It’s the refuge from troubled and turbulent times – a chance to put worries on the back burner for a couple of hours, lose yourself in the pursuit of athletic achievement, and indulge in the love for a sport that drives all NBA players and coaches. .
It’s not that they’re unaware of the troubles facing the world and renewed concerns about the latest variant of COVID-19 that has already had an impact on the league, but playing the game is a comfort.
And an escape.
“When you really love it, and you love what you do for a living and you love to play, it’s escape,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said before Toronto crushed the Sacramento Kings 124-101 at Scotiabank. Arena Monday night. “It’s your moment where there is nothing but pure basketball. That’s a good couple of hours. “
Nice, especially now with coronavirus concerns everywhere and the undeniable impact on the NBA.
- Toronto’s game against Chicago, scheduled for Thursday at Scotiabank Arena, has already been postponed with 10 Bulls players under NBA health and safety protocols.
- Precious Achiuwa is isolating herself from the team because she had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID.
- Raptors Vice President Masai Ujiri has been stuck at home for more than a week after contacting someone COVID-positive at the Giants of Africa Foundation fundraiser.
“Abundance of caution” is replacing “screen and roll” in the everyday vernacular of basketball. But for at least a couple of hours, the players play, the coaches train, the game continues, and concerns about the truly important aspects of life can at least be put on hold.
“For me personally, I go to the gym and I go home, and I go to the gym and I go home,” guard Fred VanVleet said. “(So) just being able to get away and play, go out in front of the fans, that has been the best part … We want to be aware of the people who are obviously dealing with the reality and severity of COVID and what the it’s bringing, but at the same time I think we have to do our best to stay positive and keep pushing. “
The Raptors were focused early on, losing 70 points to the Kings in the first half and scoring an easy win. The victory gives Toronto a 4-3 record in a season-high seven-game home run that could have been much better.
“It was good,” Nurse said. “We have had our ups and downs, but many ups and downs. We’ve had a lot of practice time. “
All five starters scored in double figures for the Raptors, who are now 13-14 on the season and as close to .500 as they have been since Nov. 19.
Chris Boucher got off to his third solid start since replacing the injured Achiuwa, and he credits a new pregame meditation practice that keeps him focused.
“For me, meditation helps me to be free in my mind and just relax, and my mind is ready to start the game,” said Boucher.
It was a group dominated from the bench – Scottie Barnes along with Dalano Banton, Svi Mykhailiuk, Yuta Watanabe and Justin Champagnie – that ended the game with an excellent run in the second quarter.
“I’m telling you one thing, when they played with so much pace and energy, they were everywhere,” Nurse said. “They were cutting very hard on offense, they were shaking the ball, running hard. The five of them were bringing tremendous energy and that’s what they have to do. ”
However, the bank will be different on Tuesday night in Brooklyn. Banton was sent home at halftime Monday with what the team said was a non-COVID illness and did not travel.
The Raptors will play their first road game since Nov. 26 in Brooklyn. They were supposed to return home for three straight games at Scotiabank, but that was reduced to two with the Bulls’ postponement of the game.
“We quickly replaced it with a practice and shooting lab that day. We organized two sessions as soon (as we found out), ”Nurse said. “We try to keep the schedule up-to-the-minute, even if it’s just a few days away, so people can try to find out a little bit about what’s in store for them.”
But when the time comes to play again, the Raptors will be able to lose themselves in the games again instead of stressing about life’s hardships.
“I think the goal is to get lost in (the games), maybe more than ever,” Nurse said. “I always say that. People always ask me, ‘God, wasn’t he making a lot of noise in there?’ You don’t even notice it.
“You are so focused on what is happening sometimes. That’s the beauty of it. “
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you must be a registered Torstar account holder. If you don’t have a Torstar account yet, you can create one now (it’s free)
Reference-www.thestar.com