NBA fans forgot how good Kawhi Leonard truly is. In leading the Toronto Raptors and the nation of Canada to their first NBA title he now takes his place among the greatest all time players in the NBA. Kawhi is now a two-time finals MVP. So let’s not rush to NBA free agency, the Lakers, Anthony Davis, Lebron, Zion, and the NBA Draft just yet. Let’s not forget that the Raptors beat the Warriors at Oracle three times! Three times! No one predicted that. In fact, just a few weeks ago people were saying Golden State was better without KD and that they would sweep the Raptors.
The basketball gods would have none of that. The Raptors were the better team. They had the better role players playing big in big spots. Especially an all star level ringer that no one heard of Pascal Siakam – a 27th pick from the 2016 draft. In the title clinching Game 6 Siakam had 26 and 10 in 46 minutes.
We’re not trying to hear that the Warriors would’ve won but for the injuries. We don’t know that. The Clippers took the Warriors to six games. Are you sure the Raptors wouldn’t have beat the Warriors with Klay and KD?
The Irony, The Injuries, The North
The irony that KD was given the ok by doctors and on the other side Kawhi Lenoard the quietest superstar in the NBA who left the San Antonio Spurs machine because he in part no longer trusted the medical staff in San Antonio. What the Kevin Durant injury means for NBA superstars is for them to always have a second and third opinion from doctors not affiliated with the team or ownership for opinions on serious injuries.
What Klay Thompson’s devastating Game 6 injury means is that the Warriors dynasty may be over. It also proves you never know what may happen in sports. Injuries can and do happen and when they do they can change franchises.
We’ve never had two injuries to NBA Superstars occur in the Finals with unbelievable consequences to NBA franchises the following season. We may not see either star until the 2020 season!
But for now we salute Toronto, we salute the Raptors fans, Drake, the North and the King of the North Kawhi Leonard.
