Nick Nurse perfectly summed up the talents of Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry earlier this week, hitting on all the salient points that make a player so special.“His natural instincts, for a long time,” the Toronto head coach said of the all-star point guard, “have been to lead a team, play his guts out, make plays in a lot of areas.”That’s like the Holy Trinity of characteristics a team needs in a leader and a winner.As if to prove his coach’s prescience, Lowry began the Raptors’ ridiculously easy 115-96 closeout win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday as only could, putting his imprint on the game from the moment it started.Now having won a best-of-seven series in five games for the first time in franchise history, the Raptors will move on to face either the Philadelphia 76ers or Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference semifinals.No dates or times are official yet, but if the Sixers eliminate the Nets in six or fewer games, there’s every indication Game 1 of the second round will be in Toronto on Saturday, with Game 2 on Monday.Lowry began his wonderful night seconds after the opening tip. He scored the Raptors’ first nine points — three baskets at the rim and a three-pointer — and assisted on the next two buckets his team got. He dished out three first-quarter assists, was flying all over the Scotiabank Arena court and drew three offensive fouls on Magic players in the first half alone.He found himself guarding the much taller, heavier Aaron Gordon in the post at one point in the second quarter and did what he always does. Lowry banged and got hit and had that low centre of gravity of his dug in, forcing Gordon into an offensive foul and a turnover — as has happened to more than one bigger, supposedly stronger, more experienced post player who had the temerity to try and back Lowry down to the basket.Lead a team. Play his guts out.That’s what they’re going to put on the plaque, o ...
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