National Post (National Edition)
Kawhi back to Oracle, where so much changed
Career of Raptor took major turn with 2017 injury
So much changed after Kawhi Leonard crashed to the Oracle Arena floor in Oakland on May 14, 2017.
The San Antonio Spurs had a 23-point lead on the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the western conference finals when Leonard departed with 26 points, poised to take away homecourt advantage in the series between teams which won more than 60 games.
Leonard injured his ankle when he landed on Zaza Pachulia’s foot after taking a jump shot, and things were never the same again for the Spurs or Leonard. The Spurs couldn’t hold on to win that game or any other in the series without their NBA Allstar forward, whose ankle injury would be followed by a lingering thigh injury that would limit him to just nine games the following season and strain relations between the team and player. Leonard ultimately was granted his desire to leave San Antonio when he was traded to Toronto in the off-season.
If Leonard didn’t go down, maybe the Spurs would have won that game, maybe the series and maybe another championship. Maybe Leonard wouldn’t have wanted to leave.
“Regardless of the fact, would’ve, could’ve, should’ve, we’re here now,” said Danny Green, who was traded to Toronto with Leonard. “And obviously it would have been nice if things went differently then and we would have continued to play and maybe had something special happen then — but we’re here now so we want to try to make some good things happen now.”
Leonard is set to play at Oracle Arena on Wednesday for the first time since his injury, again looking like the player whose team might be the biggest threat to the Warriors.
It’s a rematch of perhaps the game of the season and another potential NBA Finals preview. Leonard scored 37 points on Nov. 29 in Toronto, when the Raptors overcame a season-high 51 points from Kevin Durant to win 131-128 in overtime. Toronto has the NBA’S best record, but this time would have to beat the Warriors with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, who were injured in the first matchup.
Leonard dealt with injuries for a long time, but he appears just about back to where he was at his peak. Coach Nick Nurse has noticed how Leonard is jumping higher on his dunks and not coming up short on his 3-pointers, and the Raptors are close to eliminating all the minutes restrictions that were in place when the season started.
“I think there’s more to come,” Nurse said.
Luka Doncic will have a chance to show the teams who passed on drafting him what they are missing.
The Dallas Mavericks’ schedule includes a home game against Atlanta on Wednesday, then a visit to Phoenix on Thursday before a home game against Sacramento on Sunday.
Any of those opponents could have had the 19-yearold who might be the favourite for Rookie of the Year, but he’s not any extra motivated to play against them.
“It’s like any game,” he said. “I’m more motivated when I play, like, superstars, like Lebron, KD, James Harden.”
The Mavericks positioned themselves to take the versatile guard, who already had a decorated resume in Europe, by trading with the Hawks to move up two spots to No. 3 in the draft. Atlanta used that No. 5 selection on Trae Young.
The Suns had the top pick and the Kings were No. 2, but both went with big men. The Suns — whose coach, Igor Kokoskov, guided Doncic and Slovenia to the European title — took Deandre Ayton. The Kings — perhaps wary that the Euroleague MVP would remain with Real Madrid if he didn’t like his draft situation — took Duke’s Marvin Bagley III. Both have shown promise, but so far Doncic has been the best.