Skyhook Sunday: Can the Toronto Raptors survive without Kyle Lowry?

The Toronto Raptors have already been without their star point guard Kyle Lowry (wrist surgery) for six games and they won't get him back until the playoffs. At this point in time, the Raptors are 37-26 overall and currently in possession of the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Raptors are currently 6 games back of the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and 2.5 games up on the #5 seeded Atlanta Hawks.

The big question that's on everybody's mind about the Raptors is whether or not they can survive until Lowry gets back. When addressing this question, what needs to be defined is what is meant by "survive." If the Raptors give up home court advantage in the first round but still make the playoffs, I wouldn't say they exactly "survived" the absence of Kyle Lowry since it is essential to their playoff success that they hang on to home court advantage for the first round. As far as the Raptors are concerned, "surviving" is hanging on to home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs.

So, with that now established, what we are really asking is "Can the Raptors hang on to home court advantage without Kyle Lowry?" Given that the Hawks are their only real competition, I think odds are good that they can. They're certainly in the drivers seat to do so and so far are 4-2 without Lowry, indicating that they should be able to play above .500 ball until he gets back.

When looking at the Raptors' roster, one of the things that helps is that they have a very good backup point guard in Cory Joseph who should be able to run the offense until Lowry returns.  Joseph is averaging 8.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game and won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. While he is no Kyle Lowry, Joseph is one of the better reserve point guards in the NBA and should have no trouble keeping things afloat until Lowry returns.

In addition to having a quality backup point guard to fill in, the Raptors still have DeMar DeRozan, who is averaging a team-high 27.6 points per game. DeRozan is one of the top scorers in the NBA and should have no problem carrying the scoring load during this last stretch. While it would be asking too much of DeRozan to carry the team deep into the playoffs without Lowry, asking him to keep the team at the #4 spot until the playoffs is not asking too much.

Lastly, the presence of Serge Ibaka helps tremendously. With Ibaka on board, the Raptors have added another legitimate scoring option and also one of the best shot blockers in the NBA. Serge Ibaka is used to having to be one of the top scorers on the teams that he plays on and so he should have no trouble having an expanded role on the offense until Lowry returns. As far as the defense is concerned, with or without Kyle Lowry, the presence of Serge Ibaka makes the Raptors one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. I think defensively, the Raptors will be just fine without Kyle Lowry and should be able to win a lot of games based on their improved defense alone.

When looking at all of these factors, I think it's pretty clear that the Toronto Raptors should still be able to hang on to the #4 spot in the Eastern Conference standings and clinch home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. They have a quality backup point guard, an elite scorer, and a new power forward that gives them another scoring option and a much improved defense.

The schedule also isn't too bad, either. Of the Raptors' 19 remaining games, 10 of them are on the road, so it isn't as if there is a huge home-away imbalance. The game on March 10th at Atlanta will be big, but I think that even if the Raptors drop that game, they'll still find a way to hang on to the #4 seed. They're doing pretty well without Kyle Lowry so far and there's really no reason to not expect them to continue to do well until he returns.


To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Google Plus, click here. 

Daily Dunks: 6/29-7/5

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source)

Here is my Daily Dunks page for June 29, 2015 through July 5, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks

#1. The Bulls have extended a max qualifying offer to Jimmy Butler, making him a restricted free agent (Click here for details).

#2. The Nets waived guard Darius Morris (Click here for details).

#3. Bulls shooting guard Kirk Hinrich exercised his option to remain with the team (Click here for details).

#4. The Magic waived guard Ben Gordon (Click here for details).

#5. Draymond Green will meet with the Warriors first in free agency (Click here for details).

#6. Marc Gasol is only meeting with the Grizzlies in free agency (Click here for details).

#7. Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver will undergo an elbow procedure on Tuesday. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#8. LaMarcus Aldridge will meet with several teams (Click here for details).

#9. Pero Antic won't return to the Hawks. He is signing with Fenerbahce in Turkey (Click here for details).

#10. Grizzlies rookie power forward Jarell Martin has a stress fracture in his foot, which will cause him to miss summer league (Click here for details).

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Anthony Davis and the Pelicans have agreed on a 5 year, $140M extension (Click here for details).

#2. Luke Ridnour got traded again. This time to the Raptors (Click here for details).

#3. The Spurs and small forward Kawhi Leonard agreed on a 5 year, $90M extension (Click here for details).

#4. The Trail Blazers and small forward Al-Farouq Aminu agreed on a 4 year, $30M deal (Click here for details).

#5. Odds look good Jimmy Butler stays with the Bulls (Click here for details).

#6. Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzinigs (hip tightness) is questionable for summer league (Click here for details).

#7. Thaddeus Young is finalizing a 4 year, $50M deal to stay with the Nets (Click here for details).

#8. Brook Lopez has agreed to a 3 year, $60M deal to stay with the Nets. Third year includes a player option (Click here for details).

#9. Power forward Nikola Jokic is finalizing a 3 year deal to come over to join the Nuggets (Click here for details).

#10. The Bucks waived Shawne Williams and Caron Butler (Click here for details).

Tuesday's WNBA results: 

Fever 92 Sun 84. Liberty 89 Sky 81. Mercury 85 Stars 78. Storm 74 Shock 69.

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks:

Note: There were a TON of free agency happenings today. So what I'll do is highlight the key happenings and then provided links to some other feeds that are tracking like everything that's going on.   Also, check my twitter feeds, Facebook page, and my Google Plus page.

#1. Draymond Green is staying with the Warriors on a 5 year, $85M deal (Click here for details).

#2. Iman Shumpert is staying with the Cavaliers for a 4 year, $40M deal (Click here for details).

#3. The Grizzlies agreed to a 3 year, $18M deal with power forward Brandon Wright (Click here for details).

#4. Tyson Chandler signed a 4 year, $52M deal with the Suns (Click here for details).

#5. Paul Pierce agreed to a three-year, $10M deal with the Clippers (Click here for details).

#6. Jimmy Butler and the Bulls have agreed on a 5 year, $90M deal (Click here for details).

#7. Kevin Love is staying with the Cavaliers on a 5 year, $110M deal (Click here for details).

#8. Paul Millsap is staying with the Hawks on a 3 year, $58M deal (Click here for details).

#9. The Cavaliers re-signed Tristan Thompson on an $80M extension for 4 or 5 years (Click here for details).

#10. DeMarre Carroll is going to the Raptors on a 4 year, $60M deal (Click here for details).

#11. Sports-Kings.com has a great NBA free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

#12. RealGM.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to view it).

#13. InsideHoops.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Monta Ellis has agreed to a 4 year, $44M Deal with the Pacers (Click here for details).

#2. Wesley Matthews has agreed to a 4 year deal with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#3. Tristan Thompson and the Cavaliers did not get a deal done. They are still far apart (Click here for details).

#4. Damian Lillard agreed to a 5 year, $125M extension with the Trail Blazers (Click here for details).

#5. Omer Asik and the Pelicans agreed to a 5 year, $60M deal (Click here for details).

#6. Dwyane Wade has agreed to a one year, $20M deal with the Heat (Click here for details).

#7. The Bucks are trading Jared Dudley to the Wizards (Click here for details).

#8. Greg Monroe agreed to a 3 year, $50M deal with the Bucks (Click here for details).

#9. Arron Afflalo agreed to a 2 year, $16M deal with the Knicks (Click here for details).

#10. The Kings traded Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, and Nik Stauskas to the 76ers (Click here for details).

#11. Sports-Kings.com has a great NBA free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

#12. RealGM.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

#13. InsideHoops.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

#14. Sportando.com has a nice recap of ALL the day's happenings (Click here to see it).

Thursday's WNBA scores: 

Sky 77 Sun 74. Fever 73 Mystics 50. Mercury 86 Shock 55. Sparks 86 Stars 81.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Memphis Grizzlies may be looking to move Kosta Koufos via sign and trade (Click here for details).

#2. The Knicks and center Robin Lopez have agreed on a 4 year, $54M deal (Click here for details).

#3. The Pacers and forward LaVoy Allen agreed on a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#4. Derrick Williams and the Knicks agreed on a two year, $10M deal (Click here for details).

#5. Patrick Beverley is staying with the Rockets on a 4 year, $25M deal (Click here for details).

#6. Rajon Rondo is signing with the Kings on a one year, $10M deal (Click here for details).

#7. Gary Neal is going to the Wizards on a 1 year, $2.1M deal (Click here for details).

#8. Corey Brewer is re-signing with the Rockets on a 3 year, $24M deal (Click here for details).

#9. DeAndre Jordan is going to the Mavericks on a 4 year, $80M deal (Click here for details).

#10. The Kings and shooting guard Marco Belinelli have agreed on a 3 year, $19M deal (Click here for details).

#11. Tobias Harris agrees to a 4 year, $64M deal to stay with the Magic (Click here for details).

#12. Sportando.com has a great page with all the free agency happenings from the day (Click here to view it).

#13. RealGM.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to view it).

#14. InsideHoops.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to view it).

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Pacers are finalizing a trade to send Roy Hibbert to the Lakers (Click here for details).

#2. The Magic have sent Kyle O'Quinn to the Knicks via sign and trade (Click here for details).

#3. The Kings have agreed to a 4 year, $33M deal with Kosta Koufos (Click here for details).

#4. Jeremy Lin is considering signing with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#5. Bismack Biyombo has agreed to a two-year, $6M deal with the Raptors (Click here for details).

#6. LaMarcus Aldridge is signing with the Spurs on a 4 year, $80M deal (Click here for details).

#7. Dante Cunningham has agreed to a 3 year, $9M deal with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#8. Richard Jefferson is re-signing with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#9. Becky Hammon is the head coach of the Spurs' summer league team (Click here for details).

#10. C.J. Watson is joining the Magic on a 3 year, $15M deal (Click here for details).

Saturday's NBA Summer League scores: 

Heat 92 Pacers 76. Magic (White) 87 Pistons 76. Magic (Black) 75 Clippers 74. Thunder 76 Hornets 74. Grizzlies 81 Nets 73.

Heat small forward Justise Winslow had 15 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Pacers center Myles Turner had 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Hornets forward Frank Kaminsky had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Mavericks have signed forward Jeremy Evans (Click here for details).

#2. The Kings are keeping forward Omri Casspi. He has agreed to a two-year, $6M deal (Click here for details).

#3. The Cavaliers are exploring trade options to get Joe Johnson from the Nets (Click here for details).

#4. There is a report that Tobias Harris turned down a max-deal from the Kings (Click here for details).

#5. LaMarcus Aldridge wrote a thank you letter to the city of Portland (Click here for details).

#6. Cory Joseph has agreed to a four-year, $30M deal with the Raptors (Click here for details).

#7. Brandon Bass is leaving the Celtics to join the Lakers. He could arrive in L.A. via sign and trade with Nick Young leaving the Lakers (Click here for details).

#8. Justin Holliday is unlikely to stay with the Warriors (Click here for details).

#9. Ed Pinckney is leaving the Bulls to join the Nuggets as an assistant coach (Click here for details).

#10. Phil Weber is leaving the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the D-League to be an assistant coach with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

Sunday's WNBA results: 

Dream 72 Storm 64. Mercury 94 Sparks 91.

Sunday's NBA Summer League results: 

Pistons 77 Clippers 69. Grizzlies 79 Hornets 75. Heat 71 Nets 70. Former UConn point guard Ryan Boatright had 23 points for the Nets.





---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news and like my Facebook page NBA Lord Nation