RaptorQueensPodcast

Game day. Raptors at an inflection point with this roster after the capitulation vs NOLA. The group looked passive, unable to execute schemes and listless, and with the exception of IQ, unwilling to stand up for JS after an egregious example of taunting. Suns tonight. What does this team have?

Raptors lose to the Pels. A failure all around...shooting, lack of organization on offence, reliance on the 3 ball that wasn't falling, turnovers, rebounding. A very discouraging game. IS this team better than their record? Some very hard choices coming in view of this payroll. Damn, this is ugly.

Game day. Raptors in NOLA. Pels 6-4 L 10, TOR 4-6. Pels also relatively healthy unlike the Raps so this is no gimme. Several of the guys are struggling mightily. Difficult to frame this one in a positive way. The talent is there. But some nights, looks like nobody pulling together. Chemistry?

Raptors lose to HOU. Hang for 2 quarters but undone by poor shooting, poor decisions & reb discrepancy. A thin margin for error to begin with, considering the length given up in the frontcourt and the W/L trend vs good teams. 12 pts in the 4th Q. Play-in starting to look more likely by the day.

Game day. Raps in HOU. Rockets dealing w significant injuries, some puzzling recent losses (GSW, SAS), sitting at 4th in the WC--prolly not what KD signed up for. Nonethless, a big task for the also-shorthanded Raptors. TOR with strong road record, something to prove after their own rough stretch.

RJ Barrett is now the 8th Canadian to reach 8,000 career points.
Steve Nash 17,387
Andrew Wiggins 15,074
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 12,971
Jamal Murray 11,126
Rick Fox 8,966
Kelly Olynyk 8,253
Dillon Brooks 8,014
RJ Barrett 8,003 (at halftime tonight)

Raptors win 122-92. Did alot of things well against an inferior shorthanded team. Shooting ✅️ Ball movement ✅️ steals✅️ points in the paint and transition ✅️ Mavs came into the game with 21 wins so this was a must win. Huge night for RJ. Raps kept pace with the congested EC. 19 games remaining. Good W.

Game day. DAL tonight, several names on the injury report as questionable. Mavs near league bottom in OREB%, T/O & defending in transition so Raps have opportunities. It's looking ugly at home so here's a chance to right the ship. Disturbing trends in those last 2 losses. W is there for the taking.

Raptors lose, continuing the troubling trend vs teams w better records. Consequential T/O, long scoring droughts, mental errors, weird coaching decisions. This is a year of evaluation but a few things becoming clear. Some tough decisions need to be made. Missing CMB but the problems run much deeper

These challenges on inconsequential 1st Q plays 🙄

Game day. Raps @ Wolves. This MIN group is deep 2-5 with multiple offensive threats from 3 AND in the paint. 12th OREB-another tough one on the boards. 4th in the WC but this team has crapped the bed in games v SAC, MEM, BKN, UTA. Need all 4 Q/multiple guys in double digit scoring + bench. Go Raps.

Raptors lose despite a brilliant night from BI. Improved effort/focus from last game vs NY but it's the little things..straight line drives given up, poorly considered 3s early in the clock, missed bunnies at the rim, bench struggles. Nonethless, our team has made enormous strides this year. Onward.

Game day. A not-great road team vs a team not great at home. The loathsome Knicks (ownership + exec). What does NY do poorly? Defending the 3. If there was EVER a night to hit 40%, it's this one. No CMB so a tough night against Mitchell Robinson on the boards. Go Raps! Calling it...big night for IQ.

Game day. TOR @ WAS. Before we pencil this one into the W column, let's all remember the Dec 26 L to the Wizards. Big change in that team since the deadline but those changes are in street clothes tonight. CMB reported as doubtful by ESPN. Raptors have shown improved ability to beat mediorcre teams.

Raps lose to SAS. Fun & competitive through 3Q. TOR gritty defensively, digging in, effective help. Lead by 15. Then the wheels fall off in the 4th. Nil movement offensively, no cutting, poor shot selection. Young team looked shook in the moment, unable to execute. Still, close one vs league elite.

"Clearly" the ball touches Keldon Johnson🤔

Game day. SAS--hellish B2B but good measuring stick. See RJ's post game comments last night👈🏼. Scottie's availability unclear, quad contusion. Spurs scary & deep deep deep at G, not to mention Unicorn 2.0 VW. Never say never but tall task. We're looking for improved attention to detail tonight--4Q.

Finally, CMB cracks the Top 10 on the NBA Rookie Ladder. Well done!👀

Raptors lose 116-107. TOR undone by an abysmal 2nd Q. Battled back from 25 pts down, ultimately fail to execute down the stretch. Credit to BI, working his tail off to get good looks for his teammates...this guy is fully bought in. Loving Ja'Kobe's growth--3 and D, baby! Monster Scottie. No quit.

Game day. Big challenge tonight, OKC's injuries notwithstanding. Unfortunate that we won't be able to see Shai's magic. On our side, no Jak, Scottie's status TBD. Ja'Kobe has been our secret weapon, terrific on both sides of the ball, earning his minutes. Raptors struggles from 3 continue.
Go Raps!

Raptors win. Rapid fire observations: THIS is the Quickley we were hoping for, Brandon Ingram is a freaking Raptor, CMB will be top 5 of the 2025 draft class, Jamal does all the little things, Ja'Kobe becoming indispensable. Good road W here. Took care of business. Held shorthanded Bucks to <100.

Game day. TOR @ MIL. Bucks on 3 game W streak (OKC, ORL, NOL) No Giannis, Turner questionable. On our side, no Scottie. Hoping everything is OK for Scottie & his family. Big D hole to fill but next man up. This team has dealt with adversity & injuries for the past 2 seasons. Beware MIL's shooting.

Crazy ending in Phoenix.

Raptors beat the Bulls. Certainly got interesting in the 4th. Chicago has some interesting pieces. On our side, BI picked up exactly where he left off pre ASG. Some rust all around but Ja'Kobe was excellent off the bench, Jamal tenacious. Raptors struggle from 3 again. 33-23, 10 games over .500 !!

Toronto Raptor Scottie Barnes corrects American reporter's pronunciation of 'Toronto' ahead of the the 2026 NBA All Star. 😂🏀⭐️ #NBAAllStar

Raptors lose 113-95. It wasn't close. Completely outworked, outrebounded. Ball pressure, great shooting by the Pistons. When Duncan Robinson is putting the ball on the floor & attacking the rim, tells you pretty much all you need to know. Maybe TOR mentally checked out but if this was a test...#fail

Game day. Pistons @ SBA. Disciplinary penalties for Mon's fight/s in Charlotte pending but likely no Stewart, Duren. DET's a hard working team but so are the Raptors. And Scottie always comes up big vs guys drafted before him. Takes it personally. Statistically, DET bottom ⅓ in TO, FT rate. Go Raps!

BI gets recognition, named as All Star replacement in Steph Curry's place. So richly reserved👏🏾👏🏽👏🏾👏🏽👏🏾

Raptors win 122-104 over Pacers who just can't catch a break. TOR with a sloppy first half but nail it down in the 2nd on Scottie's brilliance. Trayce JD with immediate impact, esp on offensive boards. Less flashy # s but equally important--Ja'Kobe and IQ defensively. Thumb still bothersome for CMB.

Really good minutes for Ja'Kobe on both sides of the ball.