Some fine-tuning should help Toronto Raptors get to the next level

All things considered, the fact the Toronto Raptors came through their latest four-game foray to the Western Conference with a 2-2 record has to be seen as something of a positive, not to mention welcome, surprise.

They played four very good teams in tough road arenas, played two games without Kawhi Leonard, two without Kyle Lowry, 2 1/2 without Jonas Valanciunas, one without either Pascal Siakam or Fred VanVleet and all four without Norm Powell, who might have added some much-needed depth in some of those games.