Raptors' two weekend games, and run through the things they liked, the things they didn't like, and the things that have them intrigued from the first weekend of the season. Off the top, Sean and Vivek chat about the performances of the team's rookies, especially in the win over the Sixers, and why Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo and Jamison Battle are already making the 2024 Raptors rookie class look like a banger, and that's without seeing Ja'Kobe Walter yet, and with Ulrich Chomche still very much in the learning phase. Next, they talk about Gradey Dick flashing an expanded offensive package, and the stark increase in his above-the-break shooting volu

The Toronto Raptors are likely to be without starting point guard Immanuel Quickley when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday on the first night of a weekend back-to-back; what should head coach Darko Rajakovic do with his rotation if his lead guard isnt' available? In Episode 1734, Sean Woodley is joined by Esfandiar Baraheni (The Athletic NBA Daily) to talk about what the Raptors might be able to do to optimize a very thin rotation against the Sixers on Friday before debuting a new weekly segment on the show: Toxic Positivity Friday! Off the top, Sean and Es talk about the Raptors' injury woes, why Jamal Shead getting heavy run could be a silver lining of the unjury bug hitting the team so hard out of the gate, lineups they'd like to see get some run, and Scottie Barnes' capacity for a bounceback effort after going 3/14 in the opener. Next, they debut the new weekly Friday segment on the show: Toxic Positivity Friday (TPF for short), where they put the blinders on to all the bad stuff that happened

The Toronto Raptors got blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers in their home opener on Wednesday night, with an already shorthanded roster taking another blow when Immanuel Quickley left after a fall in the 2nd quarter. In Episode 1733, Sean Woodley goes solo to talk about the Toronto Raptors 136-106 season-opening loss, why a combo of poor play, strange decision-making and a hollowed out roster due to injury came together to leave the Raptors up a creek without a paddle against a dangerous-looking Cavs team, positives and negatives in the backcourt, and The Good, The Bad & The Hmmmm from the first game of 82. Off the top, Sean gets into how the Cavs terror duo of Evan Mobly and Jarrett Allen gave Scottie Barnes fits, Barnes forcing the issue, and Darko Rajakovic doing Barnes no favours by surrounding him with little shooting -- albeit while working with a roster down five rotation players once Quickley was ruled out for the second half. Next, Sean dives into the guard play on display in the game. IQ looked

The Toronto Raptors kick off the 2024-25 NBA season with their home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, and it's time for some bold, daring, audacious predictions about this year's Raptors team. In Episode 1732, Sean Woodley is joined by Joseph Casciaro (The Score) to make some bold predictions about the upcoming Toronto Raptors season. Off the top, Sean lays out his case for why the Raptors' projected starters will be one of the most potent lineups in basketball, while Cash picks Immanuel Quickley to smash one of Fred VanVleet's franchise records. Next, Sean makes a strong proclamation about the Raptors' propensity for living at the rim, while his guest outlines his case for why the Raptors' offense can be much better than anyone might expect. Lastly, Sean is very bullish on one of the team's rookies landing some end-of-season hardware, while Cash has some thoughts on where the Raptors will eventually fall in the Draft Lottery standings. Subscribe now to the FREE Locked On Raptors daily newslette

The NBA season starts today, and the Toronto Raptors get their season started on Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which mean it's time for a grand annual tradition on the podcast as Sean Woodley, Vivek Jacob and Sahal Abdi make their picks in the 8th Annual Locked On Raptors Over/Unders & Prop Bets Spectacular! In Episode 1731, Sean, Vivekl and Sahal run run through play-centric over/unders, including Scottie Barnes Points + Rebounds + Assists, Gradey Dick points per game, Immanuel Quickley three-pointers made, RJ Barrett's True Shooting percentage, Jakob Poeltl minutes played and much more! Then, they turn their attention to some team-focused projections for the season. Where will the Raptors finish on offense and defense? Who will be the team's second-leading scorer? Will Scottie Barnes accrue more dunks than the rest of the starters combined? Will team have any end-of-season award winners? And how many wins will they end up with at season's end? All those and more! Be sure fill out you

The Toronto Raptors closed out their preseason schedule with a 116-112 win over the Brooklyn Nets to finish 3-2 in the exhibition season, while continuing to hint at this team having a little bit more upside if things break right than has been projected all summer long. In Episode 1730, Sean digs into his biggest takeaway from the preseason as a whole, talks about why the Raptors got it exactly right with their final roster decisions, and runs through The Good, The Bad & The Hmmmm from the preseason. Off the top, Sean digs into why this preseason opened the door just a bit for the Raptors to be a surprise riser, with Scottie Barnes' all-encompassing presence, some optimism among the second unit guys, and the team's try-hard ethos all being elements that could push the Raptors' win total up this season. Next, Sean dives into the Raptors' decision to swap Jamison Battle into Branden Carlson's two-way spot and give Bruno Fernando the last spot on the 15-man roster, and why that was the exact right course of