PODCAST: Hip Hoop Junkies & Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 47 (10.30.2013)

Episode 47 of RAPS TALK (10.30.13) - It's a new NBA season and the Raptors have started off the season undefeated.  On this week's podcast we recap the Raptors season opener against the Celtics, discuss Stripes the interim Raptors mascot, talk about Andrew Nicholson, Andrew Wiggins and the rest of the Canadian ballers in action this past week.  The NBA regular season is officially here.

THE WALKING DEAD PART 2: Amir Johnson at the Toronto Zombie Walk (PHOTOS)

posted by Romy Aquino
For the second year in a row, Amir Johnson got his hair and makeup did.....zombie style.  He and his some of his NZA crew (National Zombie Association) that included the Raptors own Kat Stefankiewicz participated in Toronto's annual Zombie walk.  Based on these photos, Amir stepped up his zombie game and got a fresh new zombie look. Check out the photos via Amir's Instagram account, iamamirjohnson

Roster set at 15, Raptors waive Carlos Morais and Chris Wright

posted by Romy Aquino

Well, it looks like it was Julyan Stone who impressed Coach Casey and the Raptors front office for that final roster spot.  The Raptors announced yesterday that they have waived forwards Chris Wright and Carlos Morais.  Going into the preseason, Chris Wright was a familiar face to Toronto and looked to have a strong chance of locking down that final spot with his previous experience with the Raptors summer league and playing on last season's Raptors preseason roster.

PODCAST: Hip Hoop Junkies & Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 46 (10.23.2013)

Episode 46 of RAPS TALK (10.23.13) - It's episode 46, y'all. We're less than a week away from the start of the regular season and the Raptors haven't disappointed in the preseason, even grinding out a double overtime win over the New York Knicks. On this week's podcast we talk about the Raptors last matchup against the Knicks, Tyler Hansbrough's showdown with Metta World Peace, Raptors CEO Time Leiweke's run-in with a Celtics fan and the ESPN article about Canada Basketball written by Mr. Canada Basketball himself, Steve Nash.

VIDEO: Raptors DJ Augustin throws the high alley-oop pass to Landry Fields

It's only preseason but we have a nice little highlight from the Knicks-Raptors preseason matchup.  DJ Augustin chucks up the high alley-oop pass to Landry Fields for the jam against the Knicks on Monday night.

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Twitter:  @hiphoopjunkies

Facebook: 'Like' us on Facebook!

Podcast:  Subscribe to RAPS TALK, our audio podcast on iTunes  If you don't have iTunes, you can subscribe here

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Hoops Talk with St. Bonaventure alum and Nova Scotia's own, Chris Johnson

North Pretson, Nova Scotia native Chris Johnson is a guy who definitely put in work to get to the level of basketball he is at today.  From his high school at Auburn Drive in Cole Harbour to playing NCAA Division I basketball at St. Bonaventure in New York.

PODCAST: Hip Hoop Junkies & Hoop Heads North present RAPS TALK Ep. 44 (10.17.2013)

Episode 44 of RAPS TALK (10.17.13) - It's another season of the RAPS TALK podcast, and we're back but not only in audio format but in VIDEO, thanks to the technology of Google Hangouts on Air.  Now, it's preseason and we still have to workout the kinks with our video podcast, but don't worry...we'll be ready for the regular season!

This week we talk about the Raptors preseason performances to date, the point guard situation in Toronto, the Raptor mascot injury and the Canadians in the NBA.

First Kobe, Now the Raptor - The Raptor mascot out for the season

by Romy Aquino

I think most of us think that NBA mascots are invincible.  They've got those big padded suits, they run around the arena and pull off the most ridiculous stunts and after falling on their mascot faces, it looks like nothing phases them. But this week, all that changed.  Our beloved Raptor mascot, who has been there since the Raptors inception back in '95, went down with an achilles injury in our hometown Halifax last week.

VIDEO: Raptors Intrasquad Scrimmage Recap in Halifax, NS

Well, the Raptors short stay in Halifax ended off with an intrasquad scrimmage at the Metro Centre here in Halifax over the weekend.  It was Team Black consisting of Jonas Valanciunas, Amir Johnson, DeMar DeRozan and Landry Fields with the blowout win 92-64 over Team Gray made up of Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gay and Terrence Ross in front of over 7,000 at the Halifax Metro Centre.  Sean Francois and myself recap the game from our point of view in the Metro Centre stands.

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HIP HOOP JUNKIES linkage!

Twitter:  @hiphoopjunkies

Facebook: 'Like' us on Facebook!

Podcast:  Subscribe to RAPS TALK, our audio podcast on iTunes  If you don't have iTunes, you can subscribe here

T-Shirt Shop: Hip Hoop Junkies clothing

Exit TBJ, Enter #TheStarters

by Romy Aquino

So for most internet basketball fans, you've been waiting in anticipation as to where our Canadian homies, J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas and the TBJ crew would be taking their talents to.  Well the announcement came today and it couldn't be a more perfect situation, they've dropped 'The Basketball Jones' name (due to copyright issues) and have brought their blogging/podcast empire to NBA TV.  Yep, they've moved down south to the ATL and will have their own podcast, NBA blog and TV show on NBA TV under the new name "The Starters".

Who's the new guy? Raptors new face: Tyler Hansbrough

by Romy Aquino

Tyler Hansbrough is one of those guys you want on your side.  He's pesky, aggressive, he hustles to get that rebound and SOMETIMES he gets in your face.