The Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship last June, lost their best player to free agency three weeks later, and they'll still make the NBA Finals in 2020.
Kawhi Leonard is the best Toronto Raptor of all time. There isn't a single player in the franchises 25-year history that boasts career accomplishments even remotely close to what Kawhi Leonard did in a single season. He was an All-Star, an All-Defensive Team member, an All-NBA Team member, won the Finals MVP trophy and topped it all off by leading the Raptors to the franchises first-ever NBA Championship. Oh, and he did this in a Game 7.
All this ties together to make it seem like the Raptors would be sorely missing him this season, however, that's not exactly the case. Through sixteen games the Raptors are 12-4 and have won games despite extended absences from All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and sixth man Serge Ibaka. So how are they doing it? Last year's NBA Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam has taken another leap and looks like he may be able to set a precedent and win the award in back-to-back seasons. He's jumped from 16.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 APG to 25.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 4.1APG. On top of that Pascal is playing more minutes-per-game, shooting the 3 at a higher percentage and hitting more of his free throws. Pascal Siakam in back-to-back seasons has jumped from a mediocre role-player to a borderline All-Star to a lock All-NBA player who will be in the conversation for the MVP.
Pascal has built his game around his versatile-athleticism, he's built like a bulldozer and can sprint up the court like a rocket-powered Ferrari but he can pirouette like a ballerina float through a defense like a majestic monarch. With Kawhi Leonard out of the way Siakam has been fully unlocked and is being force-fed the ball at every opportunity. Coach Nick Nurse is playing a lineup of three-point shooters around Siakam and allowing him to handle the ball on the perimeter which is leading to an ungodly amount of space in the paint for someone of his caliber to operate. But when the defense overplays and takes away his driving lanes he's shown the ability to shoot from outside. Just watch as he torches the Pelicans for 44 points and 10 rebounds.
Pascal Siakam's further emergence along with leaps taken by young stars Fred Van Vleet and OG Anunoby the Raptors are primed to take another run at a title in what's widely considered as a wide-open field. The NBA is in a time of league-wide parity, where the difference could be made in a playoff series by experience and chemistry the Raps have both. Bookmark this page and let me know what you think in late June.
Zach Kiedaisch
BCIT Broadcast and Online Journalism 2019-2021
Kawhi Leonard is the best Toronto Raptor of all time. There isn't a single player in the franchises 25-year history that boasts career accomplishments even remotely close to what Kawhi Leonard did in a single season. He was an All-Star, an All-Defensive Team member, an All-NBA Team member, won the Finals MVP trophy and topped it all off by leading the Raptors to the franchises first-ever NBA Championship. Oh, and he did this in a Game 7.
All this ties together to make it seem like the Raptors would be sorely missing him this season, however, that's not exactly the case. Through sixteen games the Raptors are 12-4 and have won games despite extended absences from All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and sixth man Serge Ibaka. So how are they doing it? Last year's NBA Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam has taken another leap and looks like he may be able to set a precedent and win the award in back-to-back seasons. He's jumped from 16.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 APG to 25.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 4.1APG. On top of that Pascal is playing more minutes-per-game, shooting the 3 at a higher percentage and hitting more of his free throws. Pascal Siakam in back-to-back seasons has jumped from a mediocre role-player to a borderline All-Star to a lock All-NBA player who will be in the conversation for the MVP.
Pascal Siakam's further emergence along with leaps taken by young stars Fred Van Vleet and OG Anunoby the Raptors are primed to take another run at a title in what's widely considered as a wide-open field. The NBA is in a time of league-wide parity, where the difference could be made in a playoff series by experience and chemistry the Raps have both. Bookmark this page and let me know what you think in late June.
Zach Kiedaisch
BCIT Broadcast and Online Journalism 2019-2021
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