Toronto Raptors: Whose stock is rising in the finale of the regular season
Kawhi Leonard
Well, that’s it. Kawhi Leonard’s first season as a Toronto Raptor is in the books. The regular season at least.
To say it was successful is a bit of an understatement. Leonard averaged career-highs in points and rebounds, and almost matched his best mark for assists per game too.
Surprisingly, Leonard played in all three games this week, averaging 23.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and three assists in 31 minutes of action per night.
Despite the loss to the Hornets, Friday night proved to be his biggest game of the week. Leonard had 29 points on 12-18 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists. Having teammates around him that can also score consistently means teams are a little warier to throw double-teams at Leonard, and when they do, he’s learning to handle them a little better.
No more tunnel vision for our boy Kawhi, who reads the trap perfectly after Lowry sets the screen. Leonard dumps the ball off to Lowry and the ball gets to Siakam who puts the icing on the cake for the win. A nice little moment, and who knew a Lowry/Leonard pick-and-roll would work?
Answer: everyone.
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Like Kawhi has previously said, the regular season is just practice for the big dance, and now this is exactly why Masai Ujiri made the trade. Great, the Raptors won 58 games this season. That is great, for sure. But it’s now all about winning in the playoffs and that starts against the Orlando Magic on Saturday evening.
See you all there.