The Toronto Raptors came into last night’s games against the Detroit Pistons looking to establish some momentum. A win would’ve meant a victory in three of the last four games for Toronto. Instead, there are more and more questions. The Raptors blew a 15-point lead at home to Detroit Sunday night, a 102-101 defeat that leaves Toronto not only 3.5 games back of Boston but also searching for answers. Point guard Kyle Lowry had some choice words about the team’s performance.
When asked what went wrong down the stretch in the loss, Lowry didn’t hold back. “Everything. Everything. Keep putting in the same situations over and over and not being successful, something’s gotta give, something’s gotta change,” he said to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. When asked to clarify what that meant, Lowry gave a cryptic answer. “I have an idea but [I’m going to] keep my mouth shut, keep it professional.”
When asked if he was freaking out, Lowry did not do the nervous Raptors fan base any favors. “Yeah. I am. I’m starting to get worried, yeah,” Lowry continued to Grange. “It’s not going the way we’re supposed to be going and things aren’t changing, so yeah, I’m starting to get worried.”
Yes, it is February. And yes many teams are thinking ahead to next week’s All Star festivities and rest period. But the Raptors do not seem to have the same ‘hero’ mentality this year. The hunger they showed last year in getting past the second round of the playoffs appears to be gone. Boston and Washington both passed Toronto. Atlanta, who looked ready to blow up their roster, are only a half-game behind the Raptors.
Toronto has two games remaining before the All-Star Break, against the messy Bulls and sinking Hornets. Those are certainly winnable games and could offer some momentum for the Raptors heading into the second half of the season.
