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NBA: 4 bold predictions for the 2018-19 season

By Quinn Allen

NBA Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving Gordon Hayward (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
NBA Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving Gordon Hayward (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 5: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors looks on from the bench during the second half of an NBA preseason game against Melbourne United at Scotiabank Arena on October 5, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 5: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors looks on from the bench during the second half of an NBA preseason game against Melbourne United at Scotiabank Arena on October 5, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Kawhi leads Toronto to Eastern Conference Finals

DeMar DeRozan failed to get Toronto past LeBron and the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016, then time and time again couldn’t beat the Cavs in the playoffs in 17′ and 18′, despite being the No. 1 seed in the East last year. Toronto’s all-time leading scorer is a great player, but he couldn’t get Toronto over that playoff hump.

Bringing Kawhi to Toronto could turn out to be a great move or a not so great move depending on how you look at his last couple of seasons. But considering his NBA pedigree and the type of player he was for the Spurs, Kawhi will bring an all-around electric game to the Raptors alongside Kyle Lowry.

When healthy, he is arguably the best all-around player in the NBA. He can shoot, defend, get to the rim in a heartbeat, you name it. Will he like playing in Toronto, that’s the question. It’s a new country, a new team, and new surroundings. He played with the Spurs for all of his career to this point, so this will definitely be a change for him.

If he can stay healthy and really embrace that he is the next franchise player for the Raps, Kawhi could lead them to brilliance this year. They have a boatload of young talent to compliment him, such as Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, among others. They have one of the deepest benches in the NBA, and with Danny Green now in Toronto alongside Kawhi, he will have a familiar face in his corner.

The team standing in their way in the East? The Boston Celtics.

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