10 AM: If I knew then what I know now, I most likely would have never bought these tickets. When it comes to basketball, I like to go to games to see specific players more than I do to see a team. With that being said, I bought these back in December with the specific hopes of seeing Kobe Bryant. I guess Luke Walton will have to suffice. Kobe's hurt, so Vince Carter is pretty much the only show in town. All I ask from VC is that he do what he didn't do four days ago...provide myself, and this time Tom, with the entertainment that is a sick dunk. I'd settle for a Kidd triple-double, don't get me wrong, but the highlight reel slam is what I want. I guess I'll let you know in about 12 hours.
11:50 PM: OK, so I had to "settle" for the triple-double. Jason Kidd has 28 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists and I saw my first ever triple-double. It was the 63rd of his career and his 4th of the year. Carter did dunk, but it was weak. But man, what a game! The Nets were up eight with about a minute to go and managed to blow it. The game went into overtime, where it came down to Vince Carter being handed a shot at the game winner. One brick later, and the Nets had managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. 104-103 loss or not, it was an awesome game that had everything I wanted.
It reminded me a lot of the first NBA game I went to, back in December of 2001. The Knicks were up 3 with a few seconds left, and Latrell Sprewell was at the free throw line. He had 49 points, and since I knew the Knicks were going to win, all I cared about was him getting 50. After Spree laid down a nice foundation for a house with his two bricks, Antoine Walker hit a clutch three, did the inaugural shimmy and led the Celts to an OT win. I had just as much fun today as I did then.
I doubt Knicks-Bobcats on Sunday will provide this kind of excitement, but I can only hope...
Right: Vince Carter fires away during warmups.
