Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry needs to play pivotal role in Game 7

The Toronto Raptors will host Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers with home-court advantage and a chance to end some doubt in the process.

In their history, the Toronto Raptors have played in four Game 7s and have a 2-2 all-time record. The last time they appeared in a win or go home scenario was back in 2016 against the Miami Heat, which they did win.

While history is on the team’s side with a 2-1 record in Game 7s at home, many might remember that loss to the Brooklyn Nets more vividly. Being in the arena for that game which was probably one of the loudest sporting events I’ve ever attended, Kyle Lowry’s missed shot in the dying seconds is the memory that sticks out the most.

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He more than made up for it in that Game 7 against the Heat scoring 35 points and that’s the type of performance he’ll need to have (or something close to that) if the Raptors want to pull away with the win.

Most of the success this series for Toronto has come from the play of Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam and even Marc Gasol but what puts them over the top is what Lowry can bring. It doesn’t mean he needs to lead the charge but he definitely needs to have a presence.

As Doug Smith wrote for the Toronto Star, Lowry made life difficult with his aggressive play in Game 5 getting a playoff-high eight free throws. Where the 32-year-old is at his best is when he can pull up and drain a three-pointer especially the open looks.

Everyone talks about the bulldog mentality Lowry can bring when he is at his best. Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet brought up a play where Lowry set a pick against Joel Embiid that allowed Kawhi Leonard to get a lane to drive to the basket.

Nick Nurse knows Lowry will be a focal point to the Sixers defensive game on top of Leonard but if he can make life hard on them, it should give Toronto a better chance than in Game 6.

"“I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve got a plan to try to limit his shots at the start tomorrow. They haven’t really had a plan to limit his shooting,” Nurse told Zwelling. “We’ve needed him to take the opportunities that were there a little bit more. I think he’s done a great job of stretching out their defence. I don’t just mean taking perimeter shots. He’s taking the ball from one side of the floor to the other. He’s taking it vertically downhill and keeping his dribble alive. He’s just being more aggressive, you know?”"

We can talk about how the bench has not lived up to the standard that’s been needed from them in this series but if the starters are getting shut down by the Sixers, the Raptors will be in a tough spot.

You can expect Lowry to be aggressive in the early going of the game and at best, it should open up Philadelphia’s defence for other players to get some open looks or get some foul calls to go his way.

Any advantage the Raptors can get in this game will be pivotal and while many expect Kawhi to have a big impact, Lowry probably won’t be quiet and hopefully, it’s for the right reasons.

What are your thoughts heading into Game 7? Do you think Lowry will have a big impact? Who needs to step up the most if the Raptors are going to win? Let us know in the comments below.