LEONARD KNOWS WINNING FEELING
Former Spurs star excited about Raptors’ potential to go deep in playoffs
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said earlier this week massive expectations can be a good thing.
“Expectations are a wonderful thing and the pressure that comes with it is a privilege,” Babcock said.
The Leafs are the favourite among Vegas oddsmakers to lift the Stanley Cup. The NBA’s Toronto Raptors might not be seen as that kind of powerhouse, but are seen as a solid bet to at least make the Eastern Conference final, if not play for the championship next spring.
Newcomer Kawhi Leonard is used to lofty pre-season expectations. After all, before his trade to Toronto, he spent his career with one of the most successful NBA franchises over the past 20 years, the San Antonio Spurs.
Last year snapped an 18-season streak of San Antonio notching at least 50 wins (and it was really a 20-year streak, given the team won 37 of 50 games in its lockout-shortened initial championship year in 1998-99). Winning is ingrained there.
“We were used to winning in San Antonio. So it’s the same thing for me. I have the same mindset, go out and try to win the basketball game,” Leonard said after practice Thursday.
Toronto has turned in its only three 50-win seasons the last three years, but could perhaps crack the 60-win plateau for the first time.
“I don’t feel pressure from the fans. It’s myself. It’s always up to the person and what they want to do, what’s in their mind and what they want the season to be. I set my own expectations and try to reach my own goals,” Leonard said.
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is appreciative of the situation he’s in, noting most first-year bench bosses tend to take over mediocre or even awful clubs.
“We’re firmly entrenched, and rightly so, in Eastern Conference seeding talks, or championship talks or whatever, so it’s great,” Nurse said.
If Leonard is fully recovered from the series of injuries that held him to only nine games in 2017-18, that will help the Raptors’ cause in a big way.
The forward has scored 29 points in 37 pre-season minutes, and made 19 trips to the free throw line. Though he’s clearly not yet himself, especially defensively, Leonard has looked dominant at times.
“I think the biggest thing is we all saw he kinda had a little rust on him opening night and he removed a big chunk of it in one game,” Nurse said.
“So I think that’s really encouraging. It was really noticeable. He makes a big difference. Again, he’s super healthy and he’s working like heck and he feels good and so I think we’ll see him just continue to make strides and get more comfortable (as he adjusts to the speed of the NBA again after so much time off ).”
The team is a work in progress, but Leonard is encouraged.
“We’re still trying to jell. We’ve been practising five-on-five. I’m seeing a lot from everyone,” he said. “I’ve got a lot to learn still and see what everyone’s about, but right now I think we’re doing a great job.”
READY FOR HOME COOKING
Leonard has heard about what can be a loud crowd in Toronto and he’ll finally get a chance to experience it for himself on Friday. Though it’s only an exhibition tilt against a team from Melbourne, Australia, the fans should be amped to see the most talented player to don a Raptors uniform in person.
“It’s going to be a great experience. It’s my first time being on the home team here,” Leonard said. “Everybody says there’s great energy and vibe. I’m just ready to live in the moment and see it for myself.”
The Oct. 17 regular season opener against the rival Cleveland Cavaliers should be an even louder experience.
Leonard said though the team got in late on Wednesday following its trip to Vancouver and Utah, he still had a bit of time to “roam the city and see what it’s about.”
GETTING WORK IN
Nurse put the team through an extensive practice Thursday.
“On-court (it) was about as long as we’ve gone in any one session, to be honest, and we needed it,” he said.
“There was a lot of teaching today and a lot of drill work and then we got to play, get up and down, keep putting the emphasis, doing things five-on-five. Get the chemistry on the defence, that’s what Kawhi needs.”
AROUND THE RIM
Forward OG Anunoby remains away from the team to attend to a family issue … Leonard said the Raptors are building toward being a dominant defensive team with the goal being the ability to field certain lineups that can switch through all five positions defensively … Point guard Delon Wright says he’s getting used to where Leonard likes the ball (mid-post, isolations, etc.) and added throwing out different lineups in the pre-season should help the Raptors. Wright also said Tuesday’s game against Utah felt a bit more like a regular game than an exhibition because of the physicality.