The Raptors beat the Chicago Bulls 139 to 109 tonight. It was a thirty point lead (I checked the math twice on my calculator) which is a lot of points in a game where everyone is usually tired.
Sometimes the Raptors play like they just remembered they are professional athletes. It is nice when that happens, though I wonder where they were for the last three weeks. My uncle says wins like this are just a way to make the eventually disappointing losses hurt more, but he thinks the moon is a projection, so we take it with a grain of salt.
The Face of the Operation
Someone posted a video about the life of Scottie Barnes today. It goes from his childhood all the way to now (2026), which is a long time if you think about it. Scottie has been the face of the franchise for a while, and his face usually looks like he is having a better time than I am.
The video is one of those things residents of the internet call a deep dive. I watched part of it and realized that basketball players have to work very hard from a young age. Most of us just ate cereal and looked at the ceiling when we were twelve. It is a miracle anyone becomes a professional at anything.
The Ghost of Championships Past
There is a discussion going around about trading for Kawhi Leonard. People want to bring him back (for the memories, presumably) like a favorite sweater that no longer fits but you keep in the basement anyway. It is an interesting thought, but Kawhi is in a different place now, and so are we.
Trading for a legend is like trying to get back with an ex-girlfriend because she once helped you move a heavy couch. You remember the couch (the 2019 trophy) but you forget that she has since moved to a different city and probably does not want to help you move anything else. We should probably focus on the people who are currently in the building.
Moving Parts and Strange Noises
The Bulls looked like they were running in work boots tonight. It was a strange game where everything went in for Toronto, which usually means the next game will involve a lot of balls hitting the front of the rim. That is just how the cycle works in this city.
Someone mentioned a specific fan waking the team up during the game. I am not sure how much power one person in the stands has (unless they are selling very good snacks), but someone did something right. We won by thirty, the video of Scottie exists, and for one night (just this one) nobody is complaining about the rotation. It is almost unsettling.