Can Kawhi Leonard Single-Handedly Take The Raptors To The NBA Finals?
Last updated: May 7, 2019, 7:32AM | Published: May 7, 2019, 1:24AM
Five seasons of pure, absolute post-season heartbreak (mostly at the hands of LeBron James's Cleveland Cavaliers) forced the Toronto Raptors into the kind of place the heartbroken should never venture.
They went to the casino and gambled almost everything they had.
In securing the services of one-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard for a veritable truckload of assets (All-Star DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poetl and a 2019 first round draft pick), the Raptors swung for the fences with absolutely no commitment nor reasonable likelihood the uncontracted former San Antonio Spur would remain in Canada past this season.
It was a chance the Raptors were willing to take, to try to break through and represent the East in the NBA Finals for the very first time.
So far it would seem to be a gamble that’s paying off, as Leonard is performing at a level reserved for only game’s elite.
Kawhi himself said "There’s 82 [regular season] games and for me these are just practices and playoffs is when it’s time to lace them up." (March 2019)
After averaging an outstanding 21.4 points per game (ppg), 6.6 rebounds and three assists in Toronto's opening-round series win against the Orlando Magic (where the Raptors reeled off four straight victories following an opening game upset at home), in this Eastern Conference Semi-Final series against the Philadelphia 76ers (tied 2-2 at time of publishing), Leonard has been nothing short of phenomenal.
He’s averaged 38 points per game through the first four games of the series while shooting 62% from the field, adding nine rebounds and four assists.
For context, the game's consensus GOAT, Michael Jordan, averaged over 35ppg, with shooting 60% in a playoff series just once - the 1992 Eastern Conference First Round against Miami - while it’s a post-season mark none of perennial All-Stars and future Hall of Famers, LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Kobe Bryant have ever been able to achieve.
In 2019 NBA Playoff Kawhi Leonard, we are witnessing something truly incredible.
Fortunately, it’s the kind of form that could indeed take the Toronto Raptors all the way to the 2019 NBA Finals.
Unfortunately, he’s basically all Toronto have at the moment.
KAWHI LEONARD PLAYOFFS ON COURT (160 MINS): Raptors +26
KAWHI LEONARD PLAYOFFS OFF COURT (32 MINS): Raptors -34
The rest of Leonard’s teammates have been below their best throughout the playoffs.
The likes Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Danny Green and Serge Ibaka have looked old, slow and one-dimensional and while their budding young star Pascal Siakam promises plenty, his form has dropped off the last few games likely owing to a calf ailment.
Game 5 against the Sixers is shaping as not just a pivotal game in this series for Toronto, but a referendum on whether the Raptors' gamble was a wise one, or a hasty product of ongoing playoffs shame.
If the Raptors journey ends in this second round - and Kawhi, as expected, opts to sign elsewhere as a free agent - then Toronto’s 'trip to the casino' will be seen as an expensive failure that runs the risk of setting the franchise back years.
However, should the Raptors advance to the NBA Finals - and/or Leonard stays in Toronto - GM Masai Ujiri will simply look like a genius.
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