The Raptors are currently ranked twenty fifth in the league in three point shooting. That is according to the internet and people who count things professionally. Only the Orlando Magic have a worse statistical profile from deep among teams with a winning record, which is a bit like saying you are the healthiest person in the hospital.
It is difficult to win basketball games when the ball does not go through the hoop from far away. We usually try to make up for this by playing really hard on defense and making the other team feel uncomfortable. It is a noble way to live, though it often results in everyone being very tired and the score being 92 to 88.
Long Arms and Clean Stats
Scottie Barnes recently recorded a triple double with zero turnovers. He is one of only two players to do that this season, which is impressive because I usually lose my keys twice before I even get to the arena. It suggests a level of care and precision that we do not always see in modern basketball.
Scottie is very good at doing everything at once, (passing, rebounding, scoring), while keeping the ball in our possession. It makes you think about how much easier life would be if we all just stopped giving things away. My uncle says that turnovers are the reason he stopped going to the bakery, but I think he just does not like the new owner.
Looking Back and Looking Forward
Fred VanVleet recently went on a podcast with Jeff Teague to talk about the old days. He talked about guarding Steph Curry and winning a championship. It was a nice reminder that we used to be the ones holding the trophy, instead of the ones hoping the ball hits the front of the rim in a helpful way.
The league is changing and Victor Wembanyama is coming back to claim his crown. He is very tall, even for a basketball player. He makes the court look smaller than it actually is, (it is ninety four feet long, but he covers it in about three steps). We have to find a way to deal with that, or at least learn to shoot well enough that his height matters less.
The Defensive Compromise
We can still defend, which is what people say when they do not have much else to talk about at a party. It is our identity, for better or worse. We might not make many shots, but we will certainly make sure you do not enjoy yours either.
It is a grinding way to exist in February. The wind is cold outside the Scotiabank Arena and the three point percentage is lower than the temperature. We will keep watching because that is what we do. We watch the spin moves and the missed open looks and we wait for the next defensive stop.