There is a certain type of optimism that only exists in the middle of a cold January in Ontario. We look at the end of the bench and see saviors where there are actually just guys who are good at cardio. I was thinking about Jeff Dowtin today, and Armoni Brooks, and how we once acted like they were the missing pieces to a championship puzzle.
They were not the missing pieces. They were (quite frankly) nothing burgers, which is a funny phrase because a burger with nothing on it is just bread. Sometimes we get too excited about the bread. My uncle once convinced himself that Maceo Baston was going to change the league, but that was mostly because they shared the same barber in Mississauga.
The Scottie Barnes Wrestling Odyssey
Speaking of things that are difficult to explain to your parents, Scottie Barnes showed up on WWE Raw recently. It is a strange thing to see your franchise player standing in a ring where people pretend to hit each other with folding chairs. Scottie looks natural there, mostly because he has the kind of energy that suggests he might start clapping at any moment, regardless of the situation.
I wonder if a powerbomb counts as a personal foul in the NBA. If Scottie can figure out how to use a steel chair during a defensive transition, our defensive rating might actually improve. It is good to see him having hobbies, even if those hobbies involve pyrotechnics and men in spandex.
Momentum and the Art of Not Fainting
The Raptors are currently climbing the standings, which is a nice change from the usual freefall. Some people are asking if we should solidify the rotation or prioritize rest for the stars. It is a classic dilemma, like deciding whether to eat a second slice of pizza or listen to your doctor.
We have this momentum now, and it feels fragile, like a house of cards built on a windy balcony. Sandro Mamukelashvili once said something that felt like it applied to all of us, though I cannot quite remember what it was. He just has that face that says (I am also confused by the zone defense we are playing).
Looking Ahead to the Knicks
We play the Knicks on January 28th. The Knicks are a team that exists mainly to make their fans feel like they are in a very long, very loud waiting room at the dentist. It will be a basketball game, and people will likely score points until the clock stops moving.
As we approach the playoffs, we have to stop hyping up every guy who hits two triples in a row during garbage time. Or maybe we should keep doing it. It gives us something to talk about while we wait for the bus. We all need something to believe in, even if it is just a backup point guard with a nice jump shot.
Current Status: Mildly optimistic but mostly just wondering why the milk in my fridge smells like a locker room. Check the schedule. Watch the games. Try not to get too attached to the nothing burgers.