TORONTO ? Forty-two games into the season, the Toronto Raptors are in second place in the Eastern Conference. With a favorable schedule ahead, the Raptors are in a position to solidify their current slot before hosting this year's All Star weekend in their home turf.
Despite losing key players Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll to injuries early on, the Raptors have managed to thrive and there is no doubt that their competitiveness is largely due to the stellar play of All-Star guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.
The Skinny On Lowry
At the start of the season, the once stocky Lowry had noticeably trimmed down. Although he changed his physique quite significantly, his ?bulldog? like spirit remained.
The quicker, more agile Lowry is a force to reckon with, averaging 20.9 points and 6.6 assists per game. He continues to carry the Raptors in big games and his much improved 3-point shooting has certainly helped the Raptors in close games.
This year, Kyle returns as an All Star starting point guard for the East for the second straight year. A late push from all over Canada and around the NBA propelled Lowry past Kyrie Irving in the fan voting to claim the second starting guard slot.
Although the Raptors may not have as much coverage as the more popular big market teams, Lowry?s All Star selection is a testament to his performance which has fueled so much appreciation from Raptors fans.
The Deal of DeMar
This season, DeRozan opted out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent this summer. It's a business decision that will likely double his salary from $10 million to $20 million a year. The Lakers and Nets are rumored to be interested in prying the Compton, California native away from Toronto.
Despite the impending free agency, DeMar remains focused on helping his team achieve. DeMar is averaging 23.1 points per game and is the team?s leading scorer. Last night, he carried his team past the up and coming Boston Celtics by putting up 34 points.
Witnessing DeMar?s growth in the last few seasons has been a joy to watch. When he first joined the league, not many thought he could lead the Raptors to success.
Although DeMar did not make the starting line-up for the All Star game, his play this season is definitely worthy of an All Star reserve nod.
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