Kawhi Leonard is another example of the Spurs developing a mid-round pick, but an injury problem not only affected a season's playoffs, but even changed the team's history. After changing teams, Leonard continued to show his terrifying influence on both offense and defense with the Raptors. In the playoffs, he was not only the first choice in shooting, but also able to win at critical moments.
After joining the Clippers, he became the first brother of the team and competed with the Lakers for the best team in Los Angeles. We selected Leonard's peak moments in the playoffs to give everyone a glimpse of the achievements of the war machine.
Further reading: Classic kill, super efficient! Watch Kawhi Leonard's epic playoff performance at 10 p.m.
Table of Contents
A 45-point save in a crucial game
- Season: 2020-21 playoffsＲ1G6
- Result: Clippers 104-97 Mavericks
- Stats: 45 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3PT 9-5
The Clippers were on the road in a desperate battle, trailing 2-3 in the series to the Mavericks. In the key G6, Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points, including 29 points in the second half. He shook off the entanglement led by Luka Doncic and won the series 104:97. Entering the tiebreaker, the two teams also set a record for the first time in league history that the visiting team won the first six games of the series.
Kawhi Leonard, who scored 45 points in a single game, also became the fourth player in history to score 45 points in a single game with a shooting percentage of over 70% when his team was facing elimination. The first three players were Jamal Murray, LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain.
The Block
- Season: 2013-14 playoff conference finals G6
- Result: Spurs 112-107 Thunder
- Statistics: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 pot
With 1 minute left in the game, the Thunder, which was trailing by 1 point, launched a three-on-two fast break after Serge Ibaka blocked Manu Ginobili's layup. However, Loenard blocked Westbrook's layup and also blocked the Thunder. An attempt to force the series to a seventh game.
Leonard successfully defended the most critical possession of the game, and perhaps the most critical ball possession for the Spurs that year, allowing the Holy City to return to the championship game and complete revenge against the Heat.
The Final MVP
- Season: 2013-14 Playoff Championship Game
Result: The Spurs eliminated the Heat with 4 wins and 1 loss
Statistics: Averaged 23.7 points in the last three games, 691 TP3T shooting percentage, 9.3 rebounds
Before this, no one thought that Kawhi Leonard, who was entering the third year of his career, would be the deciding factor in the playoffs. His defense was still outstanding in the playoffs that year. In the Western Conference Championship Game, he not only had the responsibility of blocking Russell Westbrook, but also successfully defended the ball during the Thunder's three-on-two fast break in the last minute of Game 6, showing that Produce more reliable star factors at critical moments.
In the championship game, he continued to interfere with LeBron James, who was considered unstoppable at the time (in fact), becoming one of the few defenders at the time who could feel the threat of reducing the great. On the offensive end, he started to heat up in the third game, scoring 29 points, 20 points, and 22 points in a row. The team also successfully closed the game in five games. Leonard, who excelled in offense and defense, was selected as the MVP of the finals after the game. Before that, he had not even entered the All-Star Game!
One Man Show
- Season: 2016-17 playoff division first round G4
- Result: Spurs 92-90 Grizzlies
- Stats: 43 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 steals
The 16-17 season was the first season after the retirement of Tim Ducan, the soul of the Spurs, and Leonard also showed his attitude of taking over the team's first brother in the playoffs. In Game 4 of the first round against the Grizzlies, he started scoring wildly with the team trailing by 8 points in the last 4 minutes of the game. Three-pointers, interceptions, fast breaks, and fadeaway jumpers like Michael Jordan, he used all his scoring weapons to inject the Spurs' last 16 points and tie the score.
It's a pity that the hero of this game was Marc Gasol, who scored the winning goal from the opposite side. However, Leonard's offensive and defensive abilities demonstrated by his career's second-highest playoff score and career-highest playoff interceptions, as well as his pressure resistance to carry wins and losses at critical moments, have begun to be recognized.
Postseason career high
- Season: 2018-19 Playoff Division Semifinals G1
- Result: Tyrannosaurus 108-95 Sixers
- Statistics: 45 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Low post singles, fadeaway jumpers, mid-range singles, and three-pointers. Facing the 76ers' high-wing defensive formation, Leonard scored a career-high 70% shooting rate and 10 of 11 free throws in the first game of the series. The highest score in a single game in the postseason was 45 points.
His powerful firepower output not only allowed the Raptors to take the lead in the series, but also forced the 76ers to defend themselves from the beginning, setting the tone for the entire series' offensive and defensive rhythm.
Bounce God's Ultimate Kill
- Season: 2018-19 Playoffs Division Semifinals G7
- Result: Raptors 92-90 Sixers
- Statistics: 41 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, buzzer beater
This is Leonard's 99th playoff game in his career and his fourth desperate Game 7. This time he is not only the best defender on the team, but also carries the team offensively. In the whole game, he took a career-high 39 shots in the playoffs (the second highest was 30, and the next most were less than 24), scored 41 points, and scored the buzzer-beater in the last wave of offense.
"It feels great. This is an experience I've never experienced before. Game 7, the buzzer beater. It's great to be able to make this shot and enjoy this moment." You know, there have been 135 games in the NBA. It was the only buzzer beater in seven games, so yeah, you're the only one with that kind of experience, Kawhi.
Postseason career rebounding high/First championship ticket in Raptors history
- Season: 2018-19 Playoffs Conference Finals G6
- Result: Tyrannosaurus 100-94 Bucks
- Statistics: 27 points, 17 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 interceptions, 2 hits
"We can only chase the ball slowly one by one and focus on the present."
After winning Game 5 of Tianwangshan, the Raptors returned to their home court in Toronto and once again staged a 15-point reversal. Although Kawhi Leonard's touch is from a god to a mortal (1 of 8 from the three-point line), his handling of details and rebounding have once again helped the team.
Leonard started to score points in the second half (19 points at halftime) and led the Raptors on a 26-3 scoring surge. Finally, he withstood the pressure and ended the series with four consecutive victories, winning the first championship game in franchise history for the Raptors. Tickets. And he connected with Giannis Antetokounmpo on a fast break.Giannis Antetumkuboin front ofleft dunkReserved a classic picture in the history of the Tyrannosaurus team.
⭐More superstar playoff peak moments:
- Death cannot be deceived! Kevin Durant’s top 5 playoff moments
- A superstar is born! Top 3 of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s peak playoff moments
- Unknown giant? Draymond Green’s top 5 playoff moments
- Superstar stage! James Harden’s top 5 playoff moments
- The almighty beast is coming! Nikola Jokic’s top 5 playoff moments
- Epic shooter Stephen Curry’s Top 5 peak moments in the playoffs
- The savior rides alone! Damian Lillard’s top 5 playoff moments
