It’s only pre-season, but Kawhi Leonard already has Raptors fans believing

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It’s all Kawhi, all the time, which is all good for a Raptors team about to close out its pre-season schedule with back-to-back road tips, beginning Thursday night against the New York Knicks followed by a date in Motown before the regular season officially begins next Wednesday against the visiting Chicago Bulls.

One game, albeit a very emphatic display, is hardly a sufficient sample size to even begin making any definitive statements.

One game did provide a glimpse into what may await in Kawhi Leonard’s return, his presence and potential impact the biggest reasons why the franchise is more than positioned to regain a level of relevance in a brutally competitive NBA where the majority of its deepest teams reside in the Eastern Conference.

Leonard’s return has almost taken the attention off Scottie Barnes who, despite his emerging talents, remains a question when it comes to consistently making shots.

With Leonard riding shotgun, Barnes will be allowed to be used more as a facilitator and potential rebounder more than adept at controlling the defensive glass and triggering a fast break.

There’s no real point in breaking down Tuesday’s debacle in the Raptors’ home exhibition debut against a New York Knicks team that looked more akin to a G-League squad. Combined, Leonard and Barnes emerged with a staggering plus-57 rating, which was to be expected.

Improved three-point shooting

Of Leonard’s 12 attempts, eight were heaved from beyond the three-point arc, a stat line worth keeping in mind knowing one of the Raptors’ biggest deficiencies involved the three-ball.

Speaking of distance shooting, Immanuel Quickley missed all five of his three-point heaves, while RJ Barrett with 1-for-4.

Each projected starter needs to be better, but each will benefit with Leonard’s presence.

Certainly, the continued emergence of Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter bodes well. CMB’s shot is much more refined, his confidence growing, which is why he went 7-for-7 Tuesday night.

More than anything, it was the length of Leonard and Barnes’ impact on defence that will resonate, the pillars on a Raptors team that should make offensive life very uncomfortable for opposing teams once the ball gets tossed for real.

A healthy Jakob Poeltl anchoring the middle of the defence definitely will help, which is understating the obvious.

In 20 minutes Tuesday, the big man attempted two shots — a far-too-little total that will have to improve as the Raptors continue to integrate their pieces, while establishing an identity on both ends of the floor.

The process, which will require time, has the potential to be accelerated with Leonard and Barnes leading the way.

CMB’s continued emergence

Granted, Tuesday’s opponent was an inferior one, but the mere thought of having three perimeter defensive pieces in Leonard, Barnes and CMB on the floor has the potential to stifle offences.

Remember, Poeltl is best known for defending the rim and the paint, his biggest flaw exposed when he is forced to come out to the perimeter, where teams take advantage of his lack of quickness on pick-and-roll sequences.

CMB went up against some of the game’s elite bigs during his rookie season, his continued shot-making posing just as many issues when teams have to send their bigs out on the perimeter.

An improved ability to make shots from distance in an era when three-pointers are almost attempted at a higher rate than shots inside the arc, coupled with Toronto’s potentially stifling defence, and it’s easy to see good things on the horizon.

During the Barnes era, not a single post-season series win has been achieved. The Raptors earned the fifth seed last season before succumbing to Cleveland in seven games in the opening round of the playoffs.

Assuming all the pieces assembled this season work out — and there’s no reason to suggest they won’t — competing for home-court advantage in the post-season is well within reach.

Leonard plays at pace that is eerily similar to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in that no defence can speed up their respective games.

Granted, Leonard is 35 years old and his minutes will be monitored as the regular season approaches.

Second to none fundamentals

His zero-assist game Tuesday night shouldn’t raise any concerns.

During his time with the San Antonio Spurs, Leonard played on a championship team led by Tim Duncan, better known as the Big Fundamental. Now, Leonard’s fundamentals are as good as anyone.

Whether the Raptors will be as good as any team this coming season falls under that department of ‘to be determined.’

In the seven years since Leonard led Toronto to its championship, three Eastern Conference teams have hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy: Milwaukee, Boston and New York, the league’s reigning champs.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is about to begin his run in South Beach, while Jaylen Brown joins a Philadelphia Sixers team that also added aging great LeBron James.

Given all the salary-cap implications and the stated goal of not wanting to venture into the second apron, the Knicks’ championship window will close following this season.

Leonard did look good in his second act debut with the Raptors, the team overall looked look with the caveat being it came against a very bad foe, but there are no guarantees as a new season is about to tip off.

Seeing Leonard back in a Raptors jersey and seeing what his potential impact may look does inspire hope.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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