Kawhi Leonard stole many headlines on Tuesday night when he made his long-awaited preseason debut in his second stint as a Toronto Raptor. He was efficient, elite defensively, stroking the three-ball, and was deployed in a different role than many expected. However, the Klaw’s performance can’t overshadow what was Ja’Kobe Walter’s most encouraging game of the preseason.
The now-third-year pro finished with 14 points, one steal, one block, one rebound, and one assist in just under 18 minutes and was a plus-15. What stood out most about this game was how comfortable and confident Walter was shooting the ball.
Not to say Walter didn’t look confident in the Raptors' two previous preseason games, but for a player who was supposed to be a crucial piece, he didn’t pop the way it felt like he would.
Walter put up eight points against the Heat back on October 3 and just three points against the Clippers this past Saturday. But any doubt those two games created should be erased by the way he performed on Tuesday night. If the Raptors can count on Walter to play the way he did against New York every night, he’s not just a major boost to their second unit.
Walter was ready to shoot all night
One of my favorite features on the NBA’s website is the ability to go back through a box score and rewatch each shot a player takes. I'll keep using and referencing this tool in articles all season, so just a quick PSA.
Alas, when I went back and watched Walter’s shot attempts from the game, something that really stood out was that even after starting the game 0-of-3 from the field, he was always ready to shoot. Whether it was in transition or the half-court, Walter always had his base and hands ready to catch and fire, which played a huge role in him going 5-of-5 for the rest of the way. His load-up and release is already quick enough for him to be effective off the catch, but his readiness as a shooter is what can make him so lethal.
One flaw people commonly bring up in conversations about the Raptors is their floor spacing. Walter is expected to be a crucial piece in Toronto's push to be a good three-point shooting team this season, and the way he spaced the floor on Tuesday was encouraging.
With Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes driving the offense, a key for the Raptors' role players to be effective is being able to catch and shoot quickly and efficiently. Walter showed he is more than capable of doing that last night, and it’s only going to help his case to be on the court in serious situations for this team all season long.
Just when it felt like the overwhelming amount of Ja’Kobe Walter stock I bought before preseason was starting to age badly, he made me eat my words. Walter doesn’t need to go out every night and put up double-digit points for the Raptors to be effective, but if he can remain ready and confident in his outside shot, year three is about to be big for him.
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