It is February 27th and the Raptors are not playing basketball today. This is generally a safe way to spend a Friday (not worrying about a blown lead in the fourth quarter). We have a game against the Wizards tomorrow (which is its own kind of existential hurdle).
The big conversation right now is about Chris Boucher. Reporters say he wants to come back to Toronto (which is a nice sentiment). It is like when your old roommate asks if they can sleep on your couch again. You like them (but you already bought a new couch and a guy named Trayce Jackson Davis is sitting on it).
Thumbs and Things
Then there is the situation with CMB and his recurring thumb issues. A thumb is a small thing (until you realize you need it for basically everything involving a basketball). People are asking if we should shut him down or just limit his minutes.
It is a difficult balance (like trying to carry too many grocery bags from the car). If he plays (he might hurt it more). If he does not play (we have to watch more minutes of guys we barely recognize). My uncle says you should just tape it to the finger next to it and hope for the best (but he is not a doctor).
The View from the Bottom
There is also this annual upgrade event for season ticket holders. People are wondering if anyone actually gets those premium seats in the lower bowl or courtside. It is the kind of thing where you hope for progress (but you usually just end up in the same section near a loud guy eating expensive popcorn).
It feels a bit like the roster (everyone wants to move closer to the center). We are all just looking for a better vantage point to watch the same patterns repeat themselves. Sometimes the view from the corners is just as good (especially if you do not want to see the turnovers clearly).
Looking Ahead to Washington
The Wizards are the next opponent. Playing the Wizards in late February is an experience that reminds you that time is linear (but it feels circular). We will see if the rotation stays the same or if more changes are coming.
Basketball is mostly about waiting for things to happen (and then reacting when they do not happen the way you expected). We will have more to say after the game (or we will just talk about the weather). It is supposed to be cold again.