Toronto Raptors: Three takeaways from 2020 All-Star Weekend
By Jordan Skuse
Kyle Lowry will forever be the Real MVP
Seriously, who the hell takes two charges in a meaningless basketball game?
Kyle Lowry, that’s who!
No matter the forum, Lowry plays to win. Always. Making his sixth consecutive appearance in an NBA All-Star Game, Toronto’s point gawd gave it absolutely everything he had. Three separate times Lowry hit the floor, twice drawing charges with both Kawhi Leonard and James Harden falling victim to the league’s most gifted drawer of charges.
The selection of Lowry irked some, though, not sure why anybody would take issue with a player like him participating in a game that, for years, has lacked anything remotely resembling grit. This year, thanks to both Toronto’s No. 7 as well as a new format, grit was not an issue. The fourth quarter produced a playoff atmosphere ideal for the Raptors’ G.O.A.T. to shine. While it may have been just another all-star game, Sunday’s exhibition showed what a competitor Lowry is. He cannot play at anything less than full speed.
Giving up both size and speed to virtually every other player on the floor, Lowry, as he always does, got by thanks to his high basketball IQ and a motor that’s running as good as ever, at 33 years of age.
1/2: VanVleet loved seeing Kyle Lowry do Lowry things at all-star: “He was looking good. I don't really remember him before I got here, but I know like the last three years I was watching him, he never played like himself
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) February 20, 2020
out there ...
VanVleet on Lowry 2/2: "He was always playing like, corner-to-corner, go stand in the corner and watch the other guys dance. But, he was probably their best player on the floor for a lot of that fourth quarter. It was fun to watch him and he made me proud out there.”
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) February 20, 2020
Kawhi Leonard may have taken home the MVP award, but it’s equally likely that most people will remember this game because of Lowry’s heroic defensive efforts. It might be time for the league to add “charges drawn” to nightly box scores. Can we add a defensive event to Saturday’s Skills Competition?
Next. Is Patrick McCaw playing too many minutes?. dark
As teams get set to finish off the 2019-20 regular season, the Toronto Raptors have to be feeling confident ahead of Friday’s return. Considering how well the team was represented, highlighted by Toronto’s leader taking charge in an exhibition game.
This latest chapter in the NBA’s all-star story painted a very clear picture of how far, as a franchise, the Toronto Raptors have come.
Nothing but good days ahead.