My seat wasn't as close as last time's.

Of course, I knew that going in. But since Air Canada Center is designed very well, and you can get a clear view from just about any seat, I was okay with it. This time, like the first time I went to see KG play in 2001, I sat up at the balcony section (it was the same section, 322, as my seat five years ago -- just ten rows higher). When I was ordering my ticket, I liked this section because it was opposite the TV angle and up behind the Timberwolves bench. This way, I can get a clear view of Minnesota's timeouts.

Game time was 7pm. I put on my Kevin Garnett jersey -- just one this time -- and I prepared the usual stuff: camera, extra batteries, binoculars, bottled water, pen and paper, and of course, my ticket. Wearing a new pair of AND1 shoes that I had purchased a day ealier, I left my home at around 4:50pm. Extra early because I first needed to visit a downtown gaming store to buy a chess PS2 game I wanted, and to stop by HMV to picked up something that was on sale for Boxing Week (the complete series DVD boxset of Six Feet Under, if you must know).

I got off at Dundas Station, picked up my game and DVD boxset, then walked the rest of the way to the ACC. It was already dark, but this being Boxing Week, the streets were filled with shoppers. It's been kind of a mild winter, and tonight wasn't particularly cold.

I made my way to the ACC, and entered Gate 1. Perfect timing, because as soon as I joined the massive lineup, they began letting people into the concourse (I knew from experience that they start letting people in about an hour before tipoff, so I timed it accordingly).

The lady at the door asked to look inside the two plastic bags I was carrying. We both smiled at the Six Feet Under boxset, and she okay-ed the contents in the bags.

Then she made me throw out my bottled water.

I went inside, had my ticket scanned, and saw the RaptorsTV studio crew working the pregame show live, with a crowd gathering behind the cameras. Leo and Chuck were both still there. I took a few pictures of them. I mean, Leo Rautins is very good at what he does and Chuck Swirsky is quite the celebrity, right.

Before going up the escalators to my level, I paid $5 bucks for a program. I decided to get one -- even though I initially debated against it, because it's really just a nice glossy Garnett-Bosh cover with tons of ads inside -- simply to have as a keepsake. To commemorate going to the game.

I drank some water out of a fountain before heading inside section 322, because I was already thirsty. I found my seat and sat down, still very early, with tipoff some 55 minutes away. Marko Jarics was working on his shot. Randy Foye was out there as well, if I remember right. I put my boxset under the seat, and took out the camera.

If you're an NBA fan -- especially one that lives outside an NBA city, or one that can't afford to go to too many games -- when you go to a game, you want to have great memories as well as great keepsakes. In this case, the memories are the impressions and mental images you gather from the experience, and the keepsakes are the photos and videos that you take.

It's a tricky balance, because if you only watch the game and are preoccupied with soaking in the live experience, you end up with just your own memories. You then have nothing to show to your friends, families, and pets. And years later, specifics of those memories will erode and fade (that is mainly why I am writing this, because it helps me recall my experience years down the road, so I can remember why I had to drink out of a fountain). It'll be less exciting when you someday tell your grandkids that you saw Kevin Garnett play basketball.

You need the photographic proof.

But on the flipside, if you focus all you energy soley on taking photos and videos, you miss out on the actual game. Ultimately, you end up with just static photos and footage, and you miss out on the beautiful memory of seeing that great dunk with your own eyes. Or that awesome crossover. You miss out on the wonders of binoculars, which allows you to see clearly the intensity and focus on Kevin Garnett's face.

You want the little details.

Of course, this constant dilema doesn't really apply to the casual fan who goes to a game with some friends, buys beer and nachos, snaps a few photos, watches the dancers, giggles at the mascot, cheers for the home team, and goes home. A casual fan is at the game simply to be entertained.

But for a true fan -- a true fan for whom that ticket is something so much more -- it's a constant juggling act. You want to take away both wonderful memories and sweet photos, but doing too much of either one diminishes the other. You need to constantly reconcile the two, but maximize what you can.

To forever remember, and never forget.

That was what I struggled with five years ago, when I first went to see KG play. And that is what I still struggle with today. But having a few games under my belt, I am much better at it now than before. Sometimes you just have to tell yourself to put the damn camera away.

Especially in a close game.

And boy, did I see a close game tonight. Exciting, tightly contested, and down to the wire -- it's what you hope to see each time you go to an NBA game. Neither team held a double-digit lead at any point, and the lead changed a couple of times. The Raptors were playing without Chris Bosh and Mo Pete, who were both injured. Nevertheless, the Raptors had things together, with TJ Ford cutting into the paint.

Kevin Garnett -- in the now vintage black Timberwolves road uniform -- started out slow, with only five points at halftime and struggling with his shot, but he did his all-around thing, racking up rebounds and assists. With the first quarter winding down and Timberwolves holding for the last shot, KG was isolated at the top key behind the three-point line. Raptors rookie Andrea Bargnani was defending, and KG stared him down and made his move as the clock ticked down. He crossed from left to right, freezing Bargnani, and slashed the lane. The help defence came, but KG dished off silky smooth to Craig Smith for the open dunk.

Loved it.

KG ended the game with 24 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal. He got to the line 11 times and hit 10 of them, all but one attempt coming in the second half, where he was much more aggressive. He also hit a few tough jumpers with defenders in his face.

Looking at the boxscore now, I realized that Dwane Casey only used eight players tonight in the rotation: Troy Hudson, Mark Madsen, and Justin Reed didn't see any playing time. But I was happy to see Randy Foye play -- he's will be a force in this league. Mike James was soundly booed every time he touched the ball, but played very well in his first return to Toronto. He finished with 20 points on 8-12 shooting.

TJ Ford played a hell of a game for the Raptors, registering 28 points on 12-18 shooting, and handing out 7 assists. From watching him all season, I've quickly become a fan of his. I was happy for him, but wished he didn't have to do it against the Timberwolves.

I know that the rims in NBA arenas are miked, but I noticed that they turned it up extra high today. Every missed shot was a DOOOOING, or a CLAAAAANG. I found it amusing. I wish they could mike the players because it would be awesome to hear them communicate, call out screens and switches. But then every missed shot would be a FUUUUUCK, or a SSSHHHIT. And we can't have that with small children in the house.

I watched the Timberwolves timeouts with intrigue. Dwane Casey scrawled plays on his board. Everyone else huddled around him. I could see KG's back, as he sat on the bench, hunched over, listening intently.

Of course, as timeouts go and as it is NBA arena law, team dancers must come running out in miniskirts and prance about to blaring music. It almost seems as if any sort of lull is prohibited, and that paying customers must be kept busy and entertained at all times. It reminds me of something Jack McCallum once wrote in a piece for Sports Illustrated: "When every game features three hours of nonstop cacophony -- loud music, dot races, fan shootouts, giveaways -- the message conveyed in the arena is clear: The game does not matter. Fan satisfaction does."

This notion particularly troubles me. The game is what I care about.

The game is what I love.

And somewhere in the midst of all the hoopla, there was a basketball game being played. The Timberwolves had the lead early in the fourth quarter, but quickly evaporated as soon as KG went to the bench. The game remained close, and in the end the Timberwolves had several chances to make something happen and force overtime. I actually wouldn't have minded overtime -- in fact, I was thinking to myself, how great it would be if the game headed into an extra session or two -- as long as the Timberwolves win in the end, of course.

Too bad with the Timberwolves trailing by three and Mike James being fouled on a 3-point attempt, he missed one of the three freethrows. And moments later, down three points again, Kevin Garnett's final attempt from downtown bounced off the rim at the buzzer. KG looked disappointed and walked off the court, the video footage of which I have.

Timberwolves had lost 100-97.

Of course, it was pandemonium inside the ACC, and I could practically hear Chuck Swirsky screaming "Raptors Win! Raptors Win!" The crowd filed out happily, off to whatever they had planned for the rest of the night. I stood there for just a while longer, disappointed that the Timberwolves lost, but happy that I was there.

The final score seemed less important, rendered almost trivial by the overall experience. What I'll remember most is watching Kevin Garnett shoot warm-up jumpers -- something that's lost in the land of television, where talking heads have to analyze the game at hand and spew out stats.

One of my favourite things is to shoot jumpers by myself in an empty gym or playground. You can shut out the world and just drift away. Your most inner thoughts and moods are played out kinetically in front of you, shot after shot. Being able to quietly watch Kevin Garnett do just that -- launch jumpshot after jumpshot, swish after swish -- is simply beautiful.

After the game, I headed back out onto the lower concourse, where the Raptors Post Game Show was being conducted. Jack Armstrong and Sherman Hamilton were doing their thing, with a huge crowd gathered behind the cameras. The show was being broadcast live on RaptorsTV, and it was fun to actually see them live.

They had monitors nestled underneath their glass table, and TV screens all around the set. They all had earpieces and mouth-pieces, and every once in a while a crew member would step in and help Jack adjust them. And the crowd would at intervals scream "Jack! Jack! Jack!" and shout the now legendary Jack Armstrong-ism, "Hello!" I love watching the behind the scene stuff.

After a while, it was time for the throng to leave, and the security people asked everyone to head for the exit. I left and slipped into the subway.

Another great night of memories. Kevin Garnett never fails to disappoint, and it's worth every penny to see him play basketball. You wish that the game didn't have to end, and that you could keep watching him play.

Until next time.

Forever remember, and never forget.