Despite being sidelined with an injury, it seems Kyle Lowry would like to remind everyone just whose team the Toronto Raptors are.
“At the end of the day, when I come back, [the new players] gotta adjust to me,” the all-star point guard told reporters in Miami Monday. “That’s just how we play.”
Lowry has missed the last six games and isn’t scheduled to return until closer to the playoffs due to a right wrist injury suffered in a game against the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 15 just before the all-star break. Thinking the issue wasn’t serious, he participated in the all-star game and took part in the three-point contest.
Talking to reporters about his decision to play through the injury during all-star weekend, the soon-to-be 31-year-old said he “never had any regrets” on doing it.
“I paid no attention to [the criticisms of playing during the all-star game], to be honest,” Lowry said. “I enjoyed my all-star weekend. If anybody had a problem with it, come say it to my face. That’s how I feel.”
Lowry said in the time off he’s had he’s been staying in shape by running a lot. He’s scheduled to visit his doctor in New York next week for a check-up on his wrist that he says still remains swollen.
The Raptors have managed to keep afloat in Lowry’s absence with a record of 4-2, thanks in part to the boon of the additions of forwards Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline.
“I’m proud of this team,” Lowry said of the Raptors’ performance in his absence. I think they’ll continue to get better, I think they’ll continue to get wins while I’m out.”
With that said, however, they have started to show cracks in the armour without their best player of late, losing two of their last three, including a tough one to swallow to the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday.
There’s a possibility the team will have to navigate the Lowry-less waters of the remaining 19 games of their schedule without DeMarre Carroll as well.
[relatedlinks]
Carroll, who exited Saturday’s game with a left ankle sprain, got treatment Monday but didn’t participate in practice. He was seen walking around in flip-flops and says his pain threshold is “very high,” so while there’s been no formal timeline made of his return there’s a chance he could just play without missing a beat.
“We’re taking it day-by-day on it. It’s better, I can walk on it, so that’s a positive,” he said.
Toronto’s next game is Wednesday in New Orleans against the Pelicans. The team took a stopover in Miami to fit in a couple of practices on Monday and Tuesday in a warmer climate before flying over to face Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and Co.
