TSN basketball analyst Jack Armstrong weighs in with five quick thoughts for a Wednesday, focusing on the Raptors' second unit, the incomparable Dirk Nowitzki, Derrick Rose's injury struggles, Jason Kidd's sophomore coaching season and the strong play of the Magic's Tobias Harris. FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS:1. RAPTORS' SECOND UNIT: When you're trying to put together an improved season filled with grinding, winning performances on nights where you're not at your best over the marathon course that is an 82-game season, you need that second unit to give you the spark and get you over the hump. You look at the wins over the Celtics and Magic in the past week and this club would be sitting at 5-3 right now if it weren't for the impactful and, sometimes, subtle yet quietly effective performances of this unit. Dwane Casey is getting more and more confident each day with these guys and is willing to play and stay with the hot hand and/or consistent contributor instead of being married to fixed minutes. On lots of nights, as much as you can have a 'plan' going into a game as a coach, you have to allow your heart and gut and general feel for the personality of the game at hand to ultimately dictate who gets the minutes. It's an inexact science and the human element on a nightly basis can shift for lots of reasons. The best coaches are able to read the tea leaves and figure it out on the spot. There is no book for that. Coach Casey has more options to work with and he's using them and this unit is earning his trust.
2. DIRK NOWITZKI (Mavs): Congrats on reaching ninth all-time on the NBA scoring list and being the top international scorer ever. This future Hall of Famer still doesn't get the level of fanfare that many others with fewer credentials get for some strange reason. When you look at this big man, his skill just blows you away and his level of consistency and continued improvement are factors at which I still marvel. He's been a joy to watch and cares very deeply about his teammates, coaches, franchise and organization. Dallas is very fortunate to have a man like this.
3. DERRICK ROSE (Bulls): When you decide to invest your time in a career in professional sports there are benefits like guaranteed money along with long-term security, which provides a wonderful lifestyle doing what you love that you trade for those unfortunate aches and pains when you're older. Most folks would die to have that trade-off. You're paid to play 82 games - guaranteed - that means you play when you're hurting and don't when you're injured. They still pay you on those nights you can't play and that's a nice perk. Many times folks try to compare professional athletes to actors or other performers, but there's a big difference. If a Denzel Washington or Matt Damon decides to not work on a movie for a while, they don't get paid. A musician decides he doesn't want to tour for a few years and make no new records, then he doesn't earn any money. I know there are residuals, but the main work - if you don't do it, you don't get the money. Pro sports is a great gig and I have no problem when guys can't play because they're injured or really banged up. I totally get it, but don't tell me it's about your health when you're 50-years-old. You have an obligation to the owner who's invested in you, your teammates and coaches and the fans who pay huge money to support you on a number of platforms. Get with reality. Rose is a terrific player and I feel awful he's had the injuries, but get with it. He seems like a nice young man who had a bad day in front of a microphone. We've all said dumb things in our lives, but this is one that he'll look back on and shake his head.
4. JASON KIDD (Bucks): This guy has caught lots of flack as a coach and how he departed the Nets, but I'll say this - I'm impressed with how he's grown over his first 90 regular season games, as well as the playoffs last season. He's calm, smart and in command. He carries himself with an air of authority and I had no doubt when he played that he could have been a player/coach like back in the days of Lenny Wilkens, Dave Cowens and Bill Russell. He's not trying to wow or impress anybody - he's just trying to kick your tail. He's a ruthless competitor and don't get in his way. He might be unpopular in some camps, but I think he's got potential as a coach.
5. TOBIAS HARRIS (Magic): Each time I watch him, Harris grows on me. What a steal he was for the Magic in the JJ Redick trade with the Bucks. They risked a long-term asset for short-term help and it failed. He's helped the Magic and he's strong with a sound post-up game, can shoot it and create his own shot. He competes defensively and is slowing down his game and making better reads. Harris is a good solid piece that is part of the long-term solution there.
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