Raptors fans may be excited (at least for Norman Powell’s individual performance, not the actual outcome of the game), but I, DownToBuck, am thoroughly disappointed. Disappointment washes over my entire body, filling every crevice and orifice with its putrid stench. I had this game circled on my calendar, I was counting down the days, and this is what I get?
The much-anticipated Powell vs. Powell matchup, Norman vs. Dwight, happened, there’s no doubt about that. But that’s about all you can say for it. Norman showed up, he did his part, I’m not blaming him for this abomination. But Dwight, he might as well not have even shown up to the arena for all he did on the court. 4 points, 2 rebounds, an assist. Compare that to Norman’s 26 points, 6 rebounds, and an assist. The assists were equal, but that’s the least important part of the matchup. Points are the thing we care about here, and while Norman imposed his will on the game, Dwight was content to be a wallflower while Kristaps Porzingis and chucked up a bunch of garbage.
I don’t want to make this whole description about Dwight, but it’s like he forgot that he’s been the Mavericks best player (in terms of Win Shares) for a few years now. Someone would do good to remind him. With their fists.
Props to Norman for really showing out tonight. He’s been kind of forgotten with all the more recently acquired young talent that the Raptors are finding in random places. He was one of the original draft steals a few years ago, one of the parts that made people say “hey, maybe the Raptors have something going on here”. He may have never really lived up to his gigantic contract, but performances like this will remind Bucks fans what they missed out on.