The Toronto Raptors are in Chicago today. They are scheduled to play a game of basketball against the Bulls at 8:00pm. It is a game between two teams that are currently existing in the basement of the Eastern Conference playoff race, which is a stressful place to live.
This is what people call a grinding versus grinding situation. The Raptors need to win games to stay in the top six, while the Bulls are just trying to keep their heads above the play in water. Chicago has lost five games in a row (and they are likely tired of losing), but the Raptors are coming off a break.
Health and Certainty
Sandro Mamukelashvili is currently listed as questionable. I remember when he played for the Bucks and then the Spurs. Now he is here, or maybe he isn't, depending on his status. He has a very long last name that requires concentration to spell correctly.
The Bulls are apparently healthy but bruised. That feels like a contradiction, but I understand it. You can have all your limbs attached and functional but still feel like you've been hit by a delivery truck. Most of us feel that way by Tuesday morning.
Rankings and Reflections
Bleacher Report released a list of the 99 best players in the NBA. I am not sure why they stopped at 99. It feels like they ran out of time or perhaps they just really dislike the hundredth best player in the league. Finding yourself at number 100 would be a very specific kind of sadness.
People are also talking about Norman Powell again. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. There is a suggestion online to trade RJ Barrett and some picks for him. Norman used to play here, and then he didn't, and now people want him to play here again.
Looking Ahead
My uncle says you should never go back to an old house you used to live in because the closets will look smaller than you remember. I am not sure if that applies to basketball players. Norman Powell at least knows where the good coffee spots are in the city.
We will see what happens tonight in Chicago. The Raptors need wins, and the Bulls need to remember how it feels to win. It might be a good game, or it might just be a collection of people running back and forth for several hours. Both are possibilities.