I watched the game tonight and I felt like I was back in high school waiting for a ride that never showed up. It was cold out and I spent a lot of time looking at the sidewalk. The Raptors are playing a certain brand of basketball right now that makes me want to reorganize my sock drawer.
There was a moment where Jamal Shead was on the floor and Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram just looked at him. They didn't really help him up. Usually you help your teammates up because it shows you are a group. When I worked at the car wash, if someone slipped, we at least made a gesture of concern.
The Chemistry Problem
I remember when RJ Barrett and Scottie had something going. It wasn't perfect, but it made sense, like putting salt on a potato. This year feel different with Ingram. He likes to hold the ball for a long time (pounding the rock, as they say) and then he realizes he has no more moves and gives it to someone else.
Scottie seems to be taking a backseat in the fourth quarter. It is like he is letting someone else drive his car even though he is the only one who knows where the brakes are. The flow of the game just stops. I have seen more movement in a lineup at the ServiceOntario on a Tuesday afternoon.
Average Dreams
Someone mentioned how nice it would be if we were just an average offensive team. That sounds like a vacation to me. Being average means you don't stand out, but you also don't make people sigh every time the ball goes past the half court line. It is a humble goal.
Right now, the team feels a bit soft. A bit like that expensive toilet paper that falls apart if you even think about using it. We are searching for something, maybe an identity, or maybe just a reason to keep the TV on past the third quarter. My uncle says we need a veteran who doesn't mind getting a technical foul for no reason.
I think we miss the way things used to be, even if they weren't that great. Memory is a funny thing like that. We are waiting for a spark, but it feels like the matches are damp. We will probably be back here next game, watching the ball go around and around until somebody has to shoot it. That's just how the rotation works.