It’s been almost unanimously known to Raptors fan for almost four years now, but is once again being definitively proven. Kyle Lowry is the linchpin for the majority of the success Toronto has experienced. And yet it’s still almost shocking to see how much of the Raptors’ season hinges on a wrist.
Without Lowry the Raptors have a record of just 5-4 since the All Star break. All things considered that is a mild success considering the importance that Lowry has to the roster. All of their best line-ups feature Lowry, and he can control the game both with and without the ball in his hands. He’s just that good, and Toronto only goes as far as Lowry can take them.
It’s tough to overestimate the importance of a full and speedy recovery for Lowry. It wasn’t that long ago that the Raptors looked like the best bet for the second seed and to once again meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
Even with the additions of Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker the Raptors can’t even feel safe in escaping the first round, as home court appears to be slowly fading away.
Every loss makes it feel like the season is slowly slipping away while we await any updates about Lowry’s injury and a potential return date. The goal has moved from trying to get a top two seed, to a top three seed, to simply holding onto home court advantage. Without Lowry the Raptors are simply in survival mode, and anything above .500 is a positive.
The hope remains that Lowry will be able to return for the final stretch of regular season games and help carry reclaim the Raptors’ quasi-elite status when they hit the playoffs.
But it’s not just about this season. The future direction of the franchise hinges on Lowry’s wrist healing well and the Raptors having an extended playoff run.
Masai was very straightforward after the deadline in the Raptors willingness to go into the tax to keep a successful team together, while also making it clear that it likely doesn’t make sense to pay the tax for a team that doesn’t get past the first round of the playoffs. With Lowry, Ibaka, Tucker, and Patterson all as free agents, a lost season could drastically change Masai’s direction moving forward.
Kyle Lowry is the difference between the Raptors being a near-championship contender, or barely being a playoff team, and every day brings Lowry one step closer to a return. Tomorrow will mark two weeks since Lowry’s surgery took place, which leaves (according to initial reports) roughly 2-4 weeks until we could see a Lowry return.
Do I think the Raptors will fail to advance and move towards making significant changes to their future direction? No. But it’s something that crosses my mind every time I realize anew how important Lowry is.
If I’m wrong though, and Masai chooses to change directions this summer after an early playoff exit, it will be the first time in my history as a Raptors fan that I will grieve the idea of a rebuild. Being a Raptors fan hasn’t always been fun (hint: it normally hasn’t been), but this group is.
There is still plenty of season left and I think Lowry will give the Raptors enough once the playoffs kick off, and it will be the latest chapter in the most fun Raptors’ team we’ve seen.
