So, I finally got around to watching that Boston Celtics vs Raptors game I recorded. Always a bit of a thing when these two teams play, you know? You expect some grit, some back-and-forth. This time was no different, at least in spirit.
I sat down, really planning to get into the nitty-gritty. I wanted to see how Tatum was moving, what kind of defensive sets Nurse (or whoever’s coaching the Raptors these days, things change fast, eh?) was throwing out there. It’s like, I try to make a mental checklist:
- Ball movement from Boston – were they sharing or was it hero ball?
- Raptors’ transition game – were they getting easy buckets?
- Rebounding battle – who wanted it more?
But here’s the thing, the real “practice” for me during this game wasn’t about breaking down Xs and Os. Nah, it was about something totally different. My kid, bless his heart, decided that the exact moment the game started was prime time for a major LEGO construction project. And guess who was lead architect and chief brick-finder? Yours truly.
My Unofficial Halftime Show: LEGO Mayhem
So there I am, one eye on the screen, trying to catch if that was a moving screen or a legit pick. The other eye, and both hands, are deep in a pile of plastic bricks. “Daddy, I need a blue 2×4!” “Daddy, where’s the spaceship wing?” It was relentless. I swear, I built half a city by the third quarter. My focus was split worse than a cheap piece of wood.
I’d catch glimpses. Celtics would go on a run, then the Raptors would claw back. I’d hear the commentators get excited, and I’d look up just in time to see the replay, usually while simultaneously attaching a tiny LEGO door to a lopsided tower. It was a real test of multitasking, let me tell you. More of a mental workout than I bargained for. I was trying to stay calm, explain patiently for the tenth time that the small grey piece wasn’t under the sofa, it was probably in the “special pieces” box.
There was this one moment, fourth quarter, game’s tight. I’m really trying to lock in. And then, disaster strikes. The LEGO Millennium Falcon (my kid’s pride and joy, mostly built by me, let’s be honest) takes a tumble. Bricks everywhere. It was like a tiny plastic explosion. Game on pause, emergency cleanup crew activated. By the time I got back to it, the crucial play was over. Saw the highlights, but it’s not the same, is it?
So yeah, the Celtics vs Raptors. I “watched” it. I saw scores, I saw some plays. But mostly, I remember the LEGOs. It was a practice in patience, a practice in divided attention. Maybe that’s the takeaway. Sometimes the game you plan to watch isn’t the game you end up experiencing. And honestly, building that lopsided spaceship while the Celtics were probably hitting a game-winner? That’s a memory in itself. Not the basketball analysis I planned, but hey, life, right?