The Rapcast by Raptors Republic

Unbent. Unbroken. Unbowed. The 3-0 Raptors are winning and winning the right way, which has got the pod more excited than Terrence Ross's agent.

Blake Murphy files some audio from after the game.

Ok folks, its time to get excited. Our boys are back in action and your boys are back to podcasting. In the first episode of the new season, Nick and Barry attempt to articulate their thoughts, hopes and dreams about the new look Raps. In this episode they discuss: -The new guys. How will they do? Who do we like already? -Demar and Terrence playing for contracts. -Our new uniforms compared to the new uniforms across the league. -Whats going to happen in the Atlantic Division -Who's got the best hair game on the team. -Season predictions The guys also look into whats going on around the league. And because Chuck Hayes touched their lives, as he did with everybody's... They pay him the respect he deserves. All this and a bunch more madness. Its great to be back. Thanks for listening and as always we hope you enjoy.

There's preseason to review, games to preview, props to dish out, red flags to raise, and that's not even getting to the socio-political commentary which is thinly veiled behind the paradox that is amateur flag football. It's a packed Raptors Weekly with Andrew, Will and Zarar. Part 1 Highlights: Best thing about preseason Worst things about preseason DeMar DeRozan's scaring us The power forward spot is a hot mess Shouldn't James Johnson be our our small forward? Part 2 Highlights: Pacers, Boston and Milwaukee preview JV vs Amir Greivis Vasquez the savior for the overrated Bucks John Henson performing Part 3 Highlights: Road schedule

The podcast swoons over Bismack Biyombo and ponders Anthony Bennett's role as Shyam Baskaran makes his podcast debut. Recorded right after the Raptors win against the Cavs. Part 1 Highlights: Scola starting over Patterson, and retaining it Let Terrence Ross shoot contested threes Cory Joseph's stability Bismack Biyombo vs Anthony Bennett Part 2 Highlights: DeRozan's struggles A Raptors book Jersey/branding Delon Wright and Bobby Portis D-League

Andrew and Zarar discuss Kyle Lowry's 40-point explosion, Patrick Patterson's implosion, and whether giving Price 3 innings was a mistake. Part 1 Highlights: Kyle Lowry this preseason DeMarre Carroll playing the point forward Patrick Patterson's struggles Cory Joseph's defensive play Part 2 Highlights: Best SF in Raptors history Terrence Ross's injury DeMar DeRozan this preseason - more of the same Delon Wright heading to the D-League? Defensive signings paying off Blue Jays talk

Kyle Lowry was rested (official reason being a groin issue) and Cory Joseph started in his place, as the Raptors dropped one in San Jose against the Golden State Warriors, 97-85. DeMare Carroll played a game-high 24 minutes, and notched 15 points on 3-6 3FG, but had another turnover-filled game with 5. The second-leading man was DeMar DeRozan who struggled again with his shooting, going 4-11 FG but did show some nice interplay with Jonas Valanciunas by dishing out 4 assists. The latter almost had a double-double in 21 minutes, going for 8 points and 10 rebounds, in minutes played mostly against Andrew Bogut. The night did belong to Norman Powell, who was 6-11 FG for 13 points and looked fluid as ever, and he's also a subject of our conversation in the below podcast. The Raptors started brightly but the Warriors took control in the late second quarter, with the second half being closer to summer league than pre-season. The Raptors, "led" by Norman Powell, Shannon Scott, Bruno Caboclo, Delon Wright, and Andrew Bennett did make a late run, but Mo Speights had key baskets to put the game away, just when the Raptors were within 7. This game was not televised and was broadcast on the Warriors radio channel. To make up for a proper recap, I'm joined on RW Extra pod by Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA), who was at the Shark Tank in San Jose to witness this one:

It may just be preseason, but it's more than enough to get Will and Zarar excited as they scrutinize the Raptors win against the Clippers in Vancouver. There's individual performance analysis followed by team-level analysis. We also cover Dwane Casey's comments regarding Jonas Valanciunas playing in the fourth, and the starting PF spot being undecided. That, and a ton more in a Rapcast which is actually talking Raptors basketball.

Sam fires up his Nokia flip phone to dial into the podcast, and we tackle the Anthony Bennett case, the Canadian conspiracy, and a lot more in this week's Rapcast. Part 1: Helping Sam out Jays talk Anthony Bennett signing, position of player, development Do Raptors sign Bennett if he's not Canadian? Media day DeMarre Carroll and the JYD 2.0 thing - mixed feelings Playing Delon Wright and Cory Joseph at the same time Places to watch Raptors other than Real Sports Raptor most likely to get shipped If Bennett proves rotation-worthy, do Raptors move Scola or Patterson? Are we prioritizing win now over player development? Bruno Caboclo predictions Is the Canadian contingent going to be a distraction? Part 2: Sam Mitchell's back in the league Ex-Raptors head coaches not getting chances Sam's reaction to DeMarre Carroll contract Can one guy like DeMarre Carroll make the defensive difference? Does Cory Joseph excite you? How ex-Spurs fared after leaving Spurs

Can you smell that? That's what actual basketball talk sounds like. Will joins the pod as we review and rank the Eastern conference from the bottom-up. Part 1: Jonas talk Positions 15-9. Part 2: Positions 8-1

The podcast can't stop, won't stop. Andrew and Zarar blast through Twitter questions like a hot knife through butter, and hand out more predictions than a panicking psychic. Topics include: Part 1: Darrick Martin Jonas talk in FIBAs Motion offense for next season Lack of zone defense Future of Terrence Ross vs Alan Anderson 'Melo to the Raptors Markieff Morris and Kenneth Faried still hangin' around Rebrand Cory Joseph expectations Part 2: This team vs last year's when it comes to playoff expectations Playoff predictions: Raptors vs East contenders

Andrew and Zarar take you deep into Raptors history, folklore, legend, and myth, as they run down moments that are forever etched in a Raptors fans mind, whether good or bad. We try to recall memories that our subconscious remembers only for our tongues to fail us. There's Vince Carter, the Damon years, Babcock's blunders, an omission in the middle, classic post-gamers, days that broke our hearts and nights that kept us going. Also, there's Will Solomon. It's a pod like no other.

Will and Zarar take you through the last week of August and into September with talk of Tristan Thompson's future, DeMarre Carroll's present, helluva lot more, and even a peek across Europe in a way that's unusual to the pod. Part 1 Tristan Thompson rumours Jonas Valanciunas contract in absolute terms Precedence for overpaying Canadian players Tim's article Masai Ujiri inheriting Bryan Colangelo Part 2 Twitter questions DeMarre Carroll's All-Star candidacy Last hurrah for Vince Bebe's role next season Why we love scrubs Soccer talk

Not only is this week's episode late, it's also a solo pod ... with the fill-in host. Listen along as William Lou trudges on about the following topics: -Jonas Valanciunas's 4-year, $64-million extension -Extension talks with Terrence Ross -What would be considered a success for the Raptors' upcoming season? -Markieff Morris trade rumors -Listener questions -So, so much more

The voice of the Raptors, Matt Devlin, was kind enough to take some time to talk Raptors basketball on a wide-ranging set of topics. - 4 games in 5 nights minimized - Wale incident - Does acquisition of defensive talent warrant change in defensive tactics? - Surprised at Lou Williams allowed to walk? - Manner of sweep dictating the off-season moves - The game that changed the course of last season - Kyle Lowry's off-season fitness - Light at PF - how would matchups vs Pau Gasol or Kevin Love work out? - Jonas Valanciunas - what's the one thing he needs to do to get to the next level? - Raptors tendency to matchup versus dictating matchups - Who was the most vocal player in the locker room, the one providing veteran leadership last season? - Paul Pierce comments - Who will replace Amir Johnson? - Thoughts on Amir Johnson as a person - Flying on the Raptors charter - Do you get to see the cities when travelling on the road? - 2016 free agency - is the Kevin Durant talk crazy? - Possibility of Toronto signing a top-tier player - Drake effect - players relationship with Drake - Raptors fans and their effect on players - When does Matt's Raptors work start? - Who's the Raptors best three-point shooter? - Terrence Ross's upcoming season and expectations - Mixing and matching bench/starters - DeMar DeRozan improvements