Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from Game 2 loss vs. 76ers

3. Kawhi Leonard’s case for NBA best

Toronto Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard has been one of the best in the association this postseason and there have been many debates on whether he, Kevin Durant, James Harden or whoever else is the best player in the NBA now.

After Monday night’s great game, he is averaging 31.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting 57.7 percent from the floor and 46.5 percent from beyond the arc. He is playing through contact, getting the best defenders the opposition has to throw at him, and he is still getting where and what he wants, whenever he wants it. His great form is a welcomed addition to a Raptors team that is one of the legit contenders for a championship this year because of his play.

The Sixers made the adjustment to have a bigger body defender in Simmons to try and slow down Kawhi after he torched both Butler and Harris in Game 1. Kawhi acknowledged Simmons as his new primary defender and complimented his efforts postgame. Regardless, even with Simmons’ efforts being better than what Kawhi faced in Game 1, it didn’t effect the Claw, who was still able to shoot over 50 percent and was the best player on the floor from either team.

The Sixers threw double- and even at times triple-teams at Kawhi when he came near the basket, but his intelligence of the game is almost unmatched. He escaped those protections with precision passing to an open teammate, split between the defenders on his way to the rim or used his body to push the defender in one direction as he faded the opposite way, using his length to create space and a good shot selection.

Without Leonard Monday night, it would’ve been a completely different game for the Raptors. He has put this team on his back, and its time for the supporting cast to provide more help like they did in the second half.