The Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks by twenty eight points tonight. The final score was 122 to 94, which is a lot of points for one team and not enough for the other. I watched most of it from a folding chair while thinking about my dry cleaning.
It is a strange feeling to win a game this decisively. Usually, being a Raptors fan involves a lot of staring at the ceiling and wondering if Jorge Garbajosa is still doing okay. Tonight, we simply scored more baskets than the other people. Sometimes the basketball goes in the hoop, and sometimes you just find five dollars in an old coat. Both are pleasant surprises.
Social Circles and Security Guards
While the team was busy winning, the internet was busy asking why our General Manager is spending time with Andrew Schultz. People have very strong feelings about this. It is interesting who people choose to eat dinner with (or stand next to). My uncle once stood next to a man who claimed to have invented the bagel, but we later found out he was just very enthusiastic about bread.
One fan asked if they could still sneak down to courtside during warmups for the upcoming game against Oklahoma City. They mentioned they hadn't been to a live game since the days of Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh. That is a long time to stay away. That is like leaving a house when it is painted blue and coming back to find it has become a luxury condo development.
The security guards at the arena are generally firm but polite. They have a job to do, which is usually making sure people with cheap tickets do not sit in the seats that come with free snacks. I remember when you could wander around more freely (but I also remember when a coffee cost a dollar). The world changes, and so does the proximity of the regular man to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Solo Celebrations
I saw a photo of a solo watchparty setup tonight. It looked peaceful. There is something to be said for watching a twenty eight point victory alone, without anyone asking you what a "transition take foul" is. You can just sit there with your snacks and contemplate the geometry of a screen and roll.
The Bucks didn't seem to have many answers tonight. Giannis is very large and very good, but even large, good people have bad Tuesdays. Or Sundays. I am not entirely sure what day it is, but the Raptors won, and that is usually enough to get me to tomorrow.
We play the Thunder on Tuesday. It will be another game where people throw a ball at a rim. I might go, or I might stay home and look at my collection of vintage napkins. Either way, the score will be recorded in a database somewhere, and we will all continue to exist.