Toronto Raptors · 12 notes
"It's still a grind, even for everybody... You're not in midseason mode." Kawhi Leonard on his conditioning before Toronto's opener. He gauges readiness by playing games and seeing how he feels, says "you can't go as hard as you used to" and that recovery is now big.
Toronto is tracking Kawhi Leonard's workload and health, with his own input, to keep him holding up through the playoffs. "We're checking every single box that exists," Darko Rajakovic said. Leonard even asked to guard more point guards in preseason to build conditioning.
Kawhi Leonard was planned for 15 minutes in his Raptors debut, in shifts of 5 or fewer. Darko Rajakovic said the style is so demanding "it's going to be really hard for anybody to play full 12 minutes." Main players in both of the next two games? "I do have a plan, yes."
Kawhi Leonard is "still trying to get in shape" and learning Toronto's play calls; his aim in his debut was to defend and get tired. Darko Rajakovic kept him with the starters: "I tried to get those guys as much as possible on the court together"
Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles can play center in small lineups, power forward or point guard, Kawhi Leonard said of his Toronto Raptors teammates. Coach Darko Rajakovic added that Murray-Boyles "worked so, so hard over the course of the summer on his shooting."
Utah's Ace Bailey says his offseason conditioning (track work, 3-minute runs, bikes, 80/20 intervals) was aimed at a bigger role, because "you want to play longer." His focus is defense: "I'm not worried about the offensive end. I mean, I can score." His model: Kawhi Leonard.
When Kawhi Leonard is back, the Raptors' offense changes, RJ Barrett said Oct. 10: "a little more cutting, spacing... just to make sure that he has room." If he's doubled, teammates stay available. Immanuel Quickley said Leonard already chimes in during film sessions.
Kawhi Leonard beat Darko Rajakovic in a one-on-one game at Raptors training camp, and the coach denies letting him win. His case for losing anyway: "it would not be good if I beat him in 1-on-1. That would not be good for anybody."
Kawhi Leonard is ramping up with Raptors staff conditioning his lungs, muscles, legs and tendons. He says he feels good and is taking it slow: "We're taking it step by step, so hopefully everything works out." Asked about a suggestion he won't play Oct. 10, he gave no answer.
Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Anderson didn't play in the Raptors' first preseason game. "We watched a lot of film on him, and he's watched a lot of film on us and how he could be implemented into our offense," Collin Murray-Boyles said of Leonard at practice.
Jamison Battle is "huge" for the Raptors' push for more threes, Darko Rajakovic said at practice, along with Kawhi Leonard and Allen Graves, who showed all summer he can shoot. He plans a 10-man rotation that "may end up being 9" or 11, with limited minutes for the 10th man.
Kawhi Leonard has yet to play with this Raptors group and missed much of summer open gym. Darko Rajakovic said Leonard can name every teammate but is still learning what they do: "there's going to be some growing for sure." The plan: "we don't want to change Kawhi."