Warm welcome
Two games does not a season make, but, considering how Kawhi Leonard has played so far, these are clear: one, the Raptors have become an even more formidable force, and two, he’s the reason why. In leading them to double-digit victories at home, the two-time All Star has put up norms of 26.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists over 36.5 minutes of exposure. And even as the outcome of their opener against the LeBron James-less Cavaliers was expected, their shellacking of the powerhouse Celtics proved to be a revelation.
Heading into the start of the season, not a few quarters wondered how the Raptors would fare as they moved to deal with the departure of erstwhile top dog DeMar DeRozan and head coach Dwane Casey. Though the hot seat was occupied by former assistant Nick Nurse and the rest of the roster essentially stayed the same save for the arrival of Leonard and projected starter Danny Green, the evident culture change raised legitimate questions on their real ceiling.
This early, the fitness of Leonard has managed to erase plenty of doubts. True, DeRozan generated no small measure of goodwill with the Raptors, not to mention the rabid fan base; such was the weight of his nine-year tenure that his move to the Spurs engendered mixed feelings, the apparent net gain notwithstanding. And he is still missed; for instance, best friend Kyle Lowry has continued to do their handshake routine — alone. On the other hand, there can be no doubting what the Most Valuable Player candidate brings to the table, and on both ends of the court.
Creditably, the Raptors are taking the long view when it comes to Leonard. In his two outings, they’ve allowed him to break from their offense — chucking ball movement in favor of predictable isolation plays — in order to make him feel more comfortable. And, to their delight, he has delivered. At the same time, they’re committed to let him sit out contests according to a schedule that should keep him fit through an expectedly deep playoff run. Against the Wizards yesterday, for instance, they kept him out of the lineup. And they wound up prevailing, anyway.
In any case, the Raptors‘ warm welcome of Leonard is being reciprocated in kind. They’ve designated him last in player introductions, underscoring his status as first in the pecking order. And Scotiabank Arena diehards are already finding cause to throw “MVP” chants his way; a few have been decidedly boisterous and, given how he took over in the third quarter of their home stand against the Celtics, well earned.
For the Raptors, though, regular season dominance is just an indicator of momentum. They’ve been there and done that. What’s key to them as they strive to take full advantage of Leonard’s presence is how they use the momentum to propel them to new heights. And with longtime boogeyman James no longer in the picture, they’re confident of success.
The Raptors‘ warm welcome of Leonard is being reciprocated in kind. They’ve designated him last in player introductions, underscoring his status as first in the pecking order. And Scotiabank Arena diehards are already finding cause to throw “MVP” chants his way; a few have been decidedly boisterous and, given how he took over in the third quarter of their home stand against the Celtics, well earned.