Lowry sets sights on playoffs: 'Nothing else matters but the trophy'
The Toronto Raptors have never taken a postseason run beyond the borders of the Eastern Conference, but point guard Kyle Lowry is ready to change that this year.
With a retooled Raptors roster and the departure of LeBron James to the Western Conference, Lowry is locked in on his quest for an NBA championship.
"We've got Kawhi (Leonard). We've got Marc (Gasol). We've got a good team. We've got good individuals," Lowry told ESPN's Tim Bontemps before Wednesday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets. "I think it's going to be one of those years where we know what we are. We're not trying ... we know what it is (we are after).
"Nothing else matters. Nothing else matters but the trophy."
The 33-year-old point guard was named to his fifth straight All-Star Game this season and is averaging a career-best 8.7 assists to go along with 14.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals.
Lowry is the only player remaining from the 2013-14 Raptors team that started this streak of postseason appearances, and after three consecutive 50-win campaigns resulted in playoff disappointment, the point guard realizes there's no longer much to prove between Game 1 and 82.
"It's kind of like ... it's a waiting game," Lowry said. "But I know Kawhi said these games are practices, but it's about your team, and it's about getting work in and continuing to get better as a team. And then in the playoffs, that's where it matters.
"That's all that really matters."