The All Star game is coming up soon. Brandon Ingram is going because Stephen Curry cannot make it. I am not sure what Curry is doing instead, but Ingram is a Raptor, so he will represent the city of Toronto in a game that does not really count for much.
It is interesting how these things work out. It reminds me of 2003, when Vince Carter was basically poked and prodded until he gave his starting spot to Michael Jordan. Jordan was playing for the Wizards then, which still feels like a dream I had after eating too much lasagna. Everyone wanted Jordan to start his final game, so Vince just stepped aside.
Vince at least got to choose to do that, mostly. These days, players just get replaced because of hamstrings or general fatigue. The transition from Vince to Brandon Ingram feels like the passage of time. My uncle used to say that time is just a way to keep everything from happening at once, but in basketball, everything usually happens at the trade deadline.
Needs and Wants
The trade deadline is near and people are nervous. Some say we need more depth in the frontcourt, while others want a playmaker. I just want a game where we do not lose a double digit lead in the fourth quarter. It is a recurring theme, like a show you have seen too many times but you keep watching because the remote is on the other side of the room.
We are also playing the Pistons tomorrow. It is an off day today, which is nice for the players. For the rest of us, it is just a day where we do not have to worry about a backup center missing a defensive rotation. I remember Primoz Brezec. He was tall. Being tall is usually an advantage in this sport, but it is not the only thing that matters.
The Question of Enforcers
People on the internet are asking who on this team would take the first swing for a teammate. It is a strange thing to think about. Isaiah Stewart in Detroit seems like he would enjoy a light scuffle. We do not really have a guy like that. We are more of a "talk it out calmly in the hallway" kind of team.
Maybe we need an enforcer, or maybe we just need more people who can hit a baseline jumper. Swings are messy. You might hit your hand on a backboard or a stray water cooler. It is much safer to just play defense and hope the referees are paying attention.
The schedule says the Pistons are next. Brandon Ingram is an All Star. Life continues in its own slow way, and eventually, the trade deadline will pass and we will see who is left in the locker room. Hopefully, they all like each other enough to not have to take any swings at all.