The All Star game is approaching. It is a time when the league stops playing real games so that the players can wear expensive tracksuits and stand in front of step and repeat banners. This year, we have two current Raptors and three former Raptors involved, which is a specific set of numbers that means something to someone.
History tells us that during the last five seasons where we had this level of representation, the Raptors won a playoff series. This is a comforting statistic, similar to how my uncle believes that if the squirrels hide their nuts early, we will have a mild February. The squirrels are often wrong, but I appreciate their work ethic.
Thumb Problems and Press Junkets
Collin Murray Boyles has a thumb injury. He will miss the game against the Pistons, which is unfortunate because the Pistons are a team where you generally want all your thumbs available. He is still going to All Star weekend for the Rising Stars event, which is apparently a press junket now.
He might not even play in the actual Rising Stars game. He will just be there, being honored, which is basically what most of us do at our own birthday parties. Jakob Poeltl is also dealing with a back issue and is questionable. Backs are complicated; once they decide they are finished for the day, there is very little you can do to change their minds.
Security and Logistics
Someone on the internet is asking if they can bring a specific bag into the arena tomorrow. Arena security is a mystery, much like the rotation choices in the fourth quarter. Sometimes they let you through with a backpack, and sometimes they act like your reusable water bottle is a threat to national security.
I hope the bag makes it in. It would be a shame to walk all that way just to be told your storage solution is illegal. Life is full of these small hurdles, like trying to remember who played center for us in 2007 (it was Rasho Nesterovic, and he had a very dependable mid range jumper).
Entertainment and Expectations
Brandon Ingram is reportedly joining GloRilla at the festivities. This is news that exists. I am not entirely sure what the overlap is there, but much like a trade for a backup shooting guard, I will accept it without asking too many questions.
We are in a strange place where our past and present are mingling in an exhibition game. It is like seeing an ex at a grocery store while you are buying frozen pizza. You both know you used to be something, but now you are just two people looking at the price of pepperoni. We will see if the playoff omen holds true.