Locked On Raptors

In Episode 1569, Sean Woodley goes solo to dissect a 138-100 Toronto Raptors loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night in a game that was saved only by Gradey Dick's career-best 22-point night. Off the top, Sean digs into the many ways in which the Raptors missed RJ Barrett against the Pelicans, who are already a more forceful team than the healthy Raptors, but were completely overwhelming without Barrett's power game there to serve as a foil to the Pelicans' athletic and phyiscal brand of ball. Next, Sean sings the praises of Gradey Dick, who is simply very good at getting open, and in this one contributed some very encouraging shot-making and on-ball work. It's pretty clear he needs to be playing heavy minutes from here to the end of the season. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (one last garbage time swan song for Chris Boucher?), The Bad (Jordan Nwora looking out of place) and The Hmmm (whether recent blowout losses might have the Raptors lean even further into a teardown by Thursday) to round out

In Episode 1568, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to chat about the Toronto Raptors falling short in double overtime against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahome City Thunder on Sunday night. Off the top, Sean and Vivek chat about where things went wrong as the Raptors blew a 23-point lead over the course of a troublesome second half that saw the Thunder adjust to the Raptors' defense and get red hot from deep. Plus, what can be read, if anything, into Scottie Barnes' strange finish to the game, the hierarchy of the Raptors' offense, and the lack of interplay with Barnes and Immanuel Quickley to this point in their very brief time playing with one another. Next, Sean and Vivek chat about the things that went right in the game, from the play of RJ Barrett, to the defensive scheme giving SGA trouble, to the mere experience of playing in a high leverage, intense game with one of the league's best teams being something to build on. Lastly, they run through The Good (Thad Young, Barrett), The

In Episode 1567, Sean Woodley and Katie Heindl chat about a handful of Toronto Raptors related topics, including the retirement of championship team member and fan favourite Marc Gasol, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl inching towards their returns, and Scottie Barnes not making the Eastern Conference All-Star team as a reserve. Off the top, Sean and Katie chat about Gasol, what he meant to the Raptors during his brief time in Toronto, and what made him such an admirable NBA star. Next, Sean and Katie chat about the approaching returns of Quickley and Poeltl after both practiced in full yesterday, and the downstream effects their returns should bring to the team as it continues to look for its new shape after a month of upheaval. Lastly, Sean and Katie chat about whether Scottie Barnes was fairly left off the East's All-Star roster, or whether there were guys who made the team who Scottie was more deserving than. All that, plus a brief aside on Bruce Brown and whether he's soon to be traded.Join us over on

In Episode 1566, Sean Woodley is joined by Jamar Hinds (Raptors Republic) to break down the Toronto Raptors' gritty, fun, 118-107 win over DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. Off the top, Sean and Jamar rattle through some of the most fun elements of the Raptors' losing skid-snapping loss, including another scoring outburst from Jordan Nwora, and some heady play by the Raptors' bench guard duo of Bruce Brown and Dennis Schroder, thrust into starting duty by the Raptors' injury situation, as well as the promise of good vibes and solid play that should only be amplified by the returns of Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. Next, Sean and Jamar chat about Gary Trent Jr.'s excellent 24-point night to cap a red-hot month of January, and whether they'd prefer to see the Toronto Raptors keep GTJ through the trade deadline, or use his recent surge to sell high on him at the NBA Trade Deadline. Lastly, Sean and Jamar run through the Good (Thad Young, the Raptors' shot profile), the Bad (D

In Episode 1565, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to play a round of everyone's favourite Toronto Raptors parlour game: What's More Likely?! Off the top, they chat about whether it's more likely that Jakob Poeltl's return to the lineup kickstarts a 9-1 run in the next 10 games, or fails to change the Raptors' losing ways since he went out with an ankle injury. Next, they discuss Bruce Brown and Gary Trent Jr.s' fate ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline and whether it's more likely that both or neither get traded before February 8th. Lastly, they look into the crystal balls to predict whether it's more like that Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett will all make an All-Star game in the next four year, or just one or fewer gets a nod in that time span.Join us on the Locked On Raptors Discord! https://discord.gg/5QpqT7bRSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOC

In Episode 1564, Sean Woodley goes solo to entertain some Toronto Raptors questions from you, the listeners, about Immanuel Quickley, the length of the Raptors' rebuild/retool, and much more. Off the top, Sean digs into a question about Immanuel Quickley's pending RFA status and whether there is a number that the Raptors would walk away from should some team come out of the woodwork with a massive offer sheet this summer. The number would have to be very high, one would think, not the mention how unrealistic it is that the someone might come with a godfather offer so rich it would make the Raptors balk. Fear not the RFA boogeyman! Next, Sean discusses when the Raptors might power out of their ongoing retool and into a competitive window, and makes the argument for why 2025-26 feels like the season where things might really start clicking -- but could it happen as soon as next season? Plus, which former Raptors role players would fit in well on this team? Could RJ Barrett end up being a better player than IQ?

In Episode 1563, Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (Basketball Feelings, DIME) for a little check up on their feelings in the wake of a few weeks of massive change for the Toronto Raptors, with O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam both being traded away, and the final ties to the title era Raptors gone from the team. Off the top, Sean and Katie chat about how they're feeling about the Siakam trade with a week of distance to think about it, and why the departure of the franchise icon is such a pivotal moment not just for Sean and Katie, but surely for wide swaths of the Raptors fan base as well. Next, they dig into the new era the team has moved into, the process of reestablishing and emotional attachment to a new version of the squad, and the process of picking out new Favourite Guys. Lastly, they chat about Bruce Brown's future, and get sad about Kyle Lowry getting send to basketball hell in Charlotte.Join us on the Locked On Raptors Discord server! https://discord.gg/bfNpqjJ7Support Us By Supporting Our Spon

In Episode 1562, Sean Woodley goes solo to break down the Toronto Raptors' 108-100 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in which they were completely overmatched size and athleticism-wise. Off the top, Sean digs into why the Raptors, all of a sudden a very small team by modern NBA standards, did not have the beef to hang with a Grizzlies team that, while down Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart, was certainly not lacking for physicality and size in Monday night's matchups. Sean digs into how Jakob Poeltl would have helped in that regard some, but why the team needs to be scouring the pro and amateur ranks for any largie, bouncy wings and centers they can possibly find. Next, Sean highlights the performances of Scottie Barnes (22-12-8 with 6 blocks) and RJ Barrett (29 points on 12/18), who very much brought the beef and met the Grizzlies' where they were head on. Plus, some thoughts on why the high talent of Barnes, Barrett and Immanuel Quickley should start translating into more wins for this group once Jakob P

In Episode 1561, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to chat about the Toronto Raptors 126-100 loss to the New York Knicks in Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett's returns to MSG. Off the top, Sean and Vivek chat about why the absence of Jakob Poeltl is really being felt, as the team is now 1-6 without their starting center. Would he have been the difference between winning and losing on Saturday? Probably not. But it is clear that for the Raptors to create an environment conducive to the development of their most important young players, Poeltl's roll gravity, rim protection, screening and passing are absolutely essential. Next, Sean and Vivek chat about the uncertainty hanging over Bruce Brown, who clearly fits the Raptors, but is reportedly going to be sought after by a lot of contending teams before the Feb. 8th NBA Trade Deadline, including the Knicks, who Brown had some interesting comments about after Saturday's game. Plus, will Gary Trent Jr. get moved? And will the deadline finally offer a

In Episode 1560, Sean Woodley opens up with some quick thoughts on the Toronto Raptors' 116-110 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night in a game that saw Scottie Barnes flash superstar promise with some to-be-expected mistakes as he gets accustomed to live as a true. no. 1, as well as a pretty fun debut for the newly acquire Bruce Brown, before welcoming in Tony East of Locked On Pacers for some talk about the Pascal Siakam trade. Off the top, Sean gives a quick Good (Bruce Brown's tidy 15-7-1 debut), Bad (Scottie Barnes' turnover troubles in another outstanding 31-7-6 outing) and Hmmm (reasons why the Raptors should just hang on to Bruce Brown). Then, Sean and Tony talk about Siakam's incredible offensive fit with the Pacers and where he'll figure into their defense before running through some thoughts on the price the Pacers paid to get the deal done, Bruce Brown's additive skills, and whether Jordan Nwora has a shot at carving out a rotation spot with the Raptors.Join us over on the Locked On Raptors

In Episode 1559, Sean Woodley is joined by Jamar Hinds (Raptors Republic) to chat about the Toronto Raptors' 121-97 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night just hours after Pascal Siakam was dealt to the Indiana Pacers. Off the top, Sean and Jamar chat about the early returns on Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett as the new vanguard of the new era of Raptors basketball. Next, they chat about Gary Trent Jr. lighting up as a member of the starting lineup, the where Bruce Brown fits and if he's going to stick around at all, the play of Gradey Dick in his return to rotation duty, and Christian Koloko getting waived to make room on the roster to complete the trade. Next, Sean and Jamar run through a Good, Bad & Hmm related entirely to Pascal Siakam's time in Toronto, and the deal to the Indiana Pacers.Join us over on the Locked On Raptors Discord server! https://discord.gg/Tjv3tSt5Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Jase MedicalEmpower yourself when you purchase a Jase Case, providing you wi

In Episode 1558, Sean Woodley goes live to react to the Toronto Raptors trading franchise icon and 2-time All-NBA player Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first round picks, while also adding former Pelicans first-rounder Kira Lewis Jr. in the move. Sean digs into why the Raptors have seemingly come up well short of receiving Siakam's true value in return, the series of decisions that led the Raptors here, the fit of Brown, Nwora and Lewis, what this means going forward as the Scottie Barnes era has now truly begun, and what Siakam has meant to the Raptors over his nearly 8 seasons in TorontoCome join us on the Locked On Raptors Discord to talk more about the trade, and to cope: https://discord.gg/WKbW5T3JSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Jase MedicalEmpower yourself when you purchase a Jase Case, providing you with a personal supply of 5 antibiotics that treat 50+ infections. Get yours today at jasemedical.com and use code LOCKEDON to get $20 off your order.Linke

In Episode 1557, Sean Woodley goes solo to react to the latest Shams Charania report suggesting the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers are actively engaged in talks on a Pascal Siakam trade, with Bruce Brown and three first-round picks potentially being part of the return headed back to the Raptors from Indy. Off the top, Sean parses the reporting and digs into why the Pacers have always been the team that's made the most sense as a Siakam destination, and why the reports of a pick-heavy package are a little perplexing considering the priortiy the Raptors have seemingly placed on young, ready-to-contribute players over draft picks in their recent trade dealings. Next, Sean digs into the main feeling he had upon reading the Shams report: relief. The Raptors have been a hard team to invest in emotionally for two seasons due to the constant uncertainty and trade rumours. Trading Pascal for a middling package seems bad, and probably is bad, but maybe it's just time to rip off the band-aid and let the Raptors just

In Episode 1556, Sean Woodley is joined by Asad Alvi (Prose & Claws, @Swarlayzers) to recap the Toronto Raptors' 105-96 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday night in a game that saw the Raptors turn in one of their best defensive efforts in weeks, only to be undone by one of the worst three-point shooting nights they've ever had. Off the top, Sean and Asad dig into what they noticed from the defense as they did a great job preventing Boston from getting much of anything inside the arc, flashed some strong help-and-recover defense, and cleaned up the defensive glass at an impressive rate. Next, they dig into what went wrong on offense beyond a simple cold shooting night, and examine why zone defenses have given the Raptors some problems in their last two outings against the Jazz and Celtics. Lastly, they run through The Good (Jontay Porter's play in his first start, RJ Barrett's cutting) The Bad (the bricks, Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam's wing defense) and The Hmmmm (Jalen McDaniels, Jontay getting ben

In Episode 1555, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to chat about the Toronto Raptors as they return home form a 6-game road trip that ended on a tough note in a 145-113 loss to the Utah Jazz. Off the top, Sean and Vivek chat about their biggest takeaways from the road trip and why despite a 2-4 record, the feelings coming out of it are more good than they are bad thanks to the play of the new arrivals in RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, along with the surprise emergence of Jontay Porter as a regular rotation player. Next, Sean and Vivek dig into the latest on the Pascal Siakam front, and examine why the Raptors' management of this whole situation has been a real black mark on the front office's record. Lastly, they take a look at their matchup with the Boston Celtics tonight and what's on deck as the Raptors return home for some important games this week on the heels of a 3-game skid to close their western road trip.Join us over on the Discord server! https://discord.gg/h5xwRsP9Support Us By

In Episode 1554, Sean Woodley is joined by Keerthika Uthayakumar (TSN, Every Good Raptors Stat On Twitter) to dive into some small sample stats from the Toronto Raptors first six games since trading OG Anunoby for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, and examine whether or not they are legit, or due for serious regression in the days and weeks to come. Off the top, Sean and Keerthika dig into the Raptor's Top-5 offense in the month of January, whether it has to juice to hang that high for the remainder of the season, and how the new additons have changed the complexion of Toronto's attack before taking a look at RJ Barrett's ridiculous shooting splits and their viability going forward as Barrett continues to shine in a simplified role. Next, they chat about the Raptors' ridiculously high assist totals and whether the team can sustain its extremely high rate of assisting on made buckets, as well as Dennis Schroder's unbelievably good on/off splits in his new sixth man role. Lastly, Keerthika brings forward a stat

In Episode 1552, Sean Woodley goes solo to break down the Toronto Raptors' 126-120 loss to the Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night in a game that despite the result, continued to show off the solid foundation the new-look Raptors are building. Off the top, Sean digs into how the Raptors' offensive principles, instilled throughout this season, were on full display against the Clippers even in a game where the Raptors were missing their most potent offensive player in Pascal Siakam. Next, Sean runs through some stray observations on the play of Jontay Porter, Scottie Barnes and Dennis Schroder and their efforts in the Clippers game. Lastly, Sean closes it out with The Good (Garrett Temple & Thad Young) the Bad (Chris Boucher) and The Hmmm (the burgeoning race for the last two play-in spots in the East, and why it could be extremely fun) to wrap up the show.Join us on Discord! https://discord.gg/QYgJuWjxSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Jase MedicalEmpower yourself when you purc

In Episode 1552, Sean Woodley goes solo to rant and rave following the Toronto Raptors' 132-131 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night in a game that saw an inspiring effort by Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, RJ Barrett and the rest of the squad undercut by a strongly tilted whistle in the fourth quarter, to the tune of a 23-2 free-throw disparity. Off the top, Sean digs into some of the baffling calls and non-calls down the stretch, any single one of which would have probably given the Raptors' a win if the outcome was flipped, on account of how incredible the Raptors played down the stretch, specifically on the offensive end. Darko Rajakovic is in for a huge fine after his incredible post-game rant, but it sure seems like it was worth it. Meanwhile, despite the loss, the Raptors might have themselves a real squad. Next, Sean digs into the absence of Jakob Poeltl, how the Raptors navigated the Anthony Davis without their starting center with some throwback Thad Young magic and Scottie Barnes at the f

In Episode 1551, Sean Woodley is joined by Joe Wolfond (The Score, Pound the Rock) for a deep dive in the Toronto Raptors' looming decision on two-time All-NBA franchise icon Pascal Siakam, and whether it would be more prudent for them to trade him before the NBA Trade Deadline, or extend him to have him continue as a core piece within the Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley-led version of the team. Off the top, Sean and Joe lay out the situation as it stands based on the most recent reporting, and discuss why it's been so disappointing to see the Raptors handle the potential departure of one of the greatest Raptors off all time in such a haphazard way. Next, they take a look at the case for trading him before the Febraury 8th deadline, the financial implications of maxing him out, whether a max deal is out there for him from any team, and the issue of timelines. Lastly, they discuss the not-very-good trade market for Siakam, and why barring a godfather offer that doesn't seem to be out there, the move shoul

In Episode 1550, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to break down a 1-1 weekend for the Toronto Raptors in which they nearly pulled a miraculous comeback against the Sacramento Kings before totally pasting the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Off the top, Sean and Vivek discuss RJ Barrett's enormous 37-6-6 night on red hot shooting against Steph Curry and the Warriors, and discuss how he's fit in so well with the Raptors in the first four games since the trade. Next, Sean and Vivek discuss whether or not the Toronto Raptors have a "good" offense now. They've been the no. 2 offense in basketball since the trade, but surely the wave of regression to the mean is coming, right? Or, is it? Lastly, Sean and Vivek run through The Good (Barrett, Jontay Porter) the Bad (TSN's halftime show on Sunday, The Transaction Industrial Complex) and The Hmmm (the Raptors defense since the trade, Immanuel Quickley's playmaking) to round out the show.Join us over on the Locked On Raptors Discord! https://discord.gg