It’s been a depressing season. Between watching the Raptors play in a new city, deal with the pandemic up close, and lose close games in empty arenas, there’s been very little to enjoy — especially lately.
Riding a nine-game losing streak into tonight’s game, the atmosphere of the team was about as low as you can go. Once in a tight playoff race, the distance between the Raptors and a scenario without the play in game was growing. Fans were openly courting tanking instead of continuing to go for it. And the funereal sensation of the end of an era was there too — Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell have been in very public trade talks all week, with a deal possibly coming tonight or tomorrow.