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Leonard has always had it. He did not know it the first time.
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "The same goes for the Raptors, whose & nbsp;defeat in the first round, Saturday& nbsp; dropped them to 1-9 in the first game in the last six years. That did not arouse the fans' concerns, as justifiably justified as they were ferocious, than the historic playoff victory: a Kyle Lowry zero-point night, another explosive failure for a player whose successes are mostly cerebral. Different circumstances, a different team, a different coach in Nick Nurse, another superstar in Kawhi Leonard, of course. But as a ghost member, anxiety can persist even as circumstances change. Fans here are conditioned to prepare for the worst scenario. "Data-reactid =" 18 "> It's the same for the Raptors, who lost on Saturday in the first round, which brought them back to 1-9 in the first match, six years. the anxiety of an outmoded and – usually appropriately – edgy fanbase, as much as the historic event: Kyle Lowry's zero night, another explosive failure for a player whose successes are primarily different circumstances, different teams, a different coach in Nick Nurse, a different superstar in Kawhi Leonard, of course.But as a ghost member, anxiety can persist even as circumstances change.Fans here are conditioned to prepare for the worst of scenarios.
The island Raptors did not feed him. "I think people have become a little crazy in the first game," Pascal Siakam said after the second match. "We all know the type of guy who [Lowry] is. Lowry bounced back, as he usually did in the second game, scoring 22 points on 13 shots, attacking the ground and distributing seven assists.
Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard crossed the Magic on Tuesday night in the second game. (Getty Images)
<p class = "canvas-atom-text-canvas Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Most importantly, Leonard was quite the player the The raptors sacrificed so much for the off-season – no limits or hindrances, no load management or freewheeling. "I took it after 12 minutes at the end of the third day, and I told him said he had two minutes of rest and he's going back in. He said he was ready now, said the nurse.I think he's ready to play as many minutes that he can and that he can manage as much as the game requires. "& nbsp;Leonard finished with 37 points on 15 out of 22 shots. "data-reactid =" 31 "> More importantly, Leonard was quite the player that the Raptors had sacrificed so much for the off-season – not limited, uncomfortable, controlled, or freewheeling." I took it out after 12 minutes. stretch at the end of the third period, and I told him that he had two minutes of rest and that he was going back there. He said that he was ready now, said the nurse. I think he's ready to play as many minutes as he can. and he can manage as much as the game requires. Leonard finished with 37 points on 15 shots out of 22.
The Raptors got Kawhi in the playoffs, the ace-in-the-hole that thrives – never backs down – under the pressure of the jump, even after committing two quick fouls in the first quarter, then a third to second. We do not care? Not him. Leonard can self-regulate at mid-dribble. He looked pissed off, but never bewildered, reacting to his second mistake coming out of a screen, as balanced as Raptor before him, sneaking up to the middle of the painting, standing up and scoring. the outstretched arms of Nikola Vucevic. On the next trip, Leonard hit Jonathan Isaac and was respected by the referees like no other Raptor before him – especially with arms restless with a few bad pauses – Leonard whistled late and made two free throws .
It was one of the few calls to follow the Raptors. The Magic shot three fouls on a possession. A song "Refs, you fear!" Broke before the middle of the second quarter, probably a record at the Scotiabank Arena. At the end of half-time, Leonard, Danny Green and Marc Gasol were in big trouble, and Toronto had only connected 3 points to 15 points. Yet, they led by 11.
These are the Raptors as we have never seen them before, refusing to succumb to the vagaries of circumstances. Despite all the strong returns of the Raptors of the Dwane Casey era, resilience was a trait they usually put aside in April. "I guess I had a decision to take there, right? I think that at that time we had a good start and we were putting our wills into the game, "said Nurse of the decision to keep Leonard in the game despite serious problems. "And I thought that would roll the dice so that our will can continue to be imposed."
Leonard was indeed a force of nature, the sparkling certainty that can shatter the hope of any opponent. Six years ago, you could draw a parallel between the Raptors and the Magic: a solid, defensive team, with a series of stars almost, fueled by a surprise run at the end of the season. Old for a first playoff team, but young enough to be excited at the prospect of knowing who they might become in case of light. DeMar DeRozan and Lowry have finally earned a spot in the All-Star standings – as Vucevic and Gordon might have done – but they have always failed against LeBron James, a foodie whose talent allowed him to play with his food until Until it decides that it's time to move on to something else. round.
The Raptors finally have a player like that. On Tuesday, Leonard exorcised the series bustle for the Raptors. Now, it's about convincing him to stay beyond the end of the playoffs. What's more scary than the collapse of a playoff series? Get everything you've always wanted a few months – or a few weeks – before you can walk through the door. To be better than oneself is a perpetually anxious job.
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