The Toronto Raptors were dismantled by the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night by a final score of 117-101 in what could have been termed as Kyle Lowry’s homecoming game.

The team doesn’t have much time to mope about it however as they will face Lowry’s other former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, Wednesday night.

It will not be an easy affair for Toronto with Memphis currently sitting atop the Western Conference standings with a 10-2 record.

Here are a few things to consider ahead of tonight’s game:

Identity crisis

While the Raptors struggled last season, they remained in a lot of games they shouldn’t have because of head coach Dwane Casey, who was able to get the most out of what little talent he had with good defence.

Fast forward a year later and the same cannot be said about the current edition of Raptors. Over half of the roster from a year ago is gone but they had a full training camp to instill both the defence and offence and yet they still seem to be searching for an identity.

“That’s the thing about the NBA, there’s no easy games. It’s an unforgiving league,” Casey told reporters after the game. “It’s a league that’ll catch you (when you are) down – injuries, whatever the reason is – they want to put their foot on your throat and keep it down there. So I told our guys, ‘we have to decide what type of team we want to be. Do we want to be the type of team that gives in to a little bit of frustration just because somebody makes a three-point shot on you or do you want to be a team that stays together, fights together, and hangs in together and let the chips fall where they may?” And I think we’re the latter.”

While some Raptors apologists point to the team keeping games close, a loss is a loss, and at some point heads will roll — be it Casey, GM Bryan Colangelo or players in a trade.

Bright lights in a losing streak

While the Raptors have now lost six straight, there have been a couple of bright lights.

With injuries to forwards Alan Anderson and Landry Fields, Casey has been forced to play rookie Terrence Ross. And although Ross has made some rookie mistakes, he has delighted Raptors fans with his highlight-reel dunks.

Casey is starting to become a believer as well.

“He’s gotten better game-by-game. You saw he and Jonas (Valanciunas) growing before your eyes,” Casey said.

Ed Davis is another player who has stepped up his game.

He followed a strong game (15 points, 14 rebounds, 7-11 shooting) in Sunday’s loss to Houston with another solid statline (12 points, four rebounds, 5-6 shooting) against Houston.

“In the last two games, he’s really played big-time (15 points, 14 rebounds nine points, four rebounds in 10 minutes),” Casey said.

Is Lowry banged up?

After Tuesday night’s loss, Lowry hinted that he may not be 100 per cent.

Asked if he was feeling healthy, he told the Toronto Sun’s Ryan Wolstat, “I’m on the floor, so that’s all that matters.”

Randolph walks the walk

Here’s a fun moment from the Grizzlies locker room courtesy of Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay:

Zbo doing the DUI test mob.li/_shVpw

— Rudy Gay (@rudygay22) November 27, 2012