NBA CUP FOR WHAT? Toronto is likely out of the NBA Cup

We tried, idk. Still a little confused how this all works honestly.

I’m still #confused.

Like I’ve said on numerous podcasts, around the dinner table with family, arguing with men at parties — it’s a little hard to get invested in the NBA Cup. Not anymore than a regular season game, anyway. If my team wins, we get a banner (which the Raptors would eat ngl), and the rich basketball players get richer. Cool. I’m still trying to piece together a freelance writer’s salary.

My bitterness about my financial status aside, the NBA Cup has been filled with confusion over its short life. Other than a payout for the players, which I am sure they like but I couldn’t care less about, there isn’t really much on the line. Sure, more basketball is always fun, but what are we doing?

I’ve accepted the concept is here to stay, but I just need to shout out to the rooftops once more that the courts are atrocious. Except the Toronto Raptors’ <3

Anyway, all this to say, I wasn’t too upset to realize the Raptors’ loss against the Miami Heat Friday night resulted in their elimination from quarterfinal contention. It will likely be Milwaukee or Detroit moving forward from this particular group. All I want to keep from this era is the Raptors court, which is perfect.

On top of that, doing well in the NBA Cup just means you have to play extra games. While most count toward the regular season anyway, once you get to the end they don’t. In a season where the league’s top players are in and out with injury, and Toronto themselves have been victim to a long injury report — why risk it? Again, maybe they have different motivations because money is involved, but I am over here like... NBA Cup for WHAT?! To risk another injury? To lose a game that means nothing on the season?

Maybe this sounds a little bitter and I should just enjoy the ride... but it’s hard to get invested. The podcasters and the bloggers of the world have brainstormed ways to get fans more invested in this tournament — playoff advantages, draft picks, etc etc. Nothing seems to seamlessly blend into the systems the NBA already has in place.

So, what now? First, we wait and see who the Raptors will be playing in those two yet to be determined consolation games. The big gap in the schedule in December is to account for those. Then, we just move on with the season. No harm, no foul.

I’m really not that bummed about it, cause ultimately to me the whole thing just feels like a money grab. I’ve been extra on my anti-late-stage-capitalism beat lately, so rich people getting more rich doesn’t excite me.

What does move me is the way the Raptors have been playing so far this season. The losses are piling up, don’t get me wrong. Yet, the enthusiasm and the drive of the team is there, and they look much better than anticipated at the beginning of the season. That’s also factoring in that we haven’t even seen the FULL squad together yet, since Quickley has been out with that elbow injury.

I don’t NEED a flashy tournament to enjoy this Raptors team... I just am. Maybe the real NBA Cup was the friends and memories we made along the way?