With the regular season fast approaching, Sportsnet’s panel of Raptors & NBA fans, experts, and analysts will be answering the burning questions heading into the 2015-16 campaign. In this edition of the Raptors Roundtable:
Skinny Lowry is turning heads in the pre-season. How much weight (unintentional pun, honestly) do you put in his new-look and lights-out exhibition play?
Paul Jones, analyst, radio voice: Lowry consistently plays like he has something to prove. He started this preseason well and I expect he will start the year well also. The difference will come after the all-star break. That’s when he and the team slowed down last year. Kyle seems to have the attitude that says “You don’t think I can do it but just watch me keep it up for an entire season…and the playoffs” His revamped body is his way of putting everyone on notice. He wants to be able to say: “I told you so.”
Dave Zarum, NBA editor: He’s been incredible (averaging 30 points in 25 minutes per, while shooting SEVENTY percent from the floor) and will most definitely not keep it up (who can???). That said, his performance and lean frame is setting the stage for his strongest NBA season yet, one that should see him play more games than ever. The weight loss is a great thing for both the Raptors and Lowry himself— I just can’t help but wonder why he waited nine seasons as a professional athlete before deciding he should focus on getting in the best shape possible.
Donnovan Bennett, staff writer: Kyle Lowry has always played the game like a pit bull. It is his advantage against smaller guards. Without the ability to play bully ball it will be interesting to see if he can finish in the paint as successfully as he did early last year. Pat Riley has always said as a young player you put on weight to help your strength and as an old player you lose weight to help the pounding on your knees and joints. The way the year ended may have forced Lowry in to the realization that he is no longer on the front end of his career.
Craig Battle, senior editor: To be fair, he’s been turning heads for two years, so the exhibition play is no surprise. I’m less interested in the look than I am in the fitness—if he’s able to push through the wall he hit in January, and is more mindful of maintaining his energy level and level of play throughout the season, though, I think it could mean huge things for a team that needs him playing at a high level to succeed.
Eric Smith, analyst, radio voice: Very little. The sample size is still relatively small overall and I think Lowry-of-old was just as aggressive on the offensive end (yes, even in the pre-season). And he’s never been shy to shoot or drive to the hoop or put his body on the line on the defensive end as well. I believe the weight loss will be a better weapon for Lowry as the season goes on. I’m no doctor, but would assume that the better he eats and lives the better prepared he will be for the rigours of the NBA’s 82-game grind.
Michael Hoad: Lowry has been putting on a show this pre-season, highlighted by his Raptors-record 40-point performance on Oct. 12. While his offensive game already looks to be in midseason form, the weight loss should make a big difference defensively. With improved lateral quickness, the 29-year-old will presumably be able to do a better job of keeping opposing point guards in front of him and not be so reliant on the help defence behind him.
Steven Loung, associate editor: his pre-season torch job? It’s the pre-season. It’s cool, but it means nothing.