Locked On Raptors

Will recent Toronto Raptors addition Brandon Ingram make franchise history in his first full year with the team next season? In Episode 1835, Sean Woodley answers that question and many more about the state of the Raptors in a Toxic Positivity Mailbag! Off the top, Sean answers questions about whether Brandon Ingram can have a top-5 scoring season in Raptors history in his first full year with the team, and whether the Raptors' Top-10 defense in the calendar year 2025 is at all sustainable moving forward. Next, Sean digs into questions about assembling a rad bench mob for next year's team, and whether or not he'd be open to the Raptors saying "eff it" and winning out their remaining nine games. Lastly, Sean fields questions about why it's OK if the Raptors don't pick in the upper reaches of the Top-10, ex-Raptors with NICE things to say about Canada, and how excited he is to watch a team that plays pretty ball again. Discord: https://discord.gg/VSHseKZaNewsletter: https://newsletters.lockedonpodcasts.com/nba/

The Toronto Raptors all but guaranteed themselves the 7th spot in the NBA Draft Lottery in May with a 116-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets, and it's kind of a relief! In Episode 1834, Sean Woodley goes solo to recap the Raptors beat down of the Nets, and dig into what it means for their pursuit of good position in the NBA Draft Lottery. Off the top, Sean gets into where the probabilities now lie with him in the lottery picture, why 7th in the lotto is close to locked up at this point, and why that's kind of a relief. There's no real need to live and die with night to night results the rest of the way, and this year's draft is loaded with interesting prospects in the Raptors likely range. Plus, does this free the Raptors up to unleash Brandon Ingram for a brief run to close the season? Next, Sean runs through the highlights from the Raptors' crop of rookies on Wednesday night, including Ja'Kobe Walter's passing, Jamison Battle's rebounding, Jamal Shead's floor management and Jonathan Mogbo's stat-stuffing. Lastly

The Toronto Raptors take on the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night in perhaps their most important game with regards to the tank standings of the season. In Episode 1833, Sean Woodley and Vivek Jacob chat about the Raptors' tilt with the Nets, and whether it means anything that the Raptors have been playing RJ Barrett on nights (like tonight) that Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley are both sitting; does it tell us anything about how the franchise views Barrett? Next, they get into the summer time conundrum the Raptors are set to face regarding Barrett, who's on-court impact metrics paint him as the most likely Raptors core piece to get moved this summer. But should the Raptors just keep him and, perhaps, even pay the luxury tax to do so? Lastly, Sean and Vivek address the recent discourse about the inconveniences of playing in Canada, raised by Thad Young, Lou Williams and Rudy Gay on various play-hosted podcast this week. Do we care at all? (Sean doesn't.)Discord: https://discord.gg/VSHseKZaNewsletter: https:

The Locked On NBA Squad Show brings together hosts from various NBA team podcasts to discuss the latest league happenings. In this episode, the panel debates the relevance of March basketball, analyzes playoff positioning, and evaluates recent team performances. They focus on the Denver Nuggets' struggles, the Houston Rockets' surprising success, and potential playoff matchups. The hosts also engage in playful banter about team rivalries and discuss which NBA franchises should be "relegated" for poor performance or tanking. Throughout the conversation, the panel offers insights on player impacts, team strategies, and the unpredictable nature of the upcoming playoffs. 0:00 Intro: March basketball and NBA discussions5:02 Lakers' defense and playoff potential10:37 Nuggets' playoff chances and matchups16:08 Houston Rockets' strengths and weaknesses21:53 Mavericks' playoff push and Anthony Davis26:26 Relegating NBA teams to G League  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PrizepicksNow’s the perfect time to join.Do

The Toronto Raptors took down the Washington Wizards by a final score of 112-104 on Monday night in a game that the Raptors set themselves up to lose well enough, but the powers of Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl were simply to much to contain. In Episode 1832, Sean Woodley goes solo to react the Raptors' 25th win of the season, dig into how the Raptors coaching staff managed the game about as well as possible if their intent was to lose while also getting some run in for their main guys, and why 7th in the lotto odds feels like their destiny. Next, Sean gets into the trio of Quickley, Barnes and Poeltl, who were excellent in their minutes together on Monday despite some wonky shooting splits, have posted strong on-court numbers together all season, and look pretty clearly like three guys you can play winning basketball with based on the eye test. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (not having to watch the Wizards anymore, the rookies), The Bad (Orlando Robinson) and The Hmmm (have the Rapt

The Toronto Raptors picked up another tanktastic loss against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night by a final score of 123-89 as All-Rookie hopeful Jamal Shead dropped a career-high 17 points. In Episode 1831, Sean Woodley goes solo to loosely talk about the game, discuss Jamal Shead's candidacy for an All-Rookie team, dig into the latest update on Brandon Ingram's injury progress and more. Off the top, Sean details why Shead doesn't really have a credible case for an All-Rookie team, and why that doesn't take away from all he's done to stake his claim a long term NBA player this season. Next, Sean digs into the Raptors' latest update on Brandon Ingram, and why it feels less likely by the day that we see him suit up this year. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (Scottie Barnes), The Bad (asking people to pay money to watch that game) and The Hmm (NCAA prospects turning out!) to round out the show. Discord: https://discord.gg/35WVqcFANewsletter: https://newsletters.lockedonpodcasts.com/nba/raptorsYour favorit

The Toronto Raptors returned to ethical losing on Thursday night with a spirited 117-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors in a game where the Raptors kept their stars Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl in the game for crunch time, and rightfully so. In Episode 1830, Sean Woodley goes solo to talk about the Raptors' 117-114 loss the Warriors and why the Raptors coaching staff made the right call to keep their big guns in the lineup down the stretch of what might be one of the last truly competitive games the team will play for the rest of the year. Sean gets into the magic of the Immanuel Quickley-Jakob Poeltl pick-and-roll, Quickley coming into his own as a lead guard, and the thrill of watching a game that involved tactical adjustments for the first time in what feels like an eternity. Next, Sean talks about how Scottie Barnes, with his 29 points, 10 boards and 6 assists on 11/16 shooting, laid out the blueprint for how the Raptors can best optimize him going into next season. Lastly, Sean d

March Madness gets going today, but top prospects and Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey will not be involved -- so what better time to put a bow on their freshman seasons as they head into the NBA Draft this summer? In Episode 1829, Sean Woodley is joined by college basketball knower Matthew Winick to talk about Harper and Bailey as NBA prospects and potential fits with the Toronto Raptors before chatting about some more prospects Raptors fans should watch as the tournament gets rolling Thursday afternoon. Can Harper be an offensive engine in the NBA? Can he play off the ball at all? And how much blame should he shoulder for the Scarlet Knights' struggles this year? Plus, what to do about Bailey's polarizing game? Does he have two-way potential? What's the deal with his playmaking struggles? And does he do enough things well to be a surefire NBA contributor? Lastly, they run through some quick thoughts on Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, Michigan State's Jase Richardson, and some deeper prospects to keep an

March Madness is here to rescue Toronto Raptors from the doldrums of watching miserable tank-forward basketball, and there a ton of lottery-bound prospects to watch! In Episode 1828, Sean Woodley goes solo to talk about the prospects he's most eager to watch in this year's Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, and why it's such refreshing thing to watch interesting high stakes basketball with semi-Raptors related implications. Sean digs into the Duke guys Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel, all of whom could in theory be Raptors depending on how the lottery breaks. Plus, some thoughts on Maryland's Derik Queen, Georgia's Asa Newell, Texas' Tre Johnson, Illinois' Kasaparas Jakucionias, and Michigan's Danny Wolf! Discord: https://discord.gg/35WVqcFANewsletter: https://newsletters.lockedonpodcasts.com/nba/raptorsYour favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delivered right to your in box. Sign up for free now, at lockedondaily.com.Support Us By Supporting Ou

This episode of the Locked On NBA Squad Show East features a lively discuss on the Toronto Raptors' controversial late-game strategies and the broader implications of tanking in the NBA. The panel explores various proposed solutions to the tanking problem, including fines, lottery reforms, and radical changes to the draft system. The conversation touches on the ethics of tanking, its impact on fan engagement, and the league's incentive structures, ultimately questioning whether there's a perfect solution to this complex issue.  0:00 Intro: Most shameless tanking team in East6:07 Debate on ethics and effectiveness of tanking12:10 Are any other East teams tanking shamelessly?20:50 Proposed solutions to NBA tanking problem26:45 Tony's unique anti-tanking system proposal  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PrizepicksNow’s the perfect time to join.Download the app today and use code LOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get the bonus, it’s guaranteed

The Toronto Raptors got spanked by the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, 129-89, in a game that very much fell in line with the team's tanking agenda -- but does the league have an existential threat on its hands with the widespread on-purpose losing going on around the league? In Episode 1827, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob (Sportsnet, Raptors in 7) to go over some brief thoughts on the Raptors' loss to Phoenix before turning their attention to the league's tanking problem, whether it's as serious as it feels like it is right now, and what can be done to remedy it. Off the top, they chat about Jamison Battle officially being put on Donyell Marshall Watch, the struggles of Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley in the loss, and why this game symbolized the fact that the NBA's season is just too long. Plus, they get into why it is in fact a problem that a third of the league is trying to lose for the last quarter of the season, the unintended consequences of the flattened lottery system, and what they would d

The Toronto Raptors continued their intensely bizarre push to the finish with a 1-1 weekend against the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers that featured one of the best looks at the Barnes-Barrett-Quickley trio yet, and a clutch tank loss on Sunday. In Episode 1826, Sean Woodley goes solo to talk about Immanuel Quickley helping to clarify the Raptors' vision, the Raptors' wobbly status in the tank standings, whether they'll pull and about face and push for the play-in, and the scourge that is March basketball in the NBA. Sean details how Quickley, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett's on-court interaction was as smooth as its every looked on Friday in Utah, detail a clutch tanking loss to the Blazers on Sunday that highlighted what a joke this ongoing tank derby is, and runs through The Good (other teams that are fun to watch), The Bad (March basketball) and The Hmmm (will the Raptors bring Brandon Ingram back?) to round out the show. Discord: https://discord.gg/35WVqcFANewsletter: https://newsletters.lockedonpod

How can the Toronto Raptors best optimize Scottie Barnes going into the future? In Episode 1825, Sean Woodley is joined by Vivek Jacob to talk about a big ol' grab bag of topics not at all related to the tanktastic game the Raptors are set to play against Philly on Wednesday night. Off the top, Sean and Vivek chat about Scottie Barnes season, what we've learned about him, and how the Raptors can look to best optimize him going into next year. Next, they take a look around the league for inspiration, and talk about which teams the Raptors might be able to try and model their own identity after based on the talent they have in house. Lastly, they play a round of "Gillespie, Dowtin or Agbaji" as they try to figure out the future outlook for each of the team's fringe roster guys getting regular run down the stretch. Discord: https://discord.gg/tT4mcMT3Newsletter: https://newsletters.lockedonpodcasts.com/nba/raptorsYour favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delive

 This episode of the Locked On NBA Squad Show East features hosts debating the impressive turnarounds of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, analyzing the Coach of the Year race between Kenny Atkinson and JB Bickerstaff. The panel explores the battle for the 4th seed between Milwaukee, Indiana, and Detroit, considering each team's needs and playoff implications. They also examine the current state of play-in teams like the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, with insights on Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and the challenges facing these struggling franchises.  0:00 Intro: Cleveland vs Detroit improvement debate6:16 Coach of the Year race: Atkinson vs Bickerstaff11:41 Which team needs the 4th seed most?21:30 State of play-in teams in the East26:52 Orlando Magic's future with Franz and Paolo  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PrizepicksNow’s the perfect time to join.Download the app today and use code LOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get t

The Toronto Raptors took down the Washington Wizards on Monday night by a final score of 119-104 as local kid AJ Lawson dropped 32 points while banging in seven threes. In Episode 1824, Sean Woodley goes solo to recap the victory for the Raptors powered in large part by their third-stringers, talk about why Immanuel Quickley is clearly the Raptors' best offensive player ight now and much more. Off the top, Sean gets into Lawson's big night, the Raptors third-stringers comfortably taking down Washington's starters, and the latest in the lottery standings picture before taking a look at Immanuel Quickley, whose recent run of play has made it pretty clear he's the Raptors' best offensive player right now. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (Jamal Shead's putback dunk), The Bad (Jamison Battle reaggravating his busted nose and the bad injury luck of the Raptors' 2024 draft class) and The Hmmm (dreaming of a day when Scottie Barnes is playing serious ball next to Brandon Ingram) to round out the show. Discord: htt

The Toronto Raptors split a pair of games against the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards over the weekend, and sent some mixed messages in the process. In Episode 1823, Sean Woodley goes solo to talk about the win over the Jazz and the decision to close with Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes, all but ensuring a victory, the return to the more recent model of closing with youths in the narrow loss to Washington on Saturday, some performances of note from over the weekend and more! Are the Raptors doing themselves a disservice by not fulling leaning into their end-of-season strategy one way or another? Plus, some thoughts on the progressing Immanuel Quickley-Scottie Barnes partnership, and Jakob Poeltl being very good. Lastly, Sean runs through The Good (Jamal Shead's playmaking), The Bad (Ja'Kobe Walter getting hurt) and The Hmmm (Jared Rhoden) to round out the show. Discord: https://discord.gg/tT4mcMT3Newsletter: https://newsletters.lockedonpodcasts.com/nba/raptorsYour favorite podcast now has a newsletter!

RJ Barrett's evolution as a player has been one of the best stories of the Toronto Raptors season; is it insane to think about trading him for financial reasons this summer? In Episode 1822, Sean Woodley is joined by Katie Heindl (Locked On NBA Newsletters, Basketball Feelings) for a Toxic Positivity Friday chat about RJ Barrett's season to this point and why he's staking a claim to stay put for a while with his hometown franchise -- geopolitical factors and all! Plus, they take some time to talk about the Raptors' resting Barrett and Jakob Poeltl against the Utah Jazz tonight, Hot Take Heindl's stance on tanking, and predict how the Raptors will fare on their upcoming home stand against the Jazz, Wizards, Wizards and Sixers. Discord: https://discord.gg/tT4mcMT3Newsletter: https://newsletters.lockedonpodcasts.com/nba/raptorsYour favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delivered right to your in box. Sign up for free now, at lockedondaily.com.Support Us By Suppo

The Toronto Raptors are still sorting out what the correct way to tank the rest of the season looks like, if that's even an attainable thing. In Episode 1821, Sean Woodley and Vivek Jacob chat about the Raptors current predicament as a team hoping to maintain high draft lottery position while still having some reason to play their core players and confronted with the easiest schedule in the NBA to close the season. Is there a way for the Raptors to do this correctly? And if they do that, are they still likely to win a bunch of games against the league's dregs anyway? Sean also melts down a little over the state of the league's busted incentive structure that currently has a third of the league's fan bases rooting for their team to lose basketball games with a quarter of the season remaining. Lastly, Sean and Vivek chat about Ja'Kobe Walter, who seems to be in line for a whole lotta work down the stretch of the season, and what they're most excited about when it comes to the Raptors rookie's development.Discor

The Toronto Raptors took down the Orlando Magic 114-113 on Tuesday night in an extremely bizarre basketball game that featured some pretty blatant tanking by the Raptors, a crew of third-stringers that flipped the bird to the idea of losing on purpose. In Episode 1820, Sean goes solo to talk about what fun the game ended up being despite the strange circumstances, and why the Raptors are probably doing the best they can do right now to find some sort of balance in their tank job. Scottie Barnes has a 65 game threshold to hit in hopes of an unlikely super max. Immanuel Quickley is finally getting to play games, and he's playing well -- can you really quit that cold turkey? It's weird, and uncomfortable at times, but if the team is on board and understanding of the larger goal here, then maybe it's possible this formula works for the Raptors the rest of the way? Sean also talks about Raptors' core guys all turning in strong efforts, Gradey Dick's injury prognosis, RJ and the bench, AJ Lawson and more! Discord:

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Squad Show East, hosts debate the merits of LaMelo Ball versus Trae Young as franchise players. They discuss the potential availability of Ball on the trade market and analyze his impact on the Charlotte Hornets. The panel also creates Oscar-inspired NBA awards, including best lead player and best special effects team. Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, and Cade Cunningham emerge as top contenders for best lead, while the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks are scrutinized for their smoke and mirrors performances. The hosts inject humor and movie analogies throughout, offering a fresh perspective on the Eastern Conference landscape. 0:00 Intro: LaMelo Ball vs Trae Young debate6:45 Defending LaMelo Ball's impact on Hornets12:42 Creating NBA awards inspired by Oscars25:41 Best "special effects" team in the East32:03 Best comedy and drama teams in NBA  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PrizepicksNow’s the perfect time to join.Download the app today and use code LOCKEDONNBA t