The Heart of Kawhi

What an electric ending to the Eastern Conference Finals. Going back to their series against the Celtics, The Bucks had looked unbeatable and had taken a 2-0 series lead in the ECF. Giannis Antetokounmpo looked like a freight train. He was getting out in the fast break and getting easy points - especially in the paint.

After game 3 though, this changed considerably. I was concerned over Antetokounmpo's performance that night. (I spoke about him in a previous article you can read on my blog) Even though it was a perplexing loss for the Bucks in Game 3, I thought for sure that The Bucks would regroup and win the series handily.

I hadn't truly realized how much the complexion of the entire series had changed. Led by Kawhi Leonard, The Raptors won four games in a row and are now headed to the NBA Finals. Leonard's performance throughout the series can't be overstated. In the series-clinching win tonight he had 27 points, 7 assists, and 17 hugely important rebounds.

He has been the catalyst for The Raptors, not only for this series, but for the entire season. He played a key role in neutralizing Antetokounmpo after game 2 and was The Raptors main offensive weapon. Without him, Toronto would not have stood a chance against this Bucks team. He was the best player in the series, and may even be the best player in the world at this point in time. The Raptors chances of winning The Finals will rest solely on Leonard's shoulders.