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Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry and Danny Green leading the way

By David Morassutti

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 17: Kawhi Leonard #2 (C) of the Toronto Raptors is introduced to the crowd prior to the first half of the NBA season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena on October 17, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 17: Kawhi Leonard #2 (C) of the Toronto Raptors is introduced to the crowd prior to the first half of the NBA season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena on October 17, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Four games into the season, the Toronto Raptors have been a force to be reckoned with thanks in large part to the trio of Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry and Danny Green.

When a team makes a big change to their starting lineup and coaching staff like the Toronto Raptors did this past offseason, it would be understandable if it took time for everything to come together.

That hasn’t been the case so far as everything looks to be going the Raptors way and not just because of the 4-0 record but how seamless the transition has been. Give Masai Ujiri credit because he took a lot of heat for trading DeMar DeRozan and firing Dwane Casey but he recognized that something needed to be changed.

He brings in two proven commodities in Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green who have had an immediate impact making life easier for Kyle Lowry. They’ve been efficient as a trio and even when Leonard was given the night off, it was business as usual.

While the team is performing efficiently offensively winning 127-106 against the Charlotte Hornets they’re also getting the job done on defence. The Raptors are embracing their identity as a team that can get it done at both ends of the court.

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Not only are they more capable of shooting from three but they also have the ability to defend multiple positions with Leonard as the centrepiece and he had a big challenge going up against Kemba Walker.

Walker came into this game as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week after a dominant start averaging 35.3 points and and hitting19 3-pointers through the first three games setting a a new NBA record.

The Raptors gameplan was simple, force the Hornets to beat them in a different way considering their reliance on the three ball. Walker went two-for-seven from three and while he scored 26, Toronto limited his impact from beyond the arc while Charlotte on had nine the entire night.

"“It was a high-scoring, free-shooting team coming in here,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said to reporters. “We asked them to get out and contest and disrupt some of their rhythm stuff and we did a pretty good job of that.”"

Lowry had 16 points and 14 assists while Green added 16 points continuing his strong start to the season. While it’s not hard to win four straight out of the gate, two of those wins have come against tough teams like Boston and Washington and Toronto can go 5-0  to start the season for the first time in franchise history.

It’ll be interesting to see how the next few games play out and whether a team can find a way to match up with the Raptors as they’ve been a nightmare so far.

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What do you make of the Raptors start to the season? What has impressed you the most and what do they need to work on? Let us know in the comments below. 

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