Locked On Raptors

In Episode 1549, Sean Woodley goes solo to field some listener questions about the Toronto Raptors to wrap off an exciting and transformative week for the franchise on the heels of the O.G. Anunoby trade and the debuts of Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. Off the top, Sean digs into the elements of Quickley and Barrett's games that have most surprised him early on in their Raptors tenure, from Quickley instantly transforming the shape of the Raptors' offense, to Barrett's sturdier-than-expected defense, to their pretty easy fit next to Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes. Next, Sean digs into what RJ Barrett's ceiling might be, and some player comps for the type of guy he could become within the context of his new team -- could a Harrison Barnes-like arc be on the table for the Canadian former 3rd-overall pick? Plus, what's the outlook for Gradey Dick over the next year or so, and can Jontay Porter find his way into the regular rotation as a backup big? Lastly, Sean fields a wild hypothetical question about pote

In Episode 1548, Sean Woodley is joined by Jamar Hinds (Raptors Republic) to break down the Toronto Raptors' 116-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies that will forever be known as the first Immanuel Quickley Game. Off the top, Sean and Jamar chat about Quickley's 26-point, 5-assist effort in his second game with the Raptors and discuss the element of fun and joy he's already infused into the team, and dig into some of the promising interplay he had with Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl and more. Next, they dig into some positive progress on the defense end of the floor, with Quickley, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl serving as the notable standouts in a night that could have looked even better without some unseasonably warm shooting by Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ziaire Williams. Lastly, Sean and Jamar run through The Good (RJ Barrett's driving, Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes not needing to do everything), The Bad (Dennis Schroder & Barrett's decision-making) and The Hmmm (Jontay Porter's debut, just how far might the

In Episode 1547, Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (DIME, Basketball Feelings) to reflect upon the Toronto Raptors career of the recently traded O.G. Anunoby with a draft of his best moments from his seven-plus seasons in Toronto. Off the top, Sean gets Katie's first blush takeaways on the trade that sent O.G. to the New York Knicks along with Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn in exchange for Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and a second-round pick. Next, they dive head first into the draft. It's a pretty loaded board, with O.G.'s incredible game-winning miracle buzzer-beater in Game 3 against the Boston Celtics in The Bubble, "What About Scarves," some incredible individual efforts from his time throughout his career with the Raptors, a scuffle with a future teammate, and so much more from a player who was extremely cool, very funny, and uniquely devastating on the defensive end of the floor. Plus, some honorable mentions!Join us over on the Locked On Raptors Discord to become part of our listener communi

In Episode 1546, Sean Woodley is joined by Gavin Schall of Locked On Knicks for a crossover episode to dive deeper in to the Toronto Raptors trading O.G. Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and the second-round pick. Off the top, Sean and Gavin discuss why the timing was right on both sides for this deal to go down, and dig into what Raptors fans are going to miss most about having Anunoby in Toronto. Next, they chat about what makes Anunoby such a special defensive player, and whether his offense stands a chance of leveling up with the Knicks. Lastly, Sean grills Gavin about what the experience of watching RJ Barrett play basketball is like, as well as Immanuel Quickley's early career post-season struggles and whether there are any concerns about that being a long-term issue for the Raptors' new lead guard.Join us over on the Discord server! https://discord.gg/EPfZBpaaSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!HungryrootHungryroot is the easiest way

In Episode 1545, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to break down the Toronto Raptors 124-121 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers as Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett made their Raptors debuts, while Pascal Siakam scored an efficient 36 points and Scottie Barnes closed things out with a pair of big time plays. Off the top, Sean and Vivek chat about their first impressions of Quickely and Barrett, and why each of them brings a needed element to a team that had grown a little too stale and samey in the lead up to the O.G. Anunoby trade over the weekend. Next, they chat about how Quickley and Barretty figure to interact with other Raptors on the floor, and why the move makes them both think it would be foolish for the Raptors to not extend Pascal Siakam at this point. Lastly, they run through The Good (Siakam's 36, Barnes' massive late game bucket and rebound) The Bad (free-throw shooting, the backup center rotation) and The Hmmmm (Jakob Poeltl looking refreshed, who carves out the 8th and 9th rotatio

Sean Woodley goes live to react to the Toronto Raptors reportedly trading O.G. Anunoby, Malachi Flynn and Precious Achiuwa to the New York Knicks for Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and a second-round pick. What does it mean for the Raptors in the present, short and long term? Why is Quickley such a perfect running mate for Scottie Barnes? What's next for Pascal Siakam? And how will the team's rotation break down? We discuss it all, while bidding farewell to an all-time Raptor in Anunoby.Come talk about the trade more in the Locked On Raptors Discord server! https://discord.gg/PmAD4FCuSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an acc

In Episode 1543, Sean Woodley goes solo to break down the Toronto Raptors' 120-118 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday night in Boston. Off the top, Sean digs into the Raptors' ongoing defensive struggles, and why Jakob Poeltl's role in them is coming into clearer focus now that the Raptors' have shifted their starting lineup and rotation. He's by no means the only culprit on the defensive end, but his issues and surprising level of matchup dependence are having cascading effects on the Raptors' defensive structure. And regrettably, it's an issue without an obvious fix right now. Next, Sean digs into Scottie Barnes' 7/15 night from downtown, his unprecedented shooting leap, and why it's bringing him to a level as a player where it probably doesn't make sense for Toronto to trade talent for futures, even though that may be their only way out of the corner they've painted themselves into, team-building wise. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (Jalen McDaniels lives!), The Bad (the rapid decline of a formerly e

In Episode 1542, Sean Woodley goes solo after a bit of a holiday break to share his biggest takeaways from the week that was for the Toronto Raptors, answers some listener questions, and bust out another fantastical trade idea for Fake Trade Friday. Off the top, Sean talks about the Raptors embarrassing loss to the Utah Jazz, the comfortable win over the Washington Wizards, and the long-awaited lineup change that could very well prove to be a jumping off point for a better version of the Raptors than we've seen so far -- but is it too little, too late? Next, Sean's fields some listener questions about whether Gradey Dick should be back in the rotation mix, and revisiting the Damian Lillard sweepstakes from this past offseason. Lastly, Sean shares another one of his brilliant Trade Machine creations for Fake Trade Friday with a seven-player swap that sees the Indiana Pacers get their big wing defender, while the Raptors get the ideal big man to pair with Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam for the long haul.Join

In Episode 1541, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob to react to the Toronto Raptors' 121-111 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night in a game that saw the Raptors show some positive signs of life only to fall short to Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, all of whom scored 30+ points in the game. Off the top, Sean and Vivek discuss the encouraging changes to the rotation Darko Rajakovic deployed in the game, as well the defensive work by Jakob Poeltl and Dennis Schroder, who had their best game working in tandem to guard pick-and-roll since the very early days of the season. Next, Sean and Vivek discuss O.G. Anunoby's prolonged shooting slump and small step back on the defensive end this season and why it's looking more and more like moving O.G. and not Pascal Siakam before the NBA Trade Deadline is the best pathway for the Raptors to retain talent around Scottie Barnes while reorienting the roster around him in a way that can be conducive to success. Lastly, they run through The Good (Pasc

In Episode 1540, Sean Woodley is joined by Dave DuFour (The Athletic, Nerder She Wrote, Georgian National Basketball Team) to chat about the Toronto Raptors' struggling defense, once thought to be a major strength of the team, which has plummetted down the defensive charts after a pretty strong start to the season. Off the top, Sean and Dave chat about where it's gone wrong for Toronto's middling defense so far, and whether the issue with the team is more about a lack of defensive talent, or a faulty deployment of a defensively talented group of players. They also examine what's gone on with the offense, and chat about Scottie Barnes' ascendence in Year 3. Lastly, Sean and Dave discuss first-year head coach Darko Rajakovic, who has received tons of heat for his handling of the Raptors' rotations, and seemingly needs to reevaluate the team's defensive scheme. But even with the faults he's shown, it's still way too early to judge him as a coach, right? Ulimately, player personnel is going to be what drives team

In Episode 1539, Sean Woodley is joined by Jamar Hinds (Raptors Republic) to break down the Toronto Raptors' 113-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night that saw a great Scottie Barnes game (30-10-5) and a strong second half from Precious Achiuwa, and not a whole lot else in the positives department. Off the top, they dig into some of the recurring issues that popped up in this game that have been lingering around the team all season long, including a rough first quarter and some extremely porous defense in the first half. Next, they dig into the play of Precious Achiuwa, who rightfully closed this game after a strong second half in which he helped grease the offense while also offering more resistance against Nikola Jokic than anyone else on the team. Lastly, they run through The Good (Scottie's lefty full court pass to Pascal Siakam, the half court offense's progression), The Bad (Siakam's deployment, the transition offense's regression) and The Hmmm (Jakob Poeltl maybe being the odd man out in th

In Episode 1538, Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (DIME, Basketball Feelings) to chat about ascending Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes, who has been by far the biggest bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming 11-15 Toronto Raptors start to the season. Off the top, Sean and Katie chat about what's most stood out to them about Scottie's ongoing leap and what parts of his game have been the most entertaining to watch and track in the season's early going. Next, they dig into the Raptors teammates of his that they've had the most fun watching him work with on the floor, with some thoughts on his play alongside O.G. Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Pascal Siakam. Lastly, they project ahead and chat about the types of players they'd like to see the Raptors seek to pair with Scottie for the long haul, and chat about why Scottie's play so far this year has helped to salvage the entertainment value of this year's version of the team. He's pretty awesome!Join us over on the Discord, it's a wonderfu time! https:/

In Episode 1537, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob to react to a Toronto Raptors win over the Charlotte Hornets that hung in the balance until Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam took over in the fourth quarter to secure a 114-99 decision. Off the top, Sean and Vivek live out Groundhog Day again, and dig into why this game simply HAS to the last dance for the starting lineup, which has been very bad all year, and was brutal once again against Charlotte -- made all the more frustrating by how comfortably the Raptors pulled away after swapping Gary Trent Jr. in for Jakob Poeltl with the starting group. Next, they chat about Jakob Poeltl and Dennis Schroder, who would better serve the Raptors coming off the bench, and why their issues on the court are very much intertwined at this point. Lastly, they run through The Good (Scottie Barnes' low-man defense, Gary Trent Jr.'s first career double-double), the Bad (Malachi Flynn, backcourt defense) and The Hmmm (the closing lineup forcing Darko's hand (???), Precious

In Episode 1536, Sean Woodley goes solo to lay out the options and the stakes at play for the Toronto Raptors as the calendar hits December 15th, unofficially opening up NBA Trade season, before introducing a new recurring segment: Fake Trade Friday! Off the top, Sean digs into the current state of affairs for the Raptors, and details why the next two months represent perhaps the last chance for the Raptors' front office to right the wrongs of the last couple years and set the franchise back on course into the next few years of the Scottie Barnes era. It's the Last Chance Saloon! Next, Sean outlines the ideal outcomes for the Raptors over the next couple years -- both fantastical and unlikely though not impossible and more realistic. Is there any way for the front office to get creative in an effort to retain both O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam to pair with Scottie Barnes moving forward while having enough on hand to reshape the roster in a way that makes sense around then? Or is the more realistic outcome a

In Episode 1535, Sean Woodley goes solo to break down the Toronto Raptors' 135-128 win over the Atlanta Hawks in a game that saw the Raptors' defense struggle once again outside of a handful of critical moments. Off the top, Sean digs into the defense faltering once again, and how it was saved by some timely defensive stops by Jakob Poeltl, and some stretches of excellent defensive work by Precious Achiuwa. The offense seems to at least have a plan, can the defense tap into the gear it seemingly can still reach in its best moments more regularly to help steady the ship? Next, Sean digs into another strong night for the Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby trio, their imrpessive numbers as an on-court trio this season, and why as trade season looms, a move away from one or two of the three will not be indicative of what those three guys are capable of and much more an indictment of the rest of the roster build. Lastly, Sean runs through the Good (not being the Hawks), the Bad (the starters being TOO good)

In Episode 1534, Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (DIME, Basketball Feelings) to chat about Pascal Siakam's future on the heels of Michael Grange's latest over at Sportsnet before answering a couple of listener questions about the current state of the Toronto Raptors. Off the top, Sean and Katie chat about Grange's report about Siakam's future and the possibility that the Raptors could look to extend him sooner than later if they don't think a fair return is out there for him ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline. Is that a good idea? Or would it be more of the same from a front office that could be excused of kicking the can down the road a little too liberally? Next, Sean and Katie dig into a listener question about whether the Raptors are running the risk of wasting Scottie Barnes' talent if they cash in their best players for middling returns. Lastly, they address a question about whether the Raptors' experience with Kyle Lowry a decade ago informs their current, patient approach to managing their core pl

In Episode 1533, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet) to pick apart a all-too-familiar brand of loss for the Toronto Raptors against the New York Knicks on Monday night where the starting lineup once again got absolutely waxed in its time on the floor. Off the top, Sean and Vivek discuss the Raptors living out the real life definition of insanity, where they're hoping for different results despite rolling out the same ineffective rotation patterns that have cost them minutes and games countless times this season. Plus, some thoughts on the Raptors' defense, which right now lacks any sort of identity or stated goal. Next, they chat about what the Raptors do now that they're 9-14 with all kinds of uncertainty hanging over their short and long term future, and dig into how the cloud of doubt hanging over every game this team plays and loses has sapped any joy that could be found in watching the Raptors' play a whole bunch of ostensibly entertaining and close basketball games. Lastly, they run throug

In Episode 1532, Sean Woodley goes solo to dig into the Toronto Raptors' 119-116 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday in which the team's defense continued its recent slide, and the starters continued to be not very good. Off the top, Sean digs into the Raptors defense, why they seem to be underperforming compared to the raw defensive talent the roster boasts, and the areas where it feels like they've lost the rope a little bit in recent weeks as they've plummeted outside of the league's Top-10; they simply can't be good if their defense stinks! Next, Sean examines another rough night for the starters and pleads with Darko Rajakovic through a microphone to look at making a change to the starting unit after more than a month's worth of negative results now piling up. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (Scottie Barnes' multi-faceted 31-10-10 night), The Bad (the end of the Ron Harper Jr. dream) and The Hmm (Precious Achiuwa rediscovering his three-point shot) to round out the show.Join us in the Discord! It'

In Episode 1531, Sean Woodley is joined by James Herbert (CBS Sports) to chat on the 10-year anniversary of the Rudy Gay trade that helped kickstart the greatest run of success in Toronto Raptors history. Off the top, Sean and James reflect back on the day of the trade and the run for the team that followed, with a special focus on the four guys the Raptors acquired from the Sacramento Kings: Patrick Patterson, Greivis Vasquez, Chuck Hayes & John Salmons, all of whom contributed to the Raptors' turnaround in the 2013-14 season. Next, they dig into how the Gay trade and the aftermath informed how they each view team building today, and what the long-standing legacy of the deal is now that we have a decade's worth of distance from it. Lastly, Sean and James chat about the parallels between the 2013-14 Raptors and the 2023-24 Raptors, who boast similar fit issues and are looking at similar crossroads as a franchise.Come join us over on Discord! Today we're talking mostly about Shohei Ohtani definitely coming

In Episode 1530, Sean Woodley is joined by Jamar Hinds (Raptors Republic) to chat about a frustrating Toronto Raptors loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night that featured huge nights from Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. along with a big time fourth quarter by Scottie Barnes, but was spoiled by some baffling Dennis Schröder possessions and a slow-to-react Darko Rajakovic. Off the top, Sean and Jamar dig into why Schröder's fingerprints were all over the Raptors' issues in the final minutes, as his commandeering of the offense, brutal misses and really rough defense resulted in the Heat pulling away comfortably in the waning moments of the game. Next, they dig into the prolonged issues for the Raptors' starting lineup, which hasn't really done much good since the opening week of the NBA season. Is NOW the time for the change after hitting rock bottom? Sean and Jamar dig into why they'd move to start Gary Trent Jr. in place of Schröder, and the cascading positive effects that could have on the