The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming to town tonight. It's a game that starts at 7:30 on TSN, provided the satellite signal doesn't decide to get weird because of the humidity or a nearby microwave. This kicks off a ten game stretch that looks like a list of things I would rather not deal with, including the Wolves and the Suns and the Pistons.
People always say the next few weeks will tell us who this team really is. I feel like I already know who they are, but apparently we need to see them play the Rockets to be sure. It's like checking the weather by standing outside in a t shirt. You already know it's cold, you're just confirming how much you're going to shiver.
The Art of the Sharpie
Someone from out of town is asking if they can get an autograph while sitting in the 100 level before moving up to the 300s. It is an optimistic goal. Usually, the security guards have a way of looking at you that makes you feel like you've committed a minor crime just by holding a basketball.
Snagging a signature is a delicate process of timing and geometry. You have to stand near the tunnel and hope a player feels like stopping. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they just look at their shoes. I once saw a guy try to get a Jorge Garbajosa autograph with a highlighter, which didn't work for several reasons.
Future States and Present Locations
The internet is currently excited because Scottie Barnes showed up on an ESPN prediction list for the 2028 US Olympic team. 2028 feels like a year that doesn't exist yet, a time when we might all be commuting by jetpack or at least have better subway service. Seeing Scottie on that list is nice, I suppose. It is a reminder that people elsewhere are starting to notice what we have.
Then there is Immanuel Quickley. People are posting about where he is sitting or standing as if it is a sign of cosmic alignment. He is here, and he is playing, and that is usually enough for me. We spent years watching Rasho Nesterovic set screens, so seeing a dynamic guard in a Raptors jersey still feels like an accidental gift from the universe.
The Road Ahead
The schedule is objectively difficult. After the Thunder, we have the Spurs and the Knicks. If we go 5 and 5 over this stretch, it will be fine. If we go 2 and 8, I will probably spend more time looking at my collection of 1990s SkyBox cards and wondering if Oliver Miller is doing okay.
The playoffs are a possibility, or perhaps they are a looming obligation. Either way, the game starts tonight. I hope the person from the 300 level gets their autograph. It is nice to have proof that you were actually there, even if the proof is just some ink on a jersey that you'll eventually forget to wash properly.