NBA Full Games

1. NBA Full Games That was evident early when the visiting team stared down a familiar face and played up to the competition ever so scrappily. NBA Full Games This was we’ll-show-you game, with the Toronto Raptors demonstrating to Kawhi Leonard that they’re the defending champs and he is, with all due respect, no longer part of that equation. And so, although it was ultimately a triumphant night for Leonard because, after all, the LA Clippers managed the 98-88 victory, the Clippers did so in spite of him for the most part. What a coincidence that Leonard’s first less-than-stellar game with his new team came against his old. For his part, Kawhi was characteristically stoic in this first meeting with the Raptors. Before the opening tip, he touched fists with just

2. three former teammates; business as usual. There was little to no chatter during the game and hugs were saved until after the buzzer. NBAReplaytv He’s not one to luxuriate on memories, no matter how glorious. “We won. It’s the next chapter. I can’t live in the past. The team is different for them and me. They want to have that feeling and so do I. But the beauty of this, from the Clippers’ standpoint, is Leonard won’t be a solo star for much longer. He won’t see as many double-teams, as he did constantly against the Raptors. NBA Full Games If his shot doesn’t fall, and it went clackety-clank Monday at Staples Center, he will be bailed out. And the turnovers — he had nine, more than triple the number of baskets he scored — will undoubtedly be reduced because someone is coming to rescue him from regular ball-handling chores. “As soon as I walked across half court, they’re trying to get the

3. ball out of my hands and sending an extra defender,” Leonard said about Toronto’s defensive approach. NBAReplay “It’s going to get my teammates better. They’re going to do it at times in the playoffs, and they’re going to knock down the wide-open shots, and that’s what wins games. They did a great job on me tonight by sending an extra body, and I’m glad they did because it’s going to make my team better.” He’ll travel on this upcoming two-game trip to Houston and New Orleans and, because it’s back-to-back and Kawhi doesn’t do those, George could debut Wednesday while Leonard sits. It’s all fluid, but all signs point toward the much-anticipated tandem making its debut this week. NBA Full Games Through 10 games, eight of which he played, Leonard felt like he was in Toronto all over again, meaning, getting all the respect from the opposing defense. He managed to overcome that quite well, averaging nearly 30 points and scoring more in fourth quarters than anyone in the NBA. But the Raptors were more relentless and smarter than other teams partly because they have the

4. Leonard scouting report memorized from last year, and they frustrated him. It goes unspoken, yet is very evident, that the Raptors are anxious and determined to show the league that they’re still a championship contender without Kawhi. The cold hard numbers are supporting this notion; they’re still living in the attic of the East at 7-3 and two nights ago toppled LeBron James and Anthony Davis without starters Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, both dealing with injuries. NBA Full Games They may be shorthanded at the moment, yet the heart of a champion beats within Pascal Siakam, freshly named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, tough point guard Fred VanVleet, and a group of hungry youngsters trying to make their name.