Basketball Island

Did Scottie Barnes get snubbed from the All-Defensive First Team? Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone break it all down with help from our friends at FanDuel. 

The Spurs take down the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with help from a dominant performance from Victor Wembanyama! Is he the best player in the series? How can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander overcome San Antonio? Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone break it all down with help from our friends at FanDuel. 

Now that the Thunder have swept the Lakers and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, have they become the most hated team in the NBA? Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone break it all down with help from our friends at FanDuel.

The Raptors overachieved in the 2025-26 season, but now it's time to look ahead at what's next. Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone discuss how Toronto should approach this offseason with help from our friends at FanDuel. 

The Raptors season is officially over with a Game 7 loss to the Cavaliers. What did the Raps prove this postseason? Have they raised expectations for next season? How much pressure is on Bobby Webster? Hambone, Wes, Fab and Jevohn Shepherd break it all down. 

RJ Barrett's epic game winner sends the Raptors back to Cleveland for a Game 7! Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone break it all down with help from our friends at FanDuel. 

The Raptors fall to the Cavaliers in Game 5. Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone break it all down with help from our friends at FanDuel. 

The Raptors have tied up their series against the Cavs with a huge win in Game 4! Can Scottie Barnes be the best player in this series? What's going on with Brandon Ingram? Does Collin Murray-Boyles raise the Raps ceiling? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab break it all down with help from our friends at FanDuel.

WE'VE GOT A SERIES! The Raptors took Game 3 over the Cavaliers to cut the series deficit to 2-1. Can Scottie Barnes be the best player in this series? Which Toronto player has impressed you the most? Can the Raptors actually upset Cleveland? Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone break it all down.

How we feeling, Raptors fans? The Raps find themselves down 2-0 in their first round series against the Cavaliers after a deflating Game 2 loss. Can the Raptors find their way back into the series? How much of this is on Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl? Are there any positive takeaways from the first two games? Hein, Fab, Hambone and Wes discuss. 

IT'S ALMOST TIME RAPTORS FANS! With the start of the postseason just days away, it's time to take a deep dive into the NBA Playoffs and the Raptors series against the Cavaliers. What's the formula for Toronto to pull off the upset? Will they be able to slow down James Harden? Who has the most to gain or lose in these playoffs? Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone break it all down with help from our friends at FanDuel. 

THE RAPTORS ARE BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS! The oddsmakers at FanDuel had Toronto as as coin flip to play postseason basketball when the regular season began. Now, they'll face the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. Is just making it in a successful season? How many games can they win? Will the team sink or swim in pressure moments? Hein, Fab, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd discuss.

The Raptors took care of business with a convincing win over the Heat on Tuesday, but the job is far from finished. With three games remaining on the schedule, it's up to the Raps to determine their playoff fate. Will Toronto finish top-6 in the East? How important will Ja'Kobe Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles be down the stretch? What does a success playoff series look like for the Raps? Does Canada have the best guards in basketball? Hein, Fab, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd discuss. 

31-0 RUN! The Raptors cruised to a dominant win over the Magic on Sunday and Scottie Barnes was a big reason why. Does Scottie need to have the ball in his hands more? Will he make an All-NBA team this season? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Victor Wembanyama... who's the MVP? Hein, Fab and Hambone discuss it all and more. 

The Raptors took care of business against the Jazz on Monday, but there's no time to rest with the Play-In Tournament looming over their heads. How important is this final stretch of the regular season? Is Ja'Kobe Walter starting to make a leap? Which NBA superstar would you pick to have on your team for a playoff run? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone discuss it all and more. 

The Raptors hit rock bottom against the Pelicans last week when Dejounte Murray punked Jamal Shead. However, they responded with a massive win against the No. 1 seeded Pistons on Sunday. Was that Toronto's best win of the season? Have they finally turned a corner? Which prospects should Raptors fans keep an eye on during March Madness? Wes, Jevohn, Fab and Hambone break it all down. 

The Raptors are coming off a blowout win against the Mavericks, but there's no time to celebrate with the Eastern Conference playoff race tightening up. Are the Raptors in danger of falling to the play-in tournament? Is RJ Barrett finally back to full health? Who should win Rookie of the Year? Can Victor Wembanyama win MVP? Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone discuss it all and more. 

The Raptors have now lost TWELVE straight games to the Knicks. Why do the Raptors struggle in this matchup so much? Which team should Toronto be hoping to face in the first round of the playoffs? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone share their live post game reactions. 

The Raptors are coming off losses to the Thunder and Spurs, confirming once again that they can't beat the elite teams in the NBA. Which loss was more disappointing? Will Toronto remain top six in the Eastern Conference? Are the Spurs legit contenders? Would a gold medal in basketball mean more to Canadians than a hockey gold medal? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone break it all down. 

It's report card time for the Raptors! With the second half of the NBA season about to begin, it's the perfect time to give out mid-season grades for each member of the team. Has Scottie Barnes exceeded expectations so far? How has Brandon Ingram looked in his first year in Toronto? How can Immanuel Quickley improve his final grade? Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab break it all down.

It's been a good season overall for the Toronto Raptors... but they still can't seem to take down the best teams in the NBA, particularly in the Eastern Conference. Why do the Raps struggle against elite teams? Will they remain top-6 or fall back in the Play-In Tournament? What can they do to improve their roster? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab try to answer these three burning questions. 

THE NBA TRADE DEADLINE HAS OFFICIALLY PASSED! Did the Raptors do enough to boost their roster? Was passing on a big move the right approach? How will Trayce Jackson-Davis fit in? Which team won the deadline? Hein, Fab, Wes and Hambone discuss it all.

GIANNIS TO THE TORONTO RAPTORS? Trade rumors are once again swirling as the Bucks are looking to potentially trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. Would the two-time MVP fit with Raptors? Who would Toronto have to give up in a trade? Does Domantas Sabonis make any sense? Why can't the Raps beat the Knicks? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab discuss it all on the latest episode of Basketball Island.

Despite dealing with some injuries, the Toronto Raptors have strung together some wins on their western conference road trip. However, it's hard not to think big picture with the trade deadline approaching. Should the Raptors look to make a big move? Would Domantas Sabonis be a good fit? Time to buy low on Ja Morant? How about Anthony Davis? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab share their thoughts on a potential trade.

The Raptors showed fight in a comeback overtime win against the 76ers on Sunday, but they followed it up with a 13-point loss in Monday's rematch. Does this Raptors team have playoff level toughness? What's going on with Jakob Poeltl's injury? What's your favourite Kyle Lowry moment? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab break it all down. 

Trade winds are blowing again! Hawks point guard Trae Young is on the trading block and the Toronto Raptors have been rumored as a potential destination. But with the Raptors slowly finding their identity, is it a good idea to bring him into the mix? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab discuss why they're against a Young trade, while also diving into the Raptors recent success.

This Toronto Raptors season has been a roller coaster! After a blowout loss to the Wizards, the Raps bounced back with comeback wins against the Warriors and Magic. Have they discovered a new identity as of late? How can Immanuel Quickley be deployed better? Should we be concerned with Jakob Poeltl's back injury? Hein, Fab, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd discuss it all. 

Remember that winning streak? This season started off so promising for the Toronto Raptors... but after tough losses to the Celtics and Nets, things are looking bleak again. What's the Raptors biggest issue at the moment? Should the team regret trading OG Anunoby? Which NBA Christmas Day game are you looking forward to the most? Hein, Hambone and Fab discuss that and more. 

THE LOSING STREAK IS FINALLY OVER! However, that doesn't mean the Toronto Raptors shouldn't look to improve. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis have been rumored as potential trade options, but who are the more realistic targets? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone explore hypothetical trades for a back up center and discuss the Raptors win over the Heat on Monday.

The Raptors are out of the NBA Cup and have now lost 4 straight and 6 of their last 7. How does Toronto right the ship and how much of this losing streak is due to the absence of RJ Barrett? Fab, Hambone, Hein and Wes discuss the NBA Cup loss and more.

SCOTTIE BARNES HAS ARRIVED! The Raptors ended a two-game losing streak with a clutch win over the Trail Blazers on Tuesday and Barnes was a big reason why. Does he have a chance to win Defensive Player of the Year? How much are the Raps missing RJ Barrett? How important is Jakob Poeltl? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone discuss that and more.

THE VIBES COULDN'T BE HIGHER! The Raptors have won eight straight games and 12 of their last 13. The Pistons are the only team with a better record in the eastern conference. How far can this team go? Is Brandon Ingram a top five wing in the east? Which Canadian NBA player has impressed you the most? Wes, Jevohn, Hambone and Fab discuss that and more.

The Raptors are officially on fire! Toronto has won eight of their last nine games and sit third place in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday's NBA slate. Has Brandon Ingram made them a legit top 6 team? Is Scottie Barnes playing at an All-NBA level? Can we expect this success to continue in the foreseeable future? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone discuss that and more. 

After a questionable start to the season, the Raptors have won five of their last six to improve to 6-5 through 11 games. Is this team actually good? What have we learned so far? Is Toronto a lock to win their NBA Cup group? Should Jaylen Brown be bald and proud? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab discuss that and more. 

Things seemed pretty dark up north in the midst of the Raptors losing streak, but it looks like they've steadied the ship with three straight wins. How much of Toronto's recent success is sustainable? Have RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes taken a leap? Can they continue to defend at a high level? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone discuss that and more on this week's episode of Basketball Island. 

The Raptors have lost three straight games since their opening night win against the Hawks... and it hasn't been pretty on the defensive end. Why is Toronto struggling to guard so much? Who's to blame and where do they go from here? Does Darko Rajakovic need to shake up his lineups? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab try to wrap their head around Toronto's slump. 

It's only one game... but the Raptors exceeded opening night expectations with a convincing win over the Hawks. What was the most impressive part about the victory? Can the Raptors sustain this throughout the season? Is Victor Wembanyama about to take over the league? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab discuss. 

The start of the NBA season is less than a week away! Our friends at FanDuel have the Raptors regular season win total set at 39.5... but will they go over or under once it's all said and done? Hein, Fab, Hambone and Wes discuss Toronto's outlook and the amount of games they will win. They also highlight some of their best futures bets at FanDuel to consider. 

Toronto Raptors fans finally got a sneak peak of the team in Monday's pre-season game against the Nuggets. However, many questions still need to be answered as we approach the regular season. Will this team make the playoffs? How does the starting five fit together? How much pressure is on head coach Darko Rajakovic? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab are here to tell you. 

Basketball Island is BACK! The 2025-26 NBA Regular Season tips off in less than a month and expectations for the Raptors have changed drastically compared to last year. Is Toronto finally ready to go back to the playoffs? The crew sat down with Gradey Dick, Collin Murray-Boyles and Brandon Ingram at Raptors media day to find out more. 

Well... the Masai Ujiri era is over after 12 years in Toronto. What is the state of the Raptors without him moving forward? Is this team good enough to compete in the Eastern Conference next season? Who were the biggest winners and losers of free agency? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone break everything down. 

With the 9th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select... Collin Murray-Boyles! How will the South Carolina forward fit into the Raptors rotation? Will Masai Ujiri and the front office shake up the roster? Who were the biggest winners and losers of the draft? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone break it all down. 

Who doesn't love Raptors trade speculation? It started with Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors a few weeks ago... but now Kevin Durant has entered the fray. Should Toronto try to trade for Durant? Would the basketball fit make any sense? Can the Pacers come back to win the NBA Finals with a hampered Tyrese Haliburton? Wes, Fab and Hambone break it all down.

An Oklahoma City tornado tried to stop them... but the Basketball Island crew would not be denied. Hein, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd break down Pacers vs. Thunder in the NBA Finals with help from our friends at FanDuel. They also dive into Giannis Antetokounmpo/Toronto Raptors rumors and the firing of former Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. 

Canadians and former Raptors have been shining in the postseason and it's time to take notice. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss Canada's impact on basketball, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander versus Anthony Edwards, NBA rule changes and the Conference Finals. 

Things are looking grim in Milwaukee… and it might be time for Giannis Antetokounmpo to move on to another team. FanDuel has the Raptors as the 4th choice in their “Giannis next team” market, but is that a realistic outcome? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone propose trade options for Toronto and discuss which other teams are in the mix to acquire the Bucks superstar.

Did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserve to win the NBA MVP award over Nikola Jokic? Is he the best Canadian NBA player ever? What does this mean for the future of Canadian Basketball? Hein, Fab, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd react to SGA being announced as the Most Valuable Player.

The Raptors spent the majority of the 2024-25 season tanking... for just the ninth overall pick? Hein, Hambone, Fab and Jevohn Shepherd discuss who the Raptors should target in the draft, the Spurs offseason options and whether or not the Mavericks deserved to win the NBA Draft Lottery. 

The second round of the NBA Playoffs are here and the matchups are tantalizing. Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander outduel Nikola Jokic in a battle between MVP frontrunners? Are Steph Curry and the Warriors poised to make the Conference Finals? Should the Cavs be on upset alert against the Pacers? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone break everything down while sharing their best bets on FanDuel along the way. 

Defence wins championships, right Nico Harrison? There's no denying that the Mavericks made an epic mistake trading away Luka Doncic. However, there's also no denying Luka's defensive struggles in the playoffs. Hein, Fab and Hambone discuss the Lakers demise, the Rockets next move and the Thunder and Cavs in this week's episode of Basketball Island.