With Kawhi Leonard’s prolonged absence from the court during the 2017-2018 NBA season, it became easy to forget just how deathly efficient the Toronto Raptors wing can be when he’s fully healthy. Leonard’s star power has been in full bloom in the Raptors second round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, dropping 45 in a Game 1 victory and 35 in a narrow Game 2 loss. He’s shooting 62 percent from the field, and it can feel like Leonard is as automatic shooting from the mid-range as Kevin Durant. He is the coal that fuels the Raptors, and though the 76ers will never be able to completely shut off his water, they may have found a way to at least make life difficult for him as the series progresses.
Ben Simmons spent the majority of Game 2 guarding Leonard, to middling success. But compared to what Leonard has done to any other 76er attempting to guard him, Simmons’ time in front of Leonard should be considered a win. The Athletic‘s Derek Bodner took a look at how Leonard has performed when Simmons is on him compared to anyone else, and the difference is staggering.
Ben Simmons hasn't shut Kawhi Leonard down. Nobody will when Kawhi's playing at this level. But he sure has made him work harder than anybody else on the #sixers has. https://t.co/j55jgRnOqO pic.twitter.com/mp4fo8unsv
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) April 30, 2019
While allowing Leonard to score 40.3 points per 100 possessions is bad, giving up 58.5 points per 100 possessions is a recipe for a sweep. Slotting the 6-foot-10 Simmons on Leonard has, at the very least, made Leonard uncomfortable, and forced him into more contested jumpers. Simmons does a great job of contesting Leonard’s shots in general, but also does so without fouling, even when Leonard gets him with a pump fake, like he does below.
Even when another Raptor sets a screen for Leonard, as Norman Powell does here, Simmons fights through it and ensures he gets a hand up to affect Leonard’s vision. It’s a small thing, but Simmons’ defensive effort combined with his size will make Leonard exert more effort on the offensive side of the ball moving forward.
Even when Leonard makes the shot, if Simmons has a hand in his face, you’ll live with it. If these are the type of shots Leonard has to make all series long, the 76ers will feel like they’ve done the best job they can.
https://streamable.com/db53s
Leonard shot an unconscious 83.1 percent on two-point field goals in Game 1, per the NBA. While there was bound to be some regressions in Game 2, the 76ers were able to drop that percentage down to 71.4 percent. Still scorching hot, but a big improvement nonetheless.
“I’m telling you, whenever we let our defense dictate our offense, we’re such a great team,” Jimmy Butler told The Athletic. “We can’t let it be the other way around. As long as we don’t turn the ball over and we guard, we give ourselves a chance to win every night.”
As long as Simmons can keep up the type of defensive effort he gave in Game 2, and continue to fight around screens to make sure his hand is in front of Leonard’s face every time he shoots, the 76ers can live with Leonard’s performances. The series shifts back to Philadelphia now, where the home crowd’s energy should buoy Simmons’ defensive intensity even more. While the Joel Embiid-Marc Gasol matchup has been popcorn-worthy, Simmons and Leonard might have the biggest impact on who wins this series.
