Kyle Lowry’s impact could make or break the Raptors in the Playoffs

Kyle Lowry was never expected to be the Raptors best Point Guard for the franchise back in 2012, but now he plays a crucial role being the factor that could decide if the Raptors ball or fall in the Playoffs.

It had never been believed that a team could completely dominate the league by heavily relying on the three-point shot. Then came Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to prove otherwise with his impact on the Golden State Warriors. We would never have thought a team could defeat the 73-9 Warriors in the NBA Finals with a 3-1 lead. But then LeBron James once again proved otherwise. Because of his impact on the team, he was able to overcome the deficit and lead the Cavaliers to their first title.

Now we have the Toronto Raptors, who have been able to make it to the 3^rd seed with the efforts of 3x All-Star DeMar DeRozan and now brings the question –Will the Toronto Raptors be championship contenders with the return of Kyle Lowry? He could make or break the Raptors.

How much could one player impact a team?

Kyle Lowry suffered a broken wrist on February 15^th that would cause him to sit out for most of the remaining season. He was averaging a solid line of 22.8 PTS, 6.9 ASTS, and 4.7 REBS. Since then Raptors have managed to find success winning 14 out of their last 20 games.

How is it possible for the Raptors to find success without one of their superstars? Ask the other half of the duo, DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan has elevated his game to another level, having his best season in the NBA. With the ball in his hands more, DeRozan has held the Raptors in the third spot in the in the Eastern Conference. The team trails the Celtics by only 3 games. Since Lowry’s injury, DeRozan is averaging 27.7 PPG, 4.3 ASTS, and 5.5 REBS. He’s become a more efficient player and a better shooter from the field, drawing more fouls while attempting fewer shots.

DeRozan’s impact on the team since Kyle Lowry, plus the new addition of Serge Ibaka and depth of the supporting cast around him is enough to make the Raptors a big contender in the east. With the Cavaliers struggling in the east to find their consistency before playoffs, it’s the perfect time for their push to a higher seeding. But is it enough to defeat the Cavaliers in the playoffs?

Kyle Lowry is the difference maker.

Kyle Lowry could be the final piece of the Raptors puzzle

Raptors may have scored big with a Power Forward they desperately needed, Serge Ibaka and a defensive anchor, P.J. Tucker. But it still isn’t enough to make them the best team in the east, or at least perform to their full potential.

With Kyle Lowry coming back you can see a much better offensive flow to the Raptors. Just a couple months ago Raptors were on pace for the best offensive rating in the NBA in December with 117.6. They’re now 4^th in the league with a rating of 110. With Lowry ranked as the 12^th best shooter from the beyond the arch, you can expect to see their offense improve in a big way.

Although DeRozan’s numbers will most likely have a small drop, it shouldn’t really be noticeable as his numbers prior to Kyle Lowry’s injury are very similar, just less efficient averaging 27.3 PTS, 3.7 ASTS and 5.3 REBS shooting 46% from the field. However, with DeRozan’s consistency lately, you should still expect that same type of output he is giving now.

With the Cavaliers struggling in the East right now, it’s the best time for Lowry to come back. The Raptors guard will be fully rested and give the team that energy they need for their offensive woes. If Lowry can make his retooled team click together when he returns, the Raptors can no doubt be serious title contenders and make it past Cleveland, especially if Lowry and DeRozan can keep their consistency throughout the post-season.

Hurry back, Kyle

Right now he is expected to be back before playoffs and a couple of games to ensure proper chemistry and teamwork is perfect for Lowry and ensure his confidence in his game is there.

“It’s one of those things that’s really important for us going in,” said Dwane Casey. “You don’t want to go into the playoffs, for him, seeing if his hand’s OK, seeing what Serge does on a pick-and-roll – does he pop, does he roll, where does he like the basketball? All those things we want to figure out in game situations because, the other thing is, practice time right now is very limited. … So we [want to have him] be in those last two games, or whatever that number is.”

We don’t know how Kyle Lowry will truly impact the team until we see can see games on the floor with him, but one thing is for certain. If the Raptors want to make it out of the east as the Conference champions, Lowry is the deciding factor in it all.