It’s hard to deem a play occurring with more than half the fourth quarter still to be negotiated as pivotal. Even in a close match, such a turn of events can easily be tabbed run of the mill; the extremely fast pace of pro hoops typically produces bang-bang sequences from opening tip to final buzzer. Nonetheless, there can be no doubting the impact the flagrant foul slapped on the Heat’s Kelly Olynyk off a rebound battle with 6:56 remaining in the payoff period had on the set-to, and not simply because the immediate aftermath — two free throws (from supposedly offended party Kyle Lowry) and a basket — saw the Raptors turn a tie into a lead it would not relinquish.
True, the Heat fought and clawed until the very end. They were even able to bring the deficit down to one with 41.4 ticks left on the clock; unfortunately, the effort required proved too much — and the time too little — for them to overcome. And it’s with no small measure of irony that the Raptors’ margin of victory would equal the number of points gained from the controversial call. In this regard, the admission of referee David Guthrie that he erred in whistling Olynyk for the flagrant foul doesn’t help, and actually adds insult to injury. Imagine being handicapped by a mistaken assessment that was upheld even after a supposedly thorough video review.
That said, the Raptors deserve major props for taking advantage of the opportunities given them. There will be missteps from the men in gray; the action is just too fast, and the contact too furious, for three impartial watchers to oversee with complete accuracy and fairness. Judgments are made on the fly, with sins of commission and omission part and parcel of the so-called breaks of the game. Under the circumstances, the better teams separate themselves from the dregs of the National Basketball Association by knowing how to roll with the punches, generate momentum in the face of adversity, and stay focused on the task at hand regardless of developments.
For longtime followers of the sport, the Raptors need no propping up. If they’re not talked about a lot in media, it’s because their workmanlike style does not appeal to casual observers. The results are clear, though — beginning with the Larry O’Brien Trophy they earned (and for which departed star Kawhi Leonard is accorded too much credit), continuing with their remarkable consistency, and possibly ending with another stint at the top. For all the interest generated by more fashionable picks like the Bucks and Celtics — and even the Sixers — in the East, they possess the bragging rights until they’re dethroned.
Frankly, the Raptors don’t care. They’re fine with letting such notables as the Lakers hog headlines. After all, they know the real score; as they showed all and sundry throughout their shellacking of the purple and gold over the weekend, they can hang with the best. And, in manifesting their unshakable self-assurance, they aim to do so until they’re again declared first among equals.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
