The Raptors Rising Podcast is a basketball podcast that offers thoughtful analysis and discussion about the Toronto Raptors.
Hosted by Richard Pietro and Keith Loo, each episode examines team performances, strategy, and player development through a clear and balanced lens. The podcast emphasizes substance over speculation, providing informed conversation about the Raptors and their evolving identity. No fuss. No muss. And no stinkin' music.
Richard and Keith look back at the first quarter of the Raptors season and try to pin down what this team actually is after 25 games.
They dig into the identity taking shape, the questions that still linger, and the surprising standouts rising from both the bench and the 905. They also spotlight the small details they’ve grown to love, debate what the front office should do next, and wrestle with what it would mean if the Raptors fall short in the NBA Cup.
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24 Nov 2025
The Raptors Keep Forcing the League to Notice
Richard and Keith look at another big week for the Raptors, from a massive jump in the power rankings to the lineup shakeups that come with RJ being out. They get into how the team handles its first real adversity of the season and whether the national media is finally ready to take Toronto seriously.
They also debate what would really change if the Raptors won the NBA Cup, and tackle the sudden noise around Masai and Dallas. One player gets crowned the new glue guy. One trade idea gets a little too real. And one prediction might age very well.
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17 Nov 2025
The Raptors GOAT Board Experiment
Richard and Keith look at a big week for the Raptors, from a surprise climb up the standings to the bench players who keep changing games. They talk roster stability, possible trade paths, and how far this group can really go.
Then they dive into the new video where Raptors players chose the NBA's GOAT. Some choices made sense. Some were pure chaos. The hosts break down who impressed them, who confused them, and which picks are guaranteed to spark locker room jokes.
They wrap with a quick debate on what greatness even means and why certain legends get forgotten.
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10 Nov 2025
Redemption Arcs and Fluorescent Courts
Richard and Keith break down Immanuel Quickley’s redemption arc, the Raptors’ surprising week, and whether this 10th-ranked offense is built to last. They also vent about the NBA Cup’s blinding courts and spotlight the team’s most underappreciated contributors.
This episode is part analytics, part eye roll, part therapy session.
Segments:
Quickley,
This Past Week Was
The Raptors Offense Is
The NBA Cup Means
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4 Nov 2025
The Defense Paradox
Richard and Keith dig into the strange start to the Raptors’ season — where the defense looks broken, but the offense is quietly one of the league’s best.
They break down how Toronto can rank near the bottom defensively while still limiting shot attempts, why the offense is humming in almost every metric, and what to make of the growing pains around Immanuel Quickley.
The hosts also spotlight Collin Murray-Boyles’ fearless trial by fire and take a small victory lap on their earlier read of Coach Darko’s comments.
Finally, they look ahead to a tough week against Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Philadelphia, and debate whether the Raptors can surprise us again!
Segments:
The Raptors’ offense is ______.
______ has been ______.
______ Quickley.
Darko’s defense comments were ______.
I expect ______ next week.
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27 Oct 2025
Are the Raptors too Fast or too Reckless?
Richard and Keith return to break down the first full week of Raptors basketball and the early trends that might be defining the season.
They talk about the promise of the bench unit, the chaos of the fast pace, and the team’s uneasy relationship with three-point shooting. Plus, we can't forget about Coach Darko's locker room intensity.
The hosts explore what’s working, what’s worrisome, and what might come next.
Segments:
Toronto’s second unit is ______.
The Raptors are playing ______.
The Raptors’ three-point scoring is ______.
Darko’s reaction after the Game 1 win was ______.
______ surprised me the most this week.
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20 Oct 2025
What is the Bar for the 2025-26 Toronto Raptors?
Richard and Keith open the season by breaking down the new expectations for the Raptors under Coach Darko.
They debate what success and failure should look like, how roster stability could shape the team’s identity, and whether this is finally the year the pieces fit.
The discussion spans rotation battles, key players to watch, RJ Barrett’s role, the luxury tax dilemma, and Masai Ujiri’s departure. And it is all capped off with each host’s reasonable wish for the season.
Segments:
What are you most curious about this season?
Don’t forget about…
Free throws (Masai Leaving)
What is your starting five (Dick?!)
One reasonable wish for this season
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