The Toronto Raptors have made a dream start with four wins from four games. Kawhi Leonard, who has already won many fan hearts and is seen as a possible candidate for the MVP Award, also has a large part in this.
Let’s be honest, the name Kawhi Leonard had a certain mysticism last season. Everybody knew somehow that the boy was damn good at basketball, but how good? Nobody could really say that, after all, the forward only played a measly nine games and was only noticed by negative headlines, probably controlled by his questionable advisor camp.
The trade from the Spurs to the Raptors last summer caused numerous and sometimes heated controversies, but a well-founded assessment of who won this deal will probably not be available until Leonard has decided on his Free Agency in 2019.
The fact is, the risk to Toronto is enormous, the return may be all the greater. The first games at least encourage the Canadians. In the pre-season and the opening against the Cavs it was not to be denied that Leonard has missed in principle an entire season.
The efficiency from his outstanding 2016/17 Spurs season, which earned him lots of MVP votes, is currently still a little lost to the forward, but the fans in Toronto do not seem to hold it against him. “MVP, MVP” chants were heard in the game against Boston Celtics, which could also be won thanks to Leonard.
“It’s probably a bit early for that,” the claw admitted modestly after the game, but also to emphasize that he is pleased with the support. Leonard also knows that the voting with his fellow players is still expandable. It’s a cautious approach between the star and the franchise that craves success after numerous disappointments in the playoffs.
The hype is correspondingly great after four successful games, including the first test of strength with the Celtics. There Leonard first indicated that he can actually make the difference, that he is the superstar who can transform a really good team into a real Contender.
“It didn’t matter which one of us defended Kawhi, he was simply unstoppable,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens was sobered to find out. Nine times Leonard played against Boston in his career, nine times his team went off the field as the winner. Perhaps there will be more encounters in May or June 2019 than the other three games in the Regular Season.
In the third quarter in particular, the claw turned up a huge amount and scored 15 of its 31 points. The momentum the Celtics had built up in the first run was gone. “He delivered a little bit of everything,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse analyzed. “He met threesomes, scorted in transition, and also scorted through isos in the mail. It’s just incredible how he can influence the game in different ways.”
Especially the scoring in transition should give hope to Raptors fans. Leonard seemed lively and explosive, even though team mate Danny Green still sees a lot of room for improvement. “He’s not where he used to be yet, but you definitely saw some signs of his class,” noted the ex-track after the last victory against Charlotte.
Leonard himself didn’t talk to the media after the game against the Hornets, instead the new number 2 of the Raptors did a personal workout. Hornets coach James Borrego, who knows Leonard from his time as assistant coach at the Spurs, was not surprised at all. “He works on himself every day and never complains. His hard work has made him one of the best players in the league.”
Wasn’t that what the Raptors lacked in the past? Of course, Kyle Lowry and DeRozan were a strong duo, but the constant takeover of games was a little off both. Toronto, under coach Dwane Casey, let more run the ball last season, former iso tirades disappeared. With one of the best Iso-players of the league (Kawhi) you will see this move more often again.
“It’s cool to see him working his ass off in these kinds of actions,” Lowry praised, too. “If he’s aggressive and finds his spots in the field, he can hardly be stopped.” However, this is not really the philosophy of coach Nurse, who prefers to see more ball movement. Nevertheless, he admitted that the team would follow Leonard a little.
In the shadow of Kawhi, however, Lowry also moulted, who had already fallen a bit with DeRozan. Without the balldominanten Shooting Guard the playmaker directs again more the Offense, as his 14 Assists show against Charlotte. When Leonard was spared in the game against Washington, the veteran had to score more – and that’s exactly what he did with 28 points.
Lowry does everything he can to win games, but he also seems to have swallowed the departure of his buddy DeRozan, even though he still does an imaginary handshake with DeRozan before home games, as in all the years before. Otherwise, the 32-year-old directs and scatters a few important throws here and there.
“He’s such a great player,” Backup Fred VanVleet raved after the 14 Lowry dimes against the Hornets. “He always scores his points, even when he throws little. There are so many gunners in this league, but he’s not one of them. He’ll easily make 16 to 20 counters with eight, nine throws.”
This makes the Point Guard a perfect match for Leonard, who wants to present himself at the top level after almost a year off, of course also – to sign a new maximum contract in summer (wherever that may be). But the experiment between Toronto and Kawhi has started hopefully and still offers a lot of potential.
The Raptors are to be taken seriously and a lot is connected with the name Kawhi Leonard. He’s the best player who’s ever played for the franchise (the one year with Hakeem Olajuwon never happened) alongside Vince Carter, and the team itself could be the best Raptors issue ever.
However, as is generally known, the final settlement is made at the end and until then the franchise and star player can get to know each other even better. “He is a real joker who always has a smile on his lips,” Borrego described his former protégé.
“The boys enjoyed spending time with him and Toronto will soon realise what kind of player they have there … They’ve got a hell of a player in their ranks now.”