Never mind the fact that we spent 45 unsuccessful minutes trying to accurately describe his jump shot, or that he hails from a Canadian suburb known more for being misinterpreted as the birthplace of Wayne Gretzky than anything significant, Tristan Thompson has spent the past two months emerging as an NBA star. That’s right, star.

Admitting you have a problem is tough, but I feel that I need to come clean. My name is Doug, and I am a Joe Dumars apologist. Typically, loving one of the greatest NBA players of all-time wouldn’t classify as a problem; but as the Detroit Pistons continue to fade into obscurity, I’m moving closer to the realization that maybe it isn’t exactly the best fit for the team.

There’s been talk of yet another Michael Jordan comeback in the air, and as of yet, nobody’s quite figured out if it’s actually serious or not. With Air Jordan’s 50th birthday fast approaching (on Feb. 19th), fans and critics alike are taking a good hard look at the man’s Hall of Fame speech and reconsidering the possibility of him putting on a uniform for one last, symbolic game.

In the NBA, the writing has been on the wall for quite some time now. Teams are getting smaller, and the action is increasingly moving away from the basket. This isn’t necessarily a new trend, but it has been a somewhat controversial one. Gerard Spalding sheds some light on which of the current teams are pulling it off in 2012-13 and which have found success doing the exact opposite.

Although Derrick Rose’s absence in Chicago is obvious, the fact that the franchise hasn’t spiraled out of control without its far and away best player is a testament to the rest of the squad around him. Mark Milner takes a thorough look at Carlos Boozer and the rest of the Bulls who have kept the Eastern Conference contender afloat all along.

It wasn’t long ago when John Wall was the on- and off-court start of the Kentucky Wildcats while backcourt-mate Eric Bledsoe tagged along contributing under the radar. These days, with Wall’s struggles in Washington well-documented, Bledsoe has thrived in a beautiful situation with the Los Angeles Clippers. If you had to draft one today, who would you take?

Andre Drummond is a bloody fascinating figure. Sometimes though, as we get older, it gets harder and harder to express the appreciation we have for our favorite athletes. Austin Kent takes a therapeutic look at his relationship with the first-year Pistons big man, what exactly Dre means for the Detroit franchise, and – perhaps most importantly – how to actually root for a professional athlete like a full-fledged adult.

The Toronto Raptors have had a remarkable turnaround to their season over the last few weeks. Since Andrea Bargnani was sidelined with an injury, the Dinos have been among the best teams in the NBA, at least according to their record. But to what should we attribute their recent success? Is it Jose Calderon, Kyle Lowry, or the lack of Bargnani on the floor?

Royce White suffers from generalized anxiety disorder. He’s not hiding from that. However, it probably doesn’t help that he’s struggling to find comfort in his current situation in Houston. White and the Rockets are engaged in a public battle over where and how the young player’s career should progress, and how this scenario resolves itself may go a long way toward how future pro athletes with mental health issues are treated.

Despite Andrea Bargnani’s attempts, there’s no hiding it: The Toronto Raptors are one of the worst teams in the NBA. With an abysmal record, extended losing streaks and dropping games in both heartbreaking and heart-wrenching fashion, there appears to be nowhere for the Dinos to go but up. But how does that start? Perhaps by making a scapegoat out of Bargnani?