Tonight's game is against the Orlando Magic. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, this ticket was not part of my half-season package. I'm a big Nikola Vucevic fan ever since last season's encounter, and it being an East team, I had to go to this game. Oh, and to welcome back Mr. Serge Ibaka too, I suppose. A few general comments, this was the first time I saw Enes Kanter come out for the shootaround. Usually you see your usual suspects (Morrow, Singler, Roberson, Collison), but this was a surprise because Kanter doesn't usually come out/stay out this late. I would have gone over to the other side where he was, but I just couldn't give up my position. Jeremy's wife came back and said that signed, but he used a dying black Sharpie and wouldn't switch markers. Oh well! Maybe some day I will get him. In other news, the seat I had wasn't all that great because I was sandwiched between possibly the two biggest guys in the arena. I need elbow space too, yo! And the dad on my right was a little annoying. I've never met Adam M. before, but I feel like he would be that kind of dad. Cheesy. Annoying. Doesn't realize he's old now and not cool anymore, but I digress. The game itself started off horribly, got a little better, and then got bad again. We're in a funk, we need to play better defense, and we need to WIN. First up for the visiting Magic was Jodie Meeks. He was incredibly nice! No other player I've ever met has said anything to me first until today. Mr. Meeks said something to me first (maybe what's up?), but I'm not 100% sure what it was since it caught me off guard. Players usually DON'T initiate conversation with me (I don't tend to stand out) but I recovered quickly and asked him how he was doing. He said good. What a nice guy! It makes me wish I had printed an actual photo for him instead of offering my logo photo. Maybe next time! Every time I saw D.J. Augustin as a Thunder player, he would skip me. For the longest time, I couldn't be sure if he just didn't like the photo I brought or that my camera was always out. He signed it but it smeared a little -- I think that was me though, because I was trying to hold my camera and film it at the same time. Oh well, at least I finally got him! I honestly don't know if Aaron Gordon signed for anyone. I just know when he came around the corner, he brushed us off with a smile on his face and ran back to the locker room. I expected as much from him, which is unfortunate. I always hope I'm wrong about that sort of thing. I ended up getting a pretty good video of Jeff Green signing and Gordon running off just seconds before. It's hard when two players come off at about the same time. Fortunately I always carry around two foam boards, so I was ready to go if the two players overlapped in their signing. One thing of note, Jeff signed a better (fuller) signature this time around compared to the last game I got him (vs. LA Clippers). Bismack Biyombo and Evan Fournier were next. Nothing stands out about either player's signing habits. They came off at different times, but both signed one for everyone waiting. I don't usually present more than one item to get signed because I know most players are 1-per (but will possibly do multiples if they are small and all laid out), but if ever there was an opportunity, it's with my boy Nikola Vucevic. Last season I got my picture taken with him. He signed for me last season as well. I presented him that photo and a new one as well (the selfie being the second one shown to him). He signed the first photo, no questions asked, then looked at the second photo, up at me, signed that one as well, and said, "Here you go." I said, "Thanks man!" Vooch doesn't usually talk, as far as I can tell. If you watch his facial expressions during a game, he's like Kristen Stewart (the actress from those horrible Twilight movies) -- one expression to rule them all. Even when he's just scored the game-winning basket: blank face (see YouTube video). So it surprised me that he said anything. I still like this guy and I'm a fan for sure. Next time, I'll bring a swingman jersey. And you guys know how I feel about swingman jerseys. Damjan Rudez signed a few then after he heard the 45-second warning to get back to the locker room, he ran off. A second later, and he may have signed for me. A whole bunch of players came off once that warning came out, including Stephen Zimmerman, C.J. Wilcox, and C.J. Watson. The C.J.s signed for a few, but I'm not sure I would have wanted the rush-job sig. C.J. Watson's autograph made my worst autograph list last season for good reason, and that wasn't a rushed scribble. Mario Hezonja knew he had to go but he was nice enough to sign for those of us who were still waiting. He played decently last season when the Magic came to visit, but he didn't get any playing time so there's no way for me to tell if he's gotten better or not. Augustin 1/1 Biyombo 1/1 Fournier 1/1 Gordon 0/1 Green 1/1 Hezonja 1/1 Meeks 1/1 Rudez 0/1 Vucevic 2/2 Watson 0/1 Wilcox 0/1 Zimmerman 0/1 This was a good game autograph-wise and I don't regret going, even if my seat was sub-par. The next game on the docket is Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets. Like everyone else, I'm looking for a James Harden, but realistically, I'm prepared if it doesn't happen. Until next time, J.R.
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