This week, the Three Man Weave, stays close to home as the Raptors lead the Eastern Conference and discuss Canadian NCAA prospects as Elias Sbiet, National Recruiting Analyst for North Pole Hoops joins the hosts of TSN 1050's 1 On 1 With Will & Duane, Will Strickland and Duane Watson.

The Toronto Raptors defeated the best team in the league in the Memphis Grizzlies. What more do they have to do, to prove they are an elite team in the Eastern Conference?

Strickland: Record-wise right now, the former Vancouver Grizzlies not only represented the best team in the NBA, but also the third real test of the young season for the Raptors, with their match up vs. Miami and Chicago being the first two. 

More importantly, the Raptors should want to, at some point, look in the mirror and see the Memphis Grizzlies in themselves. They are a team that worked diligently to create an identity and style of play befitting their talents while cultivating a culture of winning and healthy habits behind the strengths of their core components, the grossly underrated Mike Conley, Zack Randolph and former Defensive Player of the Year, Marc Gasol. 

Memphis also continues to add to that core with solid complimentary players for gradual team improvement.

Toronto has cornerstones in Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas. Identity and habits continue to take shape, and additions of Lou Williams and James Johnson have bolstered a very solid bench and one of the league's best. The time to utilize these variables to craft the proper equation of success for Canada's team is now. 

The Raptors are already elite in the East. The next goal is to be considered one of the few elite squads in the NBA.

Sbiet: The Raps are expected to own the No. 1 spot in the Atlantic Division, which does not make them elite. They are expected to be a top-three team in the conference, yet that does not make them elite either. 

The Eastern Conference is weak enough as is. Being elite in the east is like being in the middle of the pack in the west. This team that has been assembled with fire power and His Clutchness, Kyle Lowry, to compete with the best in the league, let alone the conference. There's not much weight held in the fact that they beat Memphis (barely) without defensive specialist Tony Allen and Courtney Lee along with other role pieces. 

To add, Toronto will be coming off seven straight home games after they play the Bucks this Friday. To be considered elite is to show that they can get it done on the road and pack on some meaningful wins. A win against the Chi would have been a legit measure. 

Watson: Consistency. Whether it be wins, their effort on the defensive end, or their strong finishes in the fourth quarter, where they lead the league in scoring. The only way the Raptors will be recognized, as such is to continue to perform at a high level, that's what elite teams do.

Have Toronto basketball fans, finally forgiven Vince Carter?

Strickland: By virtue of a genuine outpouring of love and mutual affection Wednesday evening, it would seemed that Vincent Lamar Carter's Road to Raptor Redemption is paved with not only good intentions as his Hall of Fame career winds down, but it is also paved with good feelings. 

May it come to pass that Air Canada, who was, for the most part of his tenure in the T-Dot, Half Man/Half Amazing on the basketball court, decides to retire and in doing so, signs a one day contract to hang them up as he probably should have: as a Toronto Raptor. Sometimes, you can come home ...

Sbiet: There's always chatter in basketball circles about this topic in particular. The truth is, Toronto basketball fans won't have truly forgiven/gotten over the Vince Carter era until the Toronto Raptors are back in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals or better yet Conference Finals; it's the furthest the six has gone in franchise history and he's directly associated with those experiences. 

The memories in everyone's minds are of him saying he won't dunk again, hating on Chris Bosh MVP chants and a long list of buffoonery. 

I'll never forget when he told John Thompson in an interview that he didn't push himself hard enough in Toronto. It's not about forgiving him because of how things ended in Toronto. People are mad because he could have been one of the all-time great ones and didn't maximize his potential. 

Watson: The tears didn't hurt. VC has never much shown any care or sincerity in his ambivalence to the booing. His heartfelt appreciation to the adulation during video presentation, recognizing his time and contribution to Toronto may have put it in perspective for him and the fans.

While some may have forgiven, they haven't forgotten, but I think the cascade of boos for Carter at the ACC are finally over.

Which team do you think will have made a significant turnaround by Christmas?

Strickland: Tricky. There's the general expectation that the Cleveland Cavaliers follow the pattern of the 2010-2011 Miami Heat that also starred LeBron Raymone James and hit their stride going into 2015 as they look toward the playoffs. 

But the team that makes the most significant turnaround by Christmas will be the Charlotte Hornets, who are extremely out of sync early at 4-8, even with the addition of Lance Stephenson. 

Coach Clifford will be working toward tightening his rotations to find combinations for success. The odd part? This turnaround can either be for progression by building on last year's playoff appearance or toward a total collapse and regression that will be squarely aimed at Mr. Born Ready Stephenson.

Sbiet: Straight out of Hollywood. Kobe gets severely injured, makes an illustrious comeback leading the league in scoring while beginning to trust his current teammates. By trade deadline, the Lakers acquire Canadian first round pick Andrew Nicholson and things continue blossoming from there. Ok Maybe that's a little far-fetched. 

Watson: Brooklyn. This squad started last season off poorly as well. Deron Williams and Brook Lopez are much healthier and with a new, but experienced coach in Lionel Hollins they will get it going. They're on a five game losing streak, four of those teams are destined for the playoffs and the fifth was the triple OT loss to Jason Kidd and the Bucks. Much to the chagrin of Raptors fans, they will be back in time for the Playoffs.

Who's the next Canadian to make a major impact on his respective NCAA team and show up on draft boards?

Strickland: Respect due to Boston College's and Mount Royal's Finest, Olivier Hanlan, but Kentucky's Trey Lyles will get the minutes and publicity without the degree of pressure and scrutiny of an Andrew Wiggins or even Tyler Ennis at Syracuse just a year ago. 

Lyles will make many a draft board whether he decides be a One & Done specialist or comes back for more seasoning in the pro basketball factory at Rupp Arena.

Sbiet: Hmmmm ... Dyshawn Pierre or Naz Long? They are both NBA guys in my opinion. Both coming off strong 2013-2014 seasons and have yet to fully show what they can do in their "next level" positions. 

As it is part of my job, I've been scouting these guys since their early high school days. Pierre has always been extremely versatile on both offence and defence and displayed a great feel for the game. 

Long's natural position is at the one spot and if he's given the opportunity with Iowa State, he'll be able to show off his play making abilities as a PG. Vision, intangibles, shot making and more he's well packaged and has the size for the point guard position in the NBA. 

People have already taken notice of Pierre because of his performance in the tournament last year, however most still see Naz Long as just a shooter. He's more than that and with extended minutes this year he'll prove that. 

Watson: If we've learned anything from NBA GM's is that they are in love with potential. Five of the last six Canadians drafted in the first round were underclassmen, (Stasukas, Wiggins, Bennett, Olynyk, Thompson, Joseph). 

So I'm going to look at Oregon Ducks freshman Dillon Brooks who played prep ball at Findlay in Las Vegas, AAU ball with CIA Bounce, and led the Canadian Junior Men's National team to a silver medal this year at the FIBA Americas Championship in Colorado Springs, while leading the tournament in scoring. 

Brooks is in an Oregon program where five of last year's players graduated, two transferred out and two were kicked off the team. Which provides him with a whole lot of one thing ... opportunity. Something the 6-foot-6 forward took advantage of on the national team, he will be able to hold his own in the Pac-12, and if Joseph Young cuts down on taking every shot possible, he and Brooks can lead this Ducks team through a challenging season.

After the University of Kentucky dismantled Kansas 72-40, Eric Bledsoe said that the Wildcats could beat the 76ers in a seven game series? Is he just biased, or is he right?

Strickland: Is there a concussion protocol for NBA players? It would seem Eric Bledsoe is looking to add some gloss to Kentucky coach John Calipari sparkling resume of recruiting some of the very best talent to the Bluegrass State as an almost immediate One & Done pipeline to the NBA.

It's unnecessary. There is a reason some of the very best college players in the world who are lucky enough to find a home in The Association spend much of their rookie season getting donuts for the vets before practice and gaining inordinate amount of understanding in the craft of the Splinter Pull from their hind parts. 

Kentucky has nine McDonald's All-American on their roster, but there is a reason why the Sixers are pros and these kids are not. The Wildcats would not and could not pick up the speed, physicality and nuance of the professional dance in any way to cause significant damage against any pro team, even if it hurts to call the Philadelphia 76ers that at this point. 

Former UK standout Nerlens Noel, 2014 NBA Rookie of The Year Michael Carter-Williams and their merry band of D-League castoffs and scrap metal pieces would sweep Kentucky ... but not without a fight!

Sbiet: Philly is discombobulated and Kentucky is rolling in like they're after a perfect record. 

Considering many of the guys on this KU roster are future NBA lottery picks, yes why the heck not, I'm with Bledsoe on this one. Kentucky is executing on offence and the game is looking easy for them, while for Philly there's hardly any effort in their play.

Watson: Coach Cal has his players in a system, something non-existent in Philly. While the argument can be made that the 76ers are made of NBA-caliber players, would many of them make a Kentucky roster? 

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that the 76ers would fall to the Wildcats. UK has a better coach, better talent and a winning pedigree, while Philadelphia from the top down, with all due respect to Michael Carter-Williams, are just trying to get worse. 

Follow them on twitter: Will Strickland @WallStrizzle1, Duane Watson @duanewatson and Elias Sbiet @Elias_NPH