Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol admits the team leans on star small forward Kawhi Leonard “a little too much” on offense.
In this Eastern Conference Finals series against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Raptors need Leonard to play elite every single minute he's on the floor. Leonard is a superstar, but he's also human and will wear down if he's unable to rest.
The problem, though, is that every time Raptors head coach Nick Nurse puts Leonard on the bench, Toronto either loses its lead or gets blown out of the game.
“We lean on him a lot. Sometimes a little too much,” Gasol said of Leonard, via Michael Lee of The Athletic.
“I mean, it could be,” Leonard said in response to a question about whether fatigue played a role in the Raptors’ fourth quarter silence, “but it’s no excuses.”
Leonard played 42 minutes in the Game 1 loss to the Bucks. He scored 31 points, but had just two points in the fourth quarter. The Raptors lost by eight.
Kyle Lowry played well in Game 1. He finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Pascal Siakam pitched in 15. Leonard, Lowry and Siakam were the only Raptors players to score in double figures. Gasol had only six points in 39 minutes.
For the Raptors to win Game 2 and the series, guys outside of Leonard and Lowry are going to have to play at a high level.
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