The big picture is ugly, and given the circumstances of the season so far it has to be daunting, but it must be the last thing the Raptors think about these days.
The Chinese proverb about a journey of a thousand miles beginning with one step has never been more appropriate for the struggling NBA squad than it is today.
They are as far removed from the playoffs as they have been at this point in a season in eight years, and that is a large mountain to climb.
They cannot get any traction at all: they blow leads late in games some nights, get buried early in others, and are among the worst in the NBA in close, late-game situations.