There’s this feeling that settles into the pit of your stomach as it’s happening. You know the one I’m talking about. The score gets tight, the crowd starts getting loud (on the road) or tight (at home), and suddenly the Raptors don’t look as invincible as they have for most of this season. It happens — but also: it sucks.
In those moments, with the ball being desperately passed around the perimeter, there’s this pleading sense to the Raptors as a whole: please, someone, do something to restore order. In those moments, the hope is that the ball finds its way to the right person, the hot-hand, the best player, the clear-eyed decision maker.