Anyone questioning the prudence of “load management” need look no further than the playoff performance of Kawhi Leonard. Limited to 60 games during the regular season due to scheduled rest after he missed most of last year with tendinopathy in his right quadriceps, Leonard has arguably been the league's best player in the postseason, taking the reins of the Toronto Raptors' offense and most recently locking down Giannis Antetokounmpo after switching onto the league's MVP frontrunner midway through the Eastern Conference Finals.
Unfortunately, Leonard is currently dealing with an undisclosed injury to his other leg, one he fought through to typical aplomb for the majority of an epic 52-minute performance in Game 3, but clearly limited him during a far more understated offensive outing on Tuesday. The Raptors beat the Bucks 120-102 regardless, receiving strong contributions from players across the roster.
If Toronto wants to win this de facto best-of-three with two games coming on Milwaukee's home floor, it goes without saying that the team will need worthwhile production from its inconsistent supporting cast – whether Leonard is closer to 100 percent or otherwise. The silver lining? Reserve guard Fred VanVleet makes it seem like he and his oft-criticized teammates are ready to rise to the challenge
“We see all the stuff. We understand what the narrative has turned into, kind of ‘Kawhi Leonard and the Back-up Singers,'” he said after Game 4, per Michael Grange of SportsNet. “We know. We know we have to be better.”
VanVleet had ample reason to speak with such such matter-of-fact confidence. Inspired by the Monday birth of his child, he had 13 points and six assists on 5-of-6 shooting in Toronto's blowout victory, playing by far his best game of the postseason.
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