Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard’s playoff performance reaching unprecedented levels

Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after making a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after making a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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With the Toronto Raptors in a desperate need for a win in Game 4, Leonard proved once again why he is one of the top playoff performers.

Many were calling Game 4 a must-win for the Toronto Raptors considering the odds would have been heavily against them if they returned home trailing 3-1.

Considering how the Sixers were rolling the past couple of games, Toronto needed to dig deep and find a way to slow them while also getting themselves going offensively. Of course, this is where Kawhi Leonard has thrived in his career.

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It is tough to think other Raptors players would have been able to step up in the way Kawhi did in Game 4. Putting up 39 points and 14 rebounds, Leonard continues to prove why he was worth rolling the dice on even if he decides to leave this off-season.

Obviously, it would be preferable if he and Pascal Siakam weren’t the only ones providing dominant performances and once they get the supporting cast, this Raptors’ team shouldn’t have a problem with a team like Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, the Raptors have needed an almost historic playoff performance from Kawhi to survive against the Sixers as Micah Adams noted.

Just to provide more context for how dominant Leonard has been, he is only the fifth player in league history to record 150 points, 30 rebounds and 15 assists through the first four games of a playoff series. The other players include Michael Jordan, Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.

There aren’t many players willing to carry a team like Kawhi is right now, most have joined together or call themselves LeBron James. Toronto is getting a superstar performance and better not waste it.

"“It’s been really fun to watch,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said to reporters. “We’ve needed him to be that good, so it’s good. I’m not a comparisons type of guy. It’s different rules, different era, different players, different schemes, different matchups, all those kinds of things make it hard. But, in this era, and the situation we’re in right now, he’s pretty damn good.”"

It also helps that ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting Toronto improving their chances to re-sign Leonard in the off-season. Woj went on to say there is a stronger possibility Kawhi stays than when the season began and everyone reported that there was no chance he stayed.

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Now, Leonard’s future is not anything the Raptors should be contemplating right now, rather going far in the playoffs. Leonard is rewarding the team for its decision to give him days off for “load management” is being paid back with interest.