Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from dominant Game 5 win vs. 76ers

2. Kawhi Leonard: less is more

Kawhi Leonard has been tasked to provide superhuman production in the series, averaging 38.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game on 61.8 percent shooting prior to Game 5. He may have had his most inefficient shooting night on Tuesday (43.8 percent), but his impact on the game still made him superhuman.

It’s no secret that the Sixers do not have an answer for Leonard. Ben Simmons did his best to contain him as the bigger and athletically matched defender, but even he had his limitations. Leonard is so good at reading what the defenses give him, and finds space to maneuver to either get a good shot from anywhere on the floor or find the open shooter. In Game 5, Leonard had a couple shots go in-and-out from the bucket, showing signs of mortality, but the Sixers weren’t going to allow him to get it going. Instead they chose to challenge Leonard with several help defensive schemes.

By double- or triple-teaming Leonard, there was usually a Toronto shooter ready and open for a good look. Throughout the series, the team has struggled hitting open looks, but Tuesday night was a different story. Every starter except for Leonard made two from deep, with Green leading the way making 5-of-7. Leonard had four assists on the night, and each of those went to an open shooter from deep.

Leonard was active defensively, gobbling up team-high 13 rebounds and pushing the ball forward to either an open runner or himself to make a play. Let’s not forget to mention two unbelievable posterizing dunks on the best defenders the Sixers have to offer:

Even though it was his lowest-scoring game of the series, Leonard impacted multiple facets of the game. His teammates stepped up, hitting shots at an efficient rate, while Leonard provided his usual superstar production on both ends of the court. This Toronto Raptors team is starting to show its true colors.