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A brand new period, new look and a brand new function, the Kawhi Leonard return to the Raptors positively featured a newness not many might have envisioned.
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Effectively earlier than he noticed his first motion, Leonard made it abundantly clear to anybody keen to pay attention that he can be content material serving as a subordinate to Scottie Barnes, the franchise face who resorted to his interior Leonard throughout final spring’s opening-round playoff loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in pushing the best-of-seven matchup to the restrict.
Leonard was pining to play alongside Barnes and greater than keen to take a again seat, which is saying lots for a two-time NBA finals MVP who led Toronto to its championship in 2019.
Through the pre-game introductions Tuesday when a skeleton crew suited up for the reigning champion New York Knicks, Leonard emerged because the penultimate participant to be introduced.
Barnes took his acquainted function as the ultimate participant, a distinction reserved for the staff’s finest.
For the Raptors to completely attain their potential, will probably be incumbent on Leonard to be at his easiest.
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Pre-season is hardly an event to completely showcase one’s abilities, however deep down the street when video games flip significant, the Raptors’ finest possibilities will depend upon Leonard.
Solely time will inform what the Raptors run on offence or how they defend when a basket or a cease is required.
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Leonard-Barnes tandem lights it up
Tuesday evening at Scotiabank Area, the place the Raptors gained the sport 148-98, a key basket or defensive cease was even remotely thought-about.
The evening was all about Leonard with first-round decide Allen Graves, who has been nursing a groin difficulty, lastly in a position to make his pre-season debut.
The child’s physique body speaks NBA, but it surely stays to be decided what exact bench function he’ll serve.
As for Leonard, he sported a white headband, look informal as he usually does, when launched, much more informal when the Raptors carried out their pre-game line dance, for an absence of a greater description when starters make their approach alongside the baseline to the cheers and dancing of the membership’s reserves.
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On Toronto’s first possession, a pin down with Jakob Poeltl setting the display, freed up Leonard on the prime of the important thing.
The offence flowed freely as Leonard didn’t hesitate in heaving photographs.
A steal was one in every of many spectacular sequences produced by Leonard, who appeared to play with out breaking a sweat.
Take into accout the Knicks had performed the earlier evening and never a single starter suited up Tuesday.
Perspective is remitted
The Raptors will play the Knicks in New York Thursday earlier than ending the pre-season one evening later in Detroit.
Given the backdrop of an exhibition recreation, little or no, if any, will be gleaned.
Seeing Leonard run up and down the ground, seeing him drain three-pointers and seeing him routine scoring on a baseline turnaround are the type of sights followers have all the time seen from Leonard.
Toronto went with its projected beginning lineup for opening evening, a five-man unit that will additionally characteristic RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, whose wonky hamstring didn’t enable the purpose guard to play a single minute in opposition to the Cavs.
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Poeltl did play, however by no means emerged as a distinction maker within the wake of a season-long again difficulty.
He has appeared a lot better, for what it’s price, within the pre-season and he appeared superb in opposition to the Knicks, whose clear lack of expertise and talent weren’t overly tough to discern.
In a altering Japanese Convention panorama, one which options the return of LeBron James, who signed this low season with Philadelphia as a free agent, the return of Tyrese Haliburton to the Indianapolis Pacers and rising groups similar to Orlando, Atlanta and even Washington, the Raptors can be challenged, despite the fact that many anticipate them to be competing for a top-four seed.
Leonard’s three-point taking pictures, it goes with out saying, will certainly assist Toronto’s trigger, one in every of many areas Leonard’s presence can be felt.
Till video games of significance are performed, there’s no telling how the Raptors use Leonard within the half courtroom when a basket is critical.
Followers bathe Leonard with applause
No less than Tuesday evening, Leonard appeared like he had by no means left city and he performed prefer it.
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Followers actually confirmed their appreciation by showering Leonard with adulation.
The Barnes-Leonard duo clearly outclassed the Knicks, particularly when head coach Mike Brown went with a decidedly youthful unit.
Then once more, it was to be anticipated as was the lopsided nature of the sport itself.
As a lot as nobody actually knew what to anticipate from Leonard, his pedigree nearly dictated he would play nicely.
In opposition to New York’s true starters, it could have been a special story, however Leonard is a eager scholar of the sport who is aware of who to make the mandatory in-game changes, particularly when going through a well-balanced and well-connected Knicks staff with Jalen Brunson on the head of the snake, whose father, Rick Brunson, a one-time Raptor from approach again within the day, stays on Brown’s workers.
Fact be informed, Leonard and Barnes would have overwhelmed the Knicks on their very own Tuesday, which says extra about New York’s skinny lineup than any affirmation of the Barnes-Leonard tandem.
Within the first half, the Raptors scored 86 factors with Leonard dropping 21 on 12 makes an attempt.
Barnes added 17, whereas dishing off 4 assists.
So far as first impressions go, Tuesday evening couldn’t have gone any higher for the Raptors, who had been enjoying of their first and solely residence exhibition tip.
Take into accout the standard of the opposition was suspect at finest.
A really encouraging signal to emerge concerned Collin Murray-Boyles’ taking pictures, particularly from past the three-point arc.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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