This week, the Three Man Weave, or Three Person Weave returns with a woman's touch. Filling the lanes with crisp passes, alongside the hosts of TSN 1050's 1 On 1 With Will & Duane, Will Strickland and Duane Watson, is sports personality and host of the Sports Naytion web series, Nadine Liverpool.

What has coach Casey learned after the Raptors loss to the Bulls?

Strickland: The Dinos are not elite just yet, despite what the numbers say. Tied for second in points per game and tied for seventh in points allowed, those metrics either point to a modicum of success that will flatten out more as the season rolls or empty calories that offer a false sense of security and value. In two early season litmus tests, Toronto failed in Miami and at home vs. Chicago. The Bulls finally decided to play defence in the third quarter while putting up 35 on the sieve-like defence of the home team. It was a bit disheartening to see the starters finally exert the kind of elite level defence while trying to climb out of their fourth-quarter hole. All-Star DeMar DeRozan has to improve defensively by making a concerted effort as a leader on the squad to commit on that side of the ball,. It become infectious when your top scorer is scraping on the tougher side of the ball. Same can be said about Terrence Ross, Greivis Vasquez, Lou Williams and Jonas Valanciunas, the latter of which must get out of his own head and raise his compete level and execution on both ends. Amir Johnson's workmanlike spirit is above reproach; his bad ankles are worthy of concern, however. These are all correctable things, so no need for alarm right now. The Raptors, even at 7-2 and now second in the Eastern Conference, are a work in progress. But if these defensive and effort issues persist by Christmas, don't imagine the holiday season as cheery and bright at 40 Bay St.

Liverpool: I think Casey learned that this young feisty team on the rise is growing but is not yet elite. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, the 1-2 punch for this Raptors squad, went a combined 11-for-36 from the field, which isn't good enough when facing the big boys. We've seen the Raptors go through early lapses but still pull off the late win against weaker teams and the loss against the Bulls showed that they need to work on keeping their focus for the full 48.

Watson: For all the talk of Toronto being a defensive ball club, this season has taken a decidedly more offensive tone. However, the Bulls are a defence-first team in all regards and were able to come up with the stops when needed. Casey is well aware his team can't shoot their way to victory, they need to have better decision making down the stretch and DeMar DeRozan has to perform like an All-Star and gold medalist, night in and night out.

Did Derrick Rose's recent comments on his basketball mortality help or hurt his image?

Strickland: Rhetorical. Everything hurts Derrick Martell Rose, sadly. As one of the most dynamic athletes in the NBA, the 2011 NBA MVP is also one of the most fragile as Rose pulled his left hamstring late in the fourth quarter in the Bulls 100-93 win over the Raptors. Rose is paid $20 million per annum to play a game. If he believes it savvy to express concern about not wanting to limp to his two-year-old's graduation 15-16 years from now in his life after basketball while fans that help pay his salary, many of whom don't get the benefit of world class training staffs and top notch doctors or years of sick leave only to be able to keep their jobs, well ... the optics ain't good! There are questions in his own city, including by one of Chicago's most decorated and revered sportswriters. The potential irony of the 2014-2015 Chicago Bulls is that they won't win anything without Derrick Rose... And, as confidence wanes with each anatomic betrayal, they probably won't win anything with him, either.

Liverpool: I think people are reading way too much into Rose's comments. He's only played 10 games total in the last two seasons combined, so he has a right to be concerned about the longevity of his health. It's rare to see any player in the League recover from a major knee injury, let alone two, so he has to be cautious about how he deals with his body.

Watson: The consensus amongst all sports fans and experts alike is that IF Derrick Rose is healthy, they can contend for the Eastern Conference title. Rose has played a handful of games over the past two seasons, and no one wants to hear how his long-term health is paramount to basketball, particularly this early in the season. No one!

Are the San Antonio Spurs unbeatable when it counts?

Strickland: No. See: NBA Finals, 2013. But when they are locked into their system on both ends of the floor, there may not be a more cohesive unit of aging Hall of Famers and an emerging star in The Association. Their most recent trip to California was a convincing reminder to the league that the Spurs are still the champs as they punched both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors in the stomach, lifting their lunch money in the process. The Spurs are the model franchise not only in the NBA, but sports, period. From owner Peter Holt, GM R.C Buford, coach Greg Popovich, to The Great Timothy Theodore Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and 2014 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, these elements lend to the metronomic success deep in the heart of Texas, where their only real challenges may be competing with Father Time, unsigned max deals and injuries.

Liverpool: No doubt, the reigning NBA champions are still the team to beat in the League (when everyone is playing). The one thing that separates the Spurs from everyone else are two words -- team basketball. San Antonio's unified solidarity of unselfishness shines through when they face good teams, which makes them so hard to beat. They are the definition of a true team and prove that 'we' will always be greater than 'me.'

Watson: They're not unbeatable, but they're definitely the team to beat. Winning fosters good habits and the Spurs are no strangers to high-pressure situations … and rising above it. Even more impressive is how that mindset exists in every player on the roster, leaving very little drop off between the first unit to the second. They're a system ballclub, one that everyone buys into, which makes them very tough to beat.

Should the Thunder tank considering their two best players are out with significant injuries?

Strickland: No. Mark Cuban be damned. With apologizes to incoming Duke freshman and projected No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Jahlil Okafor, there are no Tim Duncan's lurking in the college ranks. Sam Presti's no fool in the front office and we'll finally get to see if Scott Brooks can really coach. While the dangers of re-aggravating an injury present themselves in the eventual returns of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, youngsters Perry Jones III, Jeremy Lamb and "Stone Cold" Steven Adams must step their individual games and collective NBA IQs. Serge Ibaka and the very focused on finding a team of his own to lead PG Reggie Jackson will aid in maintaining some semblance of competitiveness, coinciding with enough wins in the very tough Western Conference to keep the Thunder afloat.

Liverpool: Even though it looks enticing, there is no reason for the Thunder to try and tank this season. Reggie Jackson, Anthony Morrow, and Serge Ibaka have stepped up big in the absence of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Plus, next year's NBA draft isn't as superstar heavy compared to a year ago to persuade the Thunder to give up just nine games into the season. They're currently 11th in the West but once they get Batman and Robin back they can easily push to become a playoff contender.

Watson: With another James Harden-like scenario looming with either Reggie Jackson or Kevin Durant the following year, the small market Thunder will not be able to pay another key player in free agency. This is fact, yet the team continually performs well, taking them out of the draft lottery. If General Manager Sam Presti won't or can't afford to pay these players they need to get better in the draft as well. They won't be afforded a better opportunity by the unfortunate injuries to their two stars that are out right now.

After moving into 9th place on the all time scoring list, where does Dirk Nowitzki rank amongst the best power forwards to play the game?

Strickland: As the position has evolved since the prototypical power forward and NBA's first 20,000 scorer, Bob Pettit, roamed the hardwoods, there's no question Diggler's definitely the sweetest-shooting big man ever. This is not up for debate (Sorry, Bob McAdoo). Nowitzki is also an innovator, even this late in his career. But putting Dirk ahead of Karl Malone, Kevin McHale and arguably the most unique athlete to lace 'em up, Charles Wade Barkley, may be heresy. But make no mistake, the 2007 NBA MVP and 2011 Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki is, without doubt, a Top-5 power forward in hoops history.

Liverpool: What makes Nowitzki so special is that he reinvented the way the power forward position is traditionally played. Along with his patented one-legged fadeaway, he has a 38% field goal percentage from three and has averaged 20+ points in 14 of the 17 seasons he's played. Nowitzki is one of the Top-5 power forwards of all-time but no one will dethrone The Great Fundamental, Tim Duncan.

Watson: What's important to look at is his impact on the game. Nowitzki was a stretch-four, before it was fashionable and every team felt that they needed one. He's a winner and re-defined the position with his range and while lacking the power game most positional forwards had, he's a solid rebounder. Is he the best? No, but certainly in the Top 5 discussion, but he's definitely the best international player to step on an NBA court.

Follow them on twitter: Will Strickland @WallStrizzle1, Duane Watson @duanewatson and Nadine Liverpool @sportsnaytion