Toronto Raptors: Whose stock is rising, and a big game for Danny Green

The Toronto Raptors cruised to a 4-0 week, clinching the Atlantic Division in the process. How did everyone fare individually, this week?

Hey, what a week for the Toronto Raptors, who won all four games against inferior competition. Either way, a win is a win and that’s all it should count for, sort of.

The Raptors have tried their hand at resting their stars as well as mixing and matching with the line-ups, looking to see who they can rely on, and when.

Even in a stretch where there isn’t all that much to play for, the Toronto Raptors accomplished something big. With the win against the Orlando Magic on Monday night, the Raptors wrapped up their fifth division title in six seasons. Under the guidance of Masai Ujiri, the Raptors have become a model on consistency, even without the gesture of a title, yet.

If there was any year for the Raptors to have a real shot at the title, this is the year. Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster have assembled a squad that has enough in the tank to get to the Finals and Nick Nurse is showing flashes of the innovation that got him the job as head coach in the summer. The pieces are there.

The week started with Pascal Siakam putting up 31 points against the Knicks in 30 minutes of action. A day earlier, we saw Tracy McGrady ask if Siakam had even improved at all, or if he is just playing more minutes. Tracy, seriously, get a clue, man.

I know it’s only the Knicks (no offense), but it still takes a lot to put up 30 points in a game. It’s equally worrying that a former basketball player struggles to tell the difference between actual improvement and minutes increase. But, if Tracy McGrady is talking about the Toronto Raptors, you can be sure that he’s not heaping praise on the team. Which is fine.

Next up for the Raptors were the Chicago Bulls, and that game came and went rather quickly. The Raptors were able to rest Siakam and Kawhi Leonard in the game, pairing Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol as the old school frontcourt. Three of those players mentioned make the good books this week, and it could be any of them.

The week was rounded off with wins against two teams vying for the final spots in the playoffs, both teams are potential first-round opponents for the Raptors and both, well, were dispatched without much to be too concerned about. With wins against the Brooklyn Nets and the aforementioned Orlando Magic rounding off the week.

Look, whoever the Raptors face in the first round won’t just lie down, but still, don’t expect any shocks. This team is too good to fall to the Detroit Pistons, the Nets or the Orlando Magic.

We saw that in bunches this week, but who really stood out?