Details about Lowry kept under Raps

Coach won’t ‘get into specifics’ on star’s return

It’s not a stretch to suggest that given the green light by his employers, Kyle Lowry would happily never address the media again.

In fact, the biggest smiles from Lowry throughout his absence from the lineup have come when overzealous members of the media approached him only to be told he was not active and therefore not mandated to speak with anyone waving a microphone or a recorder.

So the fact he somewhat reluctantly agreed to be trotted out in front of those microphones and recorders Monday at practice suggests his return is somewhat close at hand.

Lowry has not played for the Raptors since Feb. 15, the final day before the league broke for the all-star break. He had surgery on Feb. 28 in New York. At the time of the surgery, Lowry was told it would be a four-to-six-week period of recovery.

But neither he nor head coach Dwane Casey had any intention of letting anyone in the media, or by extension the Raptors fan base, know exactly what the plan is for his return. Lowry said the call, when it is made, will be made by him.

“It will be me, Kyle Lowry, who is going to clear me,” Lowry said.

Lowry admitted not being able to play has left him bored, but he says he’s enjoying all the winning the team is doing without him.

“I’m really enjoying how well we’re playing,” he said. “It’s fun being out there and seeing how guys are going out there and getting it done. Wanting to be a part of it, it’s something I want to be a part of.

“It’s boring because I want to play, but it’s awesome because I see those guys going out there and being professionals and getting wins.”

In the 20 games the Raptors have played without Lowry, they have gone 14-6.

The team has five games remaining before an expected playoff opener a week from Saturday. In between, they have as many as three practice days before the season ends next Wednesday and another two practice days — three if the Raps don’t begin the playoffs until Sunday — beyond that.

So time appears to be on Toronto’s side if they want to ease Lowry back into the lineup. But even Lowry will tell you nothing duplicates game experience.

“Nothing’s like basketball,” Lowry said when asked about getting back into game shape. “No conditioning you can do is like basketball. That’s going to only take a little bit of time. Right now, I’m going to make sure I’m fully healthy and completely ready to go help the team no matter what.”

Casey, for his part, made it clear that updating the media is not something he will spend his time doing.

“I’m not going to go into a daily ‘When is Kyle coming back?’ (interrogation),” Casey said. “This is about the Toronto Raptors, us getting ready for the next game, and if you have questions about that, then that’s fine. But all the other questions I’m not going to get into specifics about when is Kyle coming back, when he’s not coming back, what did he do today, did he use the bathroom this morning, did he have breakfast this morning. No, I’m not getting into all that.”

When it was pointed out that perhaps Lowry’s much anticipated return is worthy of frequent updates, Casey disagreed.

“(Tuesday) night what is relevant for me are the Indiana Pacers,” Casey said. “I totally, respectfully disagree. To (the media), it is relevant. To us, it’s relevant when he does come back.

“But I’m not waking up every day wondering if this is the day Kyle comes back and I don’t think his teammates are either. I think they are looking forward to the next challenge. I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on Kyle or the team or whatever.”