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Kawhi Leonard has been in the “load management” protocol for four straight games, missing a full week's slate of games through a mysterious trend of absences. Yet the Toronto Raptors forward claims he's not hurt, but rather choosing to be careful with his body, as is the team's training staff.
“I’m not hurt or anything like that,” said Leonard, according to Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun. “I already played three times (the number) the games I played last year, so you can’t just come out here and run your body into the ground.”
“I guess the Raptors understand that, they want me to be healthy and (they’re) listening and we’re moving at the same pace… It’s just about making sure I’m good, that there ain’t no downfalls and I’m just staying at a steady pace.”
Leonard has actually played four times the number of games he played last season, but given how that was merely nine in a San Antonio Spurs jersey — it's not saying very much.
The Raptors have been utmost careful with Leonard, who missed 73 games last season with discomfort in his injured quad, even after being cleared by team doctors.
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He's bounced back remarkably this season, posting career-highs in scoring (27.6 points) and rebounding (7.9 boards) through 36 games, numbers Toronto is hoping he can keep up during a vital postseason.
Furthermore, the Raptors are thinking long-term and walking on eggshells with Leonard, hoping to avoid upsetting him ahead of a crucial free agency period this upcoming summer.
If a few games' rest can persuade him that this team is the right fit, Toronto won't have problems sitting him out as long as it makes sense to do so.
