The Toronto Raptors blew out the Chicago Bulls 135-92 in their season opener. Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Kawhi Leonard, despite shaky shooting from the field, all scored 20 or more points, rookie Allen Graves pulled down four offensive rebounds, and no one had to play even 30 minutes.
It was a great way to start the season, but Leonard, the resident championship veteran and aging superstar, was already looking ahead to bigger matchups in his postgame media availability.
“I think we kind of eased up a little bit in our transition in the third or fourth quarter,” Leonard said. “I felt like they were getting open looks or easy layups to the basket. This is a young team we played tonight. They’re going to get better. This is just the first game. Everybody has rest and all these certain things. Emotions are going through your head. So, we gotta make sure when we’re playing the better opponents or players with experience under their belt that we’re locked in and able to still grind these wins out.”
Assuming Leonard also shared the same assessment with his teammates, it’s good to see that he’s holding the team accountable and embracing his leadership role early. He will have to do that for his young teammates, like Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead, and Ja’Kobe Walter, who are being asked to take on big roles for a team that’s hoping to contend for a championship. The expectations are much higher this season, and Leonard needs to set the standard.
The Raptors will face tougher opponents soon
The Bulls’ leading scorers against the Raptors were 22-year-old Matas Buzelis and rookie Caleb Wilson. It’s a young, inexperienced team that’s more likely to get another lottery pick than to make the playoffs. It was a good matchup to get the season going, but the Raptors must be ready for bigger challenges soon.
The Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday should pose the first true test of the season. ESPN ranked them fifth in its latest power rankings.
Toronto’s first big test against an Eastern Conference contender will be on November 11 against the Boston Celtics—followed by a string of tough games with the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks waiting for the next three matches.
Those are the teams the Raptors are trying to compete with in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are the defending champions; the 76ers have amassed a wildly talented roster if Joel Embiid and LeBron James can stay healthy; and the Celtics will have a healthy Jayson Tatum. The Raptors’ defense will have to be locked in for a full four quarters against all three teams. Trading for Leonard makes the Raptors a much more dangerous offensive team, but their success will still be built on their defense.
Add us as a preferred source on Google