After a loss, Kyle Lowry exited the Scotiabank Arena court via the tunnel he’s spent hours of his life in. Awaiting him, dressed in a fuzzy, blue & white coat was Pascal Siakam. They embraced immediately, sporting giant smiles, and when they broke apart they joined hands. It turned into a dap of sorts, but it was really just a reaching out to one another and they walked hand in hand over to Masai Ujiri who Lowry embraced afterwards. Lowry, the player, opened the scoring in last night’s game with his patented pull-up in transition. But, he closed it out as Lowry, the human.
There was a game, of course, and a good one! However, for as long as Lowry is still playing basketball, every time he steps foot in Scotiabank Arena these games are an excuse for everyone to revisit feelings about him, and for him to reconnect with all the people who didn’t follow him to Miami. As someone who lived in Mexico, far from the people I love, and now covers the Raptors in Toronto, far from the people I love; there is nothing like affirming your love/affection/fondness for someone with a hug that confirms “Good. You’re here and can be grabbed.”
“It’s always great to come home, always great to be in the city.” Lowry said prior to the game. And even though Lowry started out his career as a player who glowered at Toronto media that did not understand what made him so good, and did not always discuss he or his body fairly; he became forthcoming as he heaped praise on the younger Raptors, many of whom he referred to as beloved. He’s now forthcoming with media as he showers praise on the city, the people, and all the big & little parts of the Raptors organization. He is the GROAT, he is an icon, and he knows that.
“Once the refs don’t let him trick them, we’re in good shape.”
Fred VanVleet on Kyle Lowry
Last night’s game had all the trappings of a gracefully aging Lowry performance. Jitterbug stunts on defense to force pick-ups, that aforementioned pull-up 3 of his; a snaked pick n’ roll to 17-feet where he hit a fadeaway – one of the hallmarks of his game come playoff time. We got a pull-up from 30 feet, which always serves as a reminder that Lowry was only ever slightly less prolific in the logo area than Damian Lillard was, and we got an absurd touch shot as he went body to body with a big man. The jump-stop, swivel, bounce pass was there too. Everything except a charge, honestly. I love Jazz, and I love the way Lowry turns the game into music at times. And perhaps the best homage he could produce of his time in Toronto – he finished as a positive (+1), the only player on the Heat to do so, in a game his team lost. Unbelievable.
“He was tough. He was trying to will ‘em, he was trying to will ‘em to a win, that’s for sure. he was tough, man.” Nick Nurse said after the win. And Fred VanVleet echoed a similar sentiment about his former teammate and backcourt partner: “It’s funny for me. There’s nothing he could do to frustrate me. It’s annoying when he tricks the refs but other than that, it’s just fun watching him do what he does. I thought he was old three years ago, to see him still kicking and making an impact and putting pressure on the defense, you could just see the greatness in him. It’s Just fun to match up against him, keeps you working, keeps your mind – you’ve got to be attentive all the time – it’s a fun chess match.”
Not only did Lowry play well, but he serves as an informed analyst for the Raptors players when asked to do so. He held court before and after the game, dishing on his beloved ones, and Fred VanVleet let the media know that Lowry watches all the Raptors games. An informed commentator, how nice.
“I watch a lot of Raptors games. My guys are still on this team. I support my guys – Freddy, O.G., Pascal. I just like to watch how they’ve matured and become better individual basketball players and better men.” Lowry added specifically about O.G.: “I think O.G.’s always been a great defender. He’s been one of the best defenders in the league since he’s been in the league. Now, I just think he’s taking more pride in doing it because he’s getting the attention, which he should have been getting before.”
The true sign of a Raptor fan is, of course, banging the drum on Anunoby’s candidacy for DPOY and All-Defense. Lowry is there.
The observable portion of Lowry’s trip back to Toronto, his home, seemed to have everything. Warm embraces, success from his favourite spots on the court, and all the nooks and cranny’s of Scotiabank Arena. I hope he enjoyed it.
Have a blessed day.
