Raptors-Celtics Game 3 No-TV Watch Party Journal

It’s hard to know where to start with a game like this.

But I’ll start with an admission: I rarely actually watch high stakes Raptors games. I didn’t watch the 2019 Philly series Games 2–4, or 2019 Bucks-Raptors Game 2. I chose not to watch this one until 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter.

This is primarily for two reasons. One, is how much emotional attachment I have with this team. They feel almost like family. I know there are similar fans out there like me who watch every Open Gym episode and eagerly await every Serge Ibaka clip to immerse themselves in the camaraderie of this group. They’re fun, they genuinely like being around each other, and they’re champions. When they struggle in-game and get skewered on social media, it’s almost too much to take.

Reason Two is maybe something that resonates with Toronto sports fans in general. I reward good effort with my time. If the Raptors put forth a good effort and lose, I have zero issue. When there is a lack effort, I lose interest quickly.

With all of that said, Game 3 had the makings of justifying my personal choice. As summed up by several independent Raptors writers, it felt like this wasn’t the team we saw all year.

While not watching, I still keep tabs on social media and see highlights. The writers were right, and it’s been evident all series long: uncharacteristic turnovers, missing shots, and little championship swagger. It seems like this was the right time to checkout and save me some emotional drama.

And of course, social media only continued to pile on, bringing up some awfully reminiscent memories:

And let’s be real with ourselves. The Daniel Theis dunk gave this game the exact feel that Game 3 of Raptors-Cavs in 2018 did. In that game two years ago, the Raptors clawed their way all game to try and make the series 2–1, only to have LeBron kiss the last shot off the glass and win the game, while all but destroying the soul of that season’s Raptors team (Note: not cool to watch).

And so, with Boston having the last possession of Game 3 of a tie game, Kemba Walker danced around two defenders and found Daniel Theis in the restricted area, who dunked with 0.5 seconds left. This was the near-exact same exasperated feeling of “really?” resulting from Game 3 of that Cavs series.

But instead of Theis ending the game as time expired, 0.5 seconds remained. And if anyone else remembers Derek Fisher’s miracle shot as part of the Lakers against the Spurs in 2004 (0.4 seconds left), that’s plenty of time to hit a 3 (Note: cooler to watch).

I had a fleeting thought about it.

And what happened next is now part of Raptors history that will go alongside the Kawhi shot for improbable game winners.

So, now instead of becoming a carbon copy of Raptors-Cavaliers Game 3, this Game 3 feels more like the other significant Game 3 in recent Raptors history: Raptors-Bucks 2019. The Raptors, down 2–0 to the Milwaukee Bucks, had to push into overtime with the help of some Kawhi heroics to take a win. That win propelled the Raptors to a Canadian Sweep and took the next 3 games to advance to the NBA finals. I’m not saying this will happen again, but it certainly feels more like that Game 3 than the LeBronto Game 3. And that narrative swung in 0.5 seconds. Glad I watched.

Until next time…

Show your support and by following Alex Dzintars on Twitter. Also, show your support by following Life In Repeat too.