NBA Power Rankings Week 4: The Brooklyn Nets are in the house

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Kevin Durant #7, James Harden #13, Joe Harris #12, and DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Brooklyn Nets high-five during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Barclays Center on January 16, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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21. team. 81. . 4-8. Previous: 27th. Toronto Raptors

Last Week: Lost to Golden State Warriors 106-105, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 112-111, Beat Charlotte Hornets 111-108, Beat Charlotte Hornets 116-113

This Week: 1/18 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 1/20 vs. Miami Heat, 1/22 vs. Miami Heat

A split week for the Toronto Raptors is possibly the best week they’ve had in the season. They are still clearly not the team of last season but they are slowly starting to look better. If either of the one-point losses to the Portland Trail Blazers or Golden State Warriors had gone the other way, there would have been cause for more optimism.

It is not hyperbolic to say possibly the biggest reason for their reemergence has been the exemplary play of Chris Boucher. He is fourth in the league in the single-season jump in scoring average, behind only Jerami Grant, Christian Wood and Malik Beasley. His leap is real and admittedly it is the leap that many expected for OG Anunoby coming into this season. The forward has 20 or more points in five games in January, including three games in a row.

The guards are still great and deserve recognition as well. Pascal Siakam is starting to get slightly more consistent as the offensive load is being spread around slightly more judiciously. Even Stanley Johnson is starting to find his niche, which are words nobody never thought they would even consider. Such is the wizardry of Nick Nurse.