Three players to watch in Raptors vs Knicks

It is time to watch Kawhi Leonard play basketball as a Toronto Raptor. Erm. Again. This one feels about as important as a preseason game can get. In the last outing, the Raptors spanked the hapless Los Angeles Clippers with both sides missing Leonard. There were some solid showings all around. Now it’s time for the Raptors to field a (somewhat) healthier squad.

1. Kawhi Leonard

Never has an easier choice existed. There are two schools of thought here. One, of course, is that it’s preseason, and Leonard hasn’t played meaningful basketball for a while, and Leonard has been about as sure a quality as has existed in the NBA when he’s on the court: all meaning his performance won’t matter at all.

But the second school of thought is that his performance will be meaningless, of course, but there will still be plenty to watch. How will Darko Rajakovic employ Leonard? Defensively, how often will he be asked to guard the ball? How will he perform in the gaps? Will Rajakovic ask him to protect the rim or clean the glass or lead transition attacks? Offensively, who will screen for him most often? There are oodles of questions that need answering in terms of role and preference, and we’re about to get the first inklings of answers.

2. Scottie Barnes

Barnes has earned the right to take it easy in preseason, and outside of a few moments here and there, he has done just that. (He’s had some incredible semi-transition passes to the dunker spot, of course.) But in the same way that watching Leonard will have extra meaning for the Raptors tonight, the cascading effects to Barnes will be quite instructive.

Barnes will certainly see less of the ball, just as he did with Brandon Ingram on the court last season. He will initiate less and do more grunt work. His touches will shift. But to where? Will Leonard’s initiation mean Barnes catches moving downhill? Or will Barnes spend more time standing in the corner, as happened during stretches of last season?

Barnes will never become just another player, no matter who he plays alongside. The Raptors will desperately rely on him on both ends of the court. But how will that actual reliance manifest? The Raptors will be playing the defending champions. Barnes will see a rotating cast of extraordinary defenders, including OG Anunoby. How the Raptors look to free him for looks, and how Leonard specifically changes the shape of that freedom, will be about as meaningful as preseason basketball can get.

3. Jakob Poeltl

Poeltl has, knock on wood, looked like himself so far this preseason. He has been spry, running down the court, and even diving on it on occasion to gather loose balls. He has jumped passing lanes and altogether moved with his old agility.

But he’s about to play against Karl-Anthony Towns. This is one of the best offensive centers in a long time, incredibly successful for his shooting, driving, and guard skills as a legitimate seven-footer. There are few more difficult tests of opposing bigs’ health and agility. We should find out, even in the half-paced preseason tempo, just how far back Poeltl’s back has come.