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Toronto Raptors: Ranking Raptors players in 2018-19

By Jordan Fleguel

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 30: Kyle Lowry #7 and Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors high five during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves January 30, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 30: Kyle Lowry #7 and Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors high five during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves January 30, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 1: Kyle Lowry
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 1: Kyle Lowry /

#2 Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have been the best two Raptors for the past half-decade, and during that time, one could make the case for either one of them to claim the top spot.

A certain off-season trade that sent DeRozan to San Antonio has now firmly planted Lowry in the number two spot.

Lowry’s age is becoming a factor, but he is still the same hard-nosed, all-around player that he’s always been.  Lowry is a deserving All-Star due to his play on both ends of the court.  On offense, he is a deadly three-point threat, shooting 39-percent from distance last season, and a career-best 41-percent the year before.

His assist numbers are good too – he’s averaged around seven assists per game during the last two regular seasons.  His scoring did drop from 22 per game in 2017 to 16 per game last season, but that is a direct result of the team’s new offensive system that relied less on Lowry and DeRozan, and shared the scoring load with the other starters and the bench.

With less pressure to score, Lowry committed fewer turnovers last season. He also grabbed a career-high 5.6 rebounds per game last season, which is nothing short of amazing for someone his size.

Nick Nurse is the one who implemented the offensive system that worked so well for Toronto last season. It will still be in place this season, tweaked to include the new additions of course.

Although Lowry’s personal scoring numbers are down since the Raptors’ isolation-heavy days, the free-flowing offense has made Lowry more efficient and effective.

Most importantly, since the Raptors have two other good options at the point-guard position, Lowry should be able to stay rested and healthy during the regular season so that come playoff time, he’ll be at full strength.

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