Kawhi Leonard looked like the Kawhi of old on Friday night in the Raptors' 113-101 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday.
MORE: Five takeaways from the Toronto Raptors 113-101 win over the Boston Celtics
Although very early in the season, it was the first of many tests for the former Finals MVP — one that he passed with flying colours after only playing in nine games a season ago.
Leonard finished with a double-double of 31 points, 10 rebounds to the chants of MVP from the Scotiabank crowd. He didn't impress everyone, however, and while Boston forward Marcus Morris acknowledges Leonard's talent he chalks up his numbers due to the touches he gets in the Raptors' offence.
“That’s the biggest thing; he’s getting the ball every other play,” said Morris told NBC Sports Boston's A. Sherrod Blakely.
“He’s a good player, been a good player; not taking nothing away from him. But he getting the ball every play? You gonna get 30. That’s how I feel.”
Leonard finished the night shooting 10-25, taking 11 more shots than Serge Ibaka who took the second most on the team on Friday. He led the team with 41 front court touches and only Kyle Lowry had more touches overall on the night.
Leonard was hot and the Raptors knew it and kept feeding him.
It's too early to tell what the Raptors are at this point, it was a common sentiment amongst the team heading into Friday night's tilt but according to Morris, the Celtics are still the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
“We’re way more talented than those guys," Morris told the Athletic's Jay King. "I think they just played together a little bit more.
“We have way more talent as far as down the line. Kawhi and K-Low, as far as talented — the other guys just play hard and play their position really well. You know what I’m saying?
“(Kawhi is) a great part of their team, but I don’t want them to do good. I don’t want them to be a good team.”
