Toronto Raptors: Under Kawhi’s leadership, the Raptors have a different feel

The Toronto Raptors are different team this season and are a real contender to win the Eastern Conference

The Toronto Raptors, over the past four years, have become known for booming in the regular season and busting in the playoffs.

Last season, despite setting a franchise record for total wins in the regular season, it took the Raptors six games to get out of the first round of the playoffs. And the Raptors were ultimately swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in historic fashion in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

This embarrassing defeat led to the Raptors franchise making some seismic moves and firing their head coach and trading away their franchise player DeMar DeRozan.

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While some analysts initially thought the Raptors franchise had gone too far with its decision, you can’t argue with the results thus far. As they hold a 3-1 series lead over the Orlando Magic, led by Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors are on the verge of a huge second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers (assuming they get by the Nets). And this Raptors team feels quite different than the ones in year’s past.

In 2016, the Raptors lost in the Eastern Conference Finals. In 2017 and 2018, the Raptors lost in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Make no mistake, though, this is a much different team.

This version of the Raptors have not only added Kawhi Leonard, but also integral parts such as Marc Gasol, Jeremy Lin, and Danny Green. Additions that not only bring important production and leadership, but also more experience to the roster. Perhaps the biggest addition, though, occurred internally with the development of Pascal Siakam, who will likely win the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year award this season.

Toronto may not have won as many regular season games as last year, but there’s no question this team is better equipped to win more when it matters most.

In the 2018, the Raptors were just 8-7 on the road against Western Conference teams. This season, they are 11-4. And cumulatively, there were 19-11 against Western Conference teams in 2018, this season they were 22-8.

With Kawhi Leonard in the lineup, the Raptors have restructured their offense. Last season, the Raptors extensively utilized their bench more than other NBA teams. For the 2017-18 season, the Raptor bench was second in the league in minutes.

While DeRozan is a fantastic player, he is no Kawhi. In the past, DeRozan underperformed against LeBron James and others in the post-season. Kawhi Leonard, on the other hand, is known for elevating his game in the playoffs. Kawhi Leonard made his name in the 2014 NBA Finals when he won the Finals MVP for his defensive performance against LeBron.

In the 2017 playoffs, before he was lost to injury, Kawhi was averaging over 27 points per game on 53 percent shooting from the field and nearly 46 percent from 3-point range. To say he was extremely efficient would be an absolute understatement.

In the end, the tension between the franchise and Kawhi was too much to overcome, and San Antonio traded him. But it had nothing to do with his talent.

The Raptors performance this post-season is definitely going to make an impact on Kawhi Leonard’s free agency decision. And so far, the Raptors have not disappointed in the playoffs. But to hammer down this point, the Raptors are going to have to prove it deeper into the playoffs.

Toronto has been here before, but it’s players like Kawhi Leonard that have the ability to carry the Raptors to the next level.

Kawhi is definitely a leader for the Raptors on the defensive and offensive end of the court. His leadership has become infectious during the first round of the playoffs for other players and, so far, the Raptors have not disappointed in the playoffs.

The Toronto Raptors are definitely a threat to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals and maybe even the NBA Finals.