If you’re reading this from somewhere in North America right now, the sun is not yet up — but the Raptors are indeed ready to take the court. Yes, Toronto’s first ever title defense gets underway this morning with an early morning game against the Houston Rockets in Tokyo, Japan. The game doesn’t really count, but the good feelings sure do. (The feeling beyond just pure exhaustion, I mean.)
There’s not much more to expound on here — it’s a preseason game, the Raptors and Rockets are playing today and on Thursday in Saitama Super Arena, and we don’t quite know yet what either team will look like once they take the court.