"Jiggly Bits" - Danielle de Graauw

Ahhhhh. Love is in the air. With Valentine's Day and the All Star Classic fast approaching, there's lots to be excited about in the NBA. Derrick Rose gets the nod to help the Eastern Conference All-Stars this weekend, "Vinsanity" surfaces again and the Lakers are still on top even without Kobe in the line -up. But we'll get to all that in a minute. First we need to address the ridiculous debate surrounding Hedo Turkoglu and his mask.

A History Behind the Mask

Aside from the fact that he is their 50-million dollar asset, wearing a faceguard is a small price to pay to protect a pre-existing injury before being allowed back on the basketball court. An injury that could possibly keep him sidelined or off the court indefinitely. Apparently he finds it too restrictive. Seriously? This is the same lame argument given for not wearing a neck guard or visor in hockey. I am surprised considering the history of these types of injuries in the NBA, there isn't some kind of document players are required to sign from their trainer or the league saying the mask is required before returning to play. He apparently did not wear one in practice on Monday and eluded to the fact he didn't need to wear it anymore. This worries me.

Consider this. I know many of you watched the Detroit Pistons beat the Lakers in the 2004 NBA Championship Finals. Remember Richard "Rip" Hamilton's performance? Of course you don't because most of the hype from that game came from the clear plastic protective mask he had to wear because of previous fractures to his nose. Six years later, he is still enjoying his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons. NBA bad-boy Bill Lambeer wore one and even our beloved Kobe Bryant wore a variation of one in his highschool days. Do you think for one second that if Hedo opts out of the mask even for one game he won't become a target if he isn't already? Defensive plays from Raptors oponents will look to zero in on his face. I know that is an unwritten rule but you know it will happen and has happened. Bill Lambeer, tough guy or no tough guy, supported wearing the mask and said it gave him the confidence to stick his face into any intense rebounding situation and not get hurt. Don't get me wrong, I am a big supporter of Turkoglu. But with the Raptors momentum as of late, they don't need to scratch him due to a re-injured orbital bone.

Who's in, Who's Out - NBA All-Star Weekend

Riding the injury train for a little while longer, Chris Kaman has been selected as an injury replacement to play in the All-Star game this weekend. This must be bittersweet for him after being passed over and it taking Brandon Roy to be scratched for him to relieve his itch to play (so to speak). David Stern's decision to add him makes Kaman the first Clippers all-star since Elton Brand in 2006. I sincerely hope his girlfriend is understanding since he will have to cancel on the Valentine's Day getaway weekend he planned for them.

So excited for Derrick Rose to get his chance to play among the All-Stars. He has really come into his own since overcoming injury and helping the Chicago Bulls get back to where they need to be. This means he won't get to square off against Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings in the Rookie All-Star game. Both hail from Memhpis at the guard position and it would have been great to see them play against each other. I like Tyreke's style of play - you just never know what game tool he'll pull out of his back pocket. What famous Lakers great does this description remind you of? Hmmm..a "magical" number 32? Too early to tell, but I definitely see parrallels.

Ok - so we know Brandon Roy is out and Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony are questionable for Sunday's game. But now Kobe Bryant may not be able to play in his 12th All-Star game. Honestly? This is not a big deal. He's listed as day-to-day but he missed the Lakers win over Portland on Saturday after playing in 235 straight games. This will probably mean he won't see much action in the All-Star game anyway even if he says he is good to play. I say he plays it safe - he's got his eyes on a much bigger prize at the end of the season, anyway.

Vinsanity Makes an Appearance

As a Raptors fan, you either love him or leave him. But whatever side of the fence you sit on, the fact that he scored 48 points against the Hornets the other night deserves at least a round of applause. I don't think he woke up that morning and said "I'm going to score 50 points today" but something needs to be said about being in the zone and running with it - all athletes have a story to tell about that moment. But what's sad about this accomplishment is the Orlando Magic needed almost all of them to beat the New Orleans Hornets 123-117. Where was the support from the rest of his teamates? It's amazing he drained that many (not the first time either -did it in 2005 for New Jersey against Miami with 51 points) but he shouldn't have to do that with an entire team around him. Tracey McGrady had an explosive game nearly six years ago on Orlando's roster too - except this time McGrady racked up 62 points. Don't get me wrong, as a fan of the game it is very entertaining to see a player reach new heights. But I think it says a lot about team depth and coaching when one individual player gets that much of a spotlight just for scoring. There, I've said my bit.

All Star Weekend WWE Like. Bring on Marionmania?

I said All Star Saturday Night reminded me of World Wrestling Entertainment. Well Sunday's All Star Game stayed with that theme. Right to the very end with the cheesy Mega Powers Reunion of Kobe and Shaq as co-MVP's. This has to have been one of the worst All Star Weekends I can remember in recent memory. This year was like a Wrestlemania 9. But next year has the makings of a Wrestlemania 3 like all star event. In the new stadium in Dallas Mark Cuban wants to fill it with 100,000 people. Lebron James being in the dunk contest on Saturday just might fill the house if it happens. For those who may not be wrestling fans let me explain the Wrestlemania 3 reference. It was when Hulk Hogan faced Andre the Giant and it filled the Pontiac Silverdome and had a crowd that was said to have been over 80,000. If the NBA can pack in 100,000 people in the new stadium in Dallas that would be an event the likes the NBA All-Star game has never scene. The NBA has been played in big stadiums before like the Silverdome not only hosted the Wrestlemania, but was the home of the Pistons for a time. Here in Toronto the Raptors started out playing at Skydome before the Air Canada Centre was built. If they can get a huge massive crowd in Dallas many will forget this year's All Star Weekend fast and that is a good thing. Given the events of this weekend that is a good thing.

Still a few days before the Raptors get back to work and it will be new faces they will see at practice with the trade Bryan Colangelo made at the start of All Star Weekend. Shawn Marion will be coming to town. The lovely and talented Trish Stratus did a wrestling move called "The Matrix" but Marion is the "The Matrix". I know let the wrestling thing die. Marion will be looking to do a couple of things in his time in Toronto which I believe will be short. I am not buying into Bryan Colangelo and his talking about the chance of Marion staying long term. So given that Marion will be looking to up his value in the free agent market and play well in Toronto. He will also look to shake the label of being a system player in Phoenix. I don't get that to be honest as before Mike D'Antoni and Steve Nash came a long Marion was still a very good player. However did the system and Steve Nash make him better? No question about that. Can Jose Calderon make the Matrix reload? We will see how that works out. If anything it will encourage Calderon to push the ball more and hopefully with the rest from a long All Star break he will be able to do that.

Another thing I am not buying is truly this team should or can make the playoffs. I think in adding the conditional pick to this trade it was a clear sign Raptors a lottery bound not playoff time. There is no way anyone can give me an argument that makes any sense that this team making the playoffs does them any good at all. The Raptors at best out looking at a 7th seed more likely an 8th if they were to go on some kind of run. Getting pounded in the first round and losing your first pick for that. No thanks I will pass. This was done for next season and rebuilding around Chris Bosh. That is why it was done. A lottery pick is part of that plan or should be. By the way I am going to give a shout out to the folks that have made a group on facebook with the sole purpose of trying to let Chris Bosh know Toronto wants him to stay in 2010. Click on this link and be part of the group that wants CB4 here for the long term. I like people that are positive. You may say who cares and it doesn't matter what people do on facebook and all that. However does it make any more sense to boo a guy that has busted his butt for this franchise? I will side with the positive dreamers everyday of the week.

I believe a lot more in CB4 than I do in Marionmania running wild and the Raptors making the playoffs. I think that is a dream as well and it does not have the positive outcome that you might think. But the key is Raptors will have a chance to rebuild this team and make a strong case to Chris Bosh to remain a Raptor. I think ultimately that is what he would like to do. It has nothing to do with the extra 30 million dollars that he would get from that. It has to do with following through on something Bosh said awhile ago. He wants to be part of the solution in Toronto and I think he still does. He wants an NBA title ring some day to go along with the Olympic one he picked up in Arizona.

If you can't wait for Wednesday for some basketball come check out a marquee NCAA Match-Up as Pitt looks to knock off number 1 in the nation UConn and the Dino Blogger is live blogging it for The Score. 7pm is tip time so come on out and see the beast that is Thabeet. He had 25 points 20 rebounds and 9 blocks for UConn on the weekend that is beyond good.

UConn and Pitt Live Blog Link- 7pm

Hope to see some of you there tonight for a great NCAA match-up. For the rest of you I will see you tomorrow.