Lowry on the Block?

[enlightenment]

Been thinking about the Lowry 'situation' today.

A big part of this falls on Casey. Last year and this year he has been all about shooters and "I need shooters" and "Get me shooters." His offense is based around a PG who delivers the ball to stationary or curling shooters. Think about all the games this year when the jump shots fail to fall. The first 30 games of the year all featured a significant stretch of time within games where the Raptors couldn't score because the jump shot wouldn't fall.... and that was all they had - sets for jump shots.

It is great Casey has his system and what he thinks best. But the job of a coach is to maximize his talent. I think he has failed at integrating Lowry in to his game plan. The desire was for more talent last season, well, Lowry is definitely a talent upgrade.

And then yet again this all comes back to Colangelo and his inability to set course on a plan. Sure he went out and got talent in Lowry but it seems clear he didn't consider what Casey is trying to do on the offensive side of the ball. I think the defensive side factored in to the thinking but unfortunately Lowry has left his D-bag in Houston. *yes, I realize the can of jokes I have just opened up*

I think you've stretched your imagination of why our team was failing and why we were taking jumpshots. I think that we have lacked inside presence, as we have no true post player who we can feed. I think that a 'motion' offense is important, and I think that having people move a lot allows for more freedom around the perimeters. This allows for more open jumpshots, which mean more jumpshots get attempted.
I think once JV gets more comfortable in the post, you will see a more balance in-out game with Casey's system.

I do agree that Casey has struggled to bring Lowry off the bench effectively, I think Calderons amazing play has deterred him from playing Lowry in consistent minutes. I think this has affected how Lowry plays when he is playing.

[Raptor_11]

Lowry is doing better off the bench than Jose did. For some reason it's a tough role. I won't pass judgment until he starts again

[Matt52]

I think you've stretched your imagination of why our team was failing and why we were taking jumpshots. I think that we have lacked inside presence, as we have no true post player who we can feed. I think that a 'motion' offense is important, and I think that having people move a lot allows for more freedom around the perimeters. This allows for more open jumpshots, which mean more jumpshots get attempted.
I think once JV gets more comfortable in the post, you will see a more balance in-out game with Casey's system.

I do agree that Casey has struggled to bring Lowry off the bench effectively, I think Calderons amazing play has deterred him from playing Lowry in consistent minutes. I think this has affected how Lowry plays when he is playing.

The Raps were taking jump shots because no one can break down their man and get their own shot off the dribble. Full stop. Period.

Watch the games. Guys run side to side or curl around screens to get open at which point the PG delivers pin point passes for the split second they will be open to shoot. There is very little attacking the basket - which use to be a strength of Lowry.

[Rapstor4Life]

I think the whole Calderon being better than Lowry as a PG is an unfair asessment Lowry has been a Rap for 3 months of legit NBA competition games. Calderon has been a Rap for what is it now? 8 years? 7? he knows everyone on the team has a year in the new system already under his belt so chemistry is riding very high.

Make no mistake about it Lowry is the better PG for the direction the team wants to take still figuring out his teammates sweetspots its an ongoing thing and for a guy we literally just got and said "heres the keys go drive the team" hes doing pretty good for a guy who literally just turn the ignition for the first time.

[ceez]

Word is management is split on Lowry/Calderon. However it turns out, I hope BC gets fired.

[akashsingh]

jose,ross,ed davis, valanciunas,casey,bargnani are all system guys. we should be extremely open to trading both lowry and derozan, if it makes us better in the future in terms of prospects.....

[Matt52]

Word is management is split on Lowry/Calderon. However it turns out, I hope BC gets fired.

I said this somewhere else but my take on that is Colangelo is all about Lowry and Casey wants to roll with Calderon.

[Matt52]

jose,ross,ed davis, valanciunas,casey,bargnani are all system guys. we should be extremely open to trading both lowry and derozan, if it makes us better in the future in terms of prospects.....

I am more than open to trading DeRozan but he is probably the biggest system guy of them all due to lack of dribble and 3pt shot.

[Balls of Steel]

I am more than open to trading DeRozan but he is probably the biggest system guy of them all due to lack of dribble and 3pt shot.

Why was management (BC) so eager to sign him again? He could have been a major trade asset on a rookie scale right?

[Balls of Steel]

I said this somewhere else but my take on that is Colangelo is all about Lowry and Casey wants to roll with Calderon.

Thinking and going with Calderon is so short term. Lowry was acquired through a first round pick. Now, everyone is talking as if the guy is a cancer and he's only been on the job for 4 months.

[Matt52]

Thinking and going with Calderon is so short term. Lowry was acquired through a first round pick. Now, everyone is talking as if the guy is a cancer and he's only been on the job for 4 months.

Something is not right with him. We can all speculate but really only he, the coaching staff, and teammates know. I feel like the Raptors have broken him. The swagger and confidence this team desperately lacked and he had in abundance is gone. F*ck.

[TRex]

They traded a lottery 1st round pick for this guy? ugh. Brutal.

[Rapstor4Life]

Something is not right with him. We can all speculate but really only he, the coaching staff, and teammates know. I feel like the Raptors have broken him. The swagger and confidence this team desperately lacked and he had in abundance is gone. F*ck.

Seriously there isnt anything to lose START LOWRY he came here to be the new pont guard its like the Raps just spit in his face Great player highly underutilized.

[TRex]

Seriously there isnt anything to lose START LOWRY he came here to be the new pont guard its like the Raps just spit in his face Great player highly underutilized.

Great player? what has he accomplish? he was a backup in Memphis. Lost the starting job to Dragic in Houston last year. Lost the starting job to Calderon this year.

See the trend? maybe he's not a starting PG in this league.

[Matt52]

Great player? what has he accomplish? he was a backup in Memphis. Lost the starting job to Dragic in Houston last year. Lost the starting job to Calderon this year.

See the trend? maybe he's not a starting PG in this league.

He started the majority of games leading Houston to 2 seasons of plus .500 ball in the West. It isn't much but certainly much more success than Toronto has had the last 5 seasons.

[akashsingh]

I said this somewhere else but my take on that is Colangelo is all about Lowry and Casey wants to roll with Calderon.

well we should listen to the half that's actually gonna be here next year.

[Rapstor4Life]

Great player? what has he accomplish? he was a backup in Memphis. Lost the starting job to Dragic in Houston last year. Lost the starting job to Calderon this year.

See the trend? maybe he's not a starting PG in this league.

The Dragic thing wasnt really a talent thing, he had an issue with Mchale and he got injured when he was starting and leadin the team they were well underway to the playoffs. Memphis drafted him buttraded him to Houston never really played much. Calderon is given the start because of chemistry and the higher ups I believe are shopping him.

He is a starting PG in the league just gets shafted a lot.

[Raptor_11]

He started the majority of games leading Houston to 2 seasons of plus .500 ball in the West. It isn't much but certainly much more success than Toronto has had the last 5 seasons.

Toronto broke him. thank good ole BC for that

[RNsteve]

We trade Lowry, Ed D, Val(to a lesser degree ross) for anything less then a amazing product I honestly consider looking at other teams to follow.

Sorry- I honestly think Jose has outplayed Lowry and would love to keep both(if we can sign Jose for 4-5 mil for 3 years...) but Lowry is a young PG, who can take over games, and play great D...he just needs to show it.

[Craiger]

Seriously there isnt anything to lose START LOWRY he came here to be the new pont guard its like the Raps just spit in his face Great player highly underutilized.

Lets not go overboard with Lowry here. He's a good player but he's not in the 'great' category.

The reality is Lowry needs to find a way to deal with it. If people want to argue Lowry should start, or Lowry should see more minutes etc. thats fine, I get that. But if coming off the bench is having some effect on his ego or confidence or is in some way bothering him and effecting his performance, this team doesn't need to stroke his ego and make him feel better. He needs to find some way to suck it up and get over it.

This team doesn't need to baby sit grown men anymore.