If you’ve supported this team since its inception, you’ll know why my fingers are crossed before I decide to get ahead of myself. But unless T.O. loses an unfathomable 11 of 12 to end the season — hey, stranger things have happened, just ask Northern Iowa — the Big 5-0 is happening!
Though before I give my take on this club reaching a level of 50 wins for the first time in franchise history, and just how “significant” that is, allow me to interject with a personal perspective. It’ll only take a sec, I swear:
When this article goes live, it’ll mark the 50th piece I have written for Raptors Republic. And I’d like to take this opportunity to say Cheers to every writer, reader, and 99.9 PERCENT of the commenters that are part of this community.
What’s the reason for this seemingly self-absorbed fun fact? Well, other than it being a unique coincidence considering what might take place on Saturday night — though I do prefer the term “meant to be” — the point of this column is to give a progress report on some of my preseason thoughts and give YOU the reader a deeper understanding of my point of view. Or, at the very least, have a conversation.
The Raps do have to win two straight for this moment of perfect timing not to fall by the wayside — I have faith — but a chance at 50 wins meeting 50 articles at the same time was something I noticed before the season began. So the backdrop of this piece had been in my thoughts for quite some time. But that’s usually my frame of mind with whatever I write: There’s almost always room for a “to be continued.”
With that said, let’s circle back to before it got personal:
Reaching, or even surpassing, the 50-win mark was just as much a talking point last season as it is now. But does it truly matter? Should we even care? I used to scoff at its importance and shunned anything that I felt would help mask this team’s potential failure in the postseason.
Nowadays, though, you could say I’ve turned a corner on what 50+ victories can provide. You won’t find an analytical category with “Confidence in the Playoffs” as its heading. Nor would you see the phrase “Every positive optic helps this organization when it comes to Free Agency” next to the leaders of Defensive Win Shares when surveying the pages of Basketball Reference. But in this town, both need to be treated as an advanced metric. And a substantial portion of both those aspects operating at a high level stems from what goes on in the regular season.
Ultimately, however, I remain all-in on the goal my original beliefs represent. And if the hashtags #WeTheNorth and #RTZ are not still trending by the time the second round of the playoffs hit, make no mistake, fans and media alike will be out for blood.
Still, in the end, we’re all just at this team’s mercy and will be forced to accept (though reluctantly) any kind of repeat performance from last season…What can I say, history has taught us to prepare for the worst.
But enough with the negativity, Mother Nature is already pissed off enough today as it is.
On that note, enter my preseason column — article No. 24 in case you were wondering — entitled: Best of Both Worlds: Featuring Masai’s Master Plans.
I don’t expect anyone to read it in its entirety, or if at all — though it would be a lot cooler if you did — it’s just a frame of reference for one to take a more balanced approach. Or better yet, a place to turn to if and when a cooling off period is needed after the first round.
Though most people I come across, which also coincides with my own opinion, have increased their expectation level. One that’s far greater than just advancing into Round Two.
Statistical analysis can’t exactly back it up but, Eastern Conference Finals: I’m looking at you.
Then again, I had Kentucky going to the Final Four. Anybody else let their Jamal Murray fandom get the best of them?
And would that notion also ring true when one expects a level of playoff success that’s never been seen before?
That would lead to the need to summarize and note the progress of my above piece. Which I now want to rename “Electric Relaxation, Pt. 1.” More on the reason why I chose that name in a bit. For now:
- Masai Ujiri made damn sure his offseason acquisitions helped mend a broken culture. Particularly on the defensive end. I realize the intensity level still comes and goes as it pleases (insert DeRozan frustration, here) but compared to last year, the defense is now a well-oiled machine.
- The fact that an attempt to cover both ends of the spectrum took place can’t be overlooked. Biyombo has provided a counter to JV’s faults, CoJo has helped release K-Low into the next stratosphere, and if DeMar actually ends up going home to L.A., pieces were brought in to help absorb the damage his leaving would do to this team’s core.
- The willingness to sign T-Ross amid constant speculation over what his value is ultimately going to become has so far paid off. The verdict may still be years away, and I’d listen to trade offers, but as we currently sit, Ross can once again be viewed as part of the foundation — whether postseason progression as an organization comes this year or not.
- The addition of DeMarre Carroll can’t be officially graded at this point. And how his integration back into the lineup affects the current chemistry is a discussion-worthy concern. But when healthy, there’s not another player in this frontcourt that brings his level of versatility. A trait that will not only boost the playoff run — word is he’s almost practicing in full — but also ease a make-shift tear down to build back up if need be.
The bottom line: Ujiri has created options within tight parameters. Options when contract situations are clouding several issues — with a collection of draft picks to boot. He’s given this fan base the excitement and potential of this season — AKA: that “Electric” feeling — along with room to breathe if and when the future calls for it — AKA: a form of “Relaxation.”
In Closing:
In a recent trip to Europe, I traveled through that Brussels Airport. My heart goes out to all who lost their lives and their loved ones.
The same goes for Rob Ford and his family. No matter what you thought of him, I’ll let this do the talking:
Rest in peace @TorontoRobFord. Your authenticity made you unique and a man of the people; a very rare characteristic found in a politician.😞
— Toby Glanville (@tobyglanville) March 22, 2016
Which leads to remembering a Hip Hop legend. One who brought countless hours of enjoyment through my headphones.
One tends to lose track sometimes of what they listened to when they were growing up, but A Tribe Called Quest album has always seemed to be within my arm’s reach. Rest in Peace, Phife Dawg.
I may now be at column 50, but I will always remember using the following video in just the second ever article I wrote for RR: A recap of the slugfest vs. San Antonio in early February of last season.
That piece is now eerily connected as I introduced Phife’s video right after commenting on the death of legendary college basketball coach, Dean Smith.
It’s been a crazy week, to say the least. But give it a spin and follow it up with a little “Electric Relaxation” to set the tone for the season’s final 12 games. Let’s get this 50…
“Extremity in rhythm, yeah that’s what you heard. So just clean out your ears and just check the word.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b7bYgagLPc
