The Toronto Raptors are playing the Detroit Pistons tonight on TSN at 7:30pm. This is a game of basketball that is happening during a February that feels particularly long. My uncle used to say the only thing worse than a cold winter is a cold shooting performance, but then he started cheering for the New Jersey Nets because he liked the color gray.
Speaking of things that change, some people are asking if they should buy a jersey right now. There is a lot of talk about a potential rebrand, which is a thing teams do when they want to make you buy the same shirt but with a different font. I still have a Jorge Garbajosa jersey in my closet (the one with the red chevrons on the side), so I might not be the best advisor on fashion longevity.
Look At Us, Back At the Big Game
We have something to celebrate, technically, because Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram are both NBA All-Stars. This is the first time we have had two players in the showcase since the 2019 to 2020 season. That was back when Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry went to Chicago together.
It is nice to have two stars again, even if it feels a bit like finding an extra twenty dollars in a winter coat you forgot you owned. It does not change the fact that it is still snowing, but you feel slightly better about walking to the store. Scottie and B.I. are talented, but I sometimes wonder if they ever think about how many hours of their lives they spend in airports.
The Case for Mamu
There is a growing movement to nominate Sandro Mamukelashvili for Sixth Man of the Year. He is currently averaging about 11 points and 5 rebounds. Those are solid, honest numbers (the kind of numbers a person gets when they show up to work on time and do not complain about the coffee). He is shooting 56 percent from three in February, which is statistically improbable but very pleasant.
Sure, players like Naz Reid or Keldon Johnson might have more productivity. But Mamu has a name that is fun to say and he plays with a certain kind of frantic energy that reminds me of a guy trying to catch a bus that has already started moving. That deserves a trophy, or at least a very nice certificate.
Things to Think About While Drinking Water
- The Pistons are in town, and basketball will be played for exactly forty eight minutes.
- The 2019 season feels like it happened several lifetimes ago (maybe in a different dimension).
- Whether we wear red, white, or some new combination of colors, the rim is still ten feet high.
- I think I left my oven on, but I am already at the shop.