Kyle Lowry blasts Raptors’ ‘trash’ defense after loss to Cavs

Kyle Lowry is frustrated that the Toronto Raptors still can’t seem to get over the Cleveland Cavaliers hump.

After the Raptors fell to the Cavs on Wednesday by the final of 132-129, Lowry said that his team played a “trash game” and called their performance on defense “disgraceful,” according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports.

Lowry: "It was a trash game by us. They shot 60% from the field. It was a disgraceful display of defence by us and we've got to be better than that."

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 22, 2018

Indeed, the Raptors scored 79 points in the first half, yet still managed to blow the game with their porous D, giving up 68 points right back in the second half. It was a rare poor showing on that end for Toronto considering they entered the game ranked 5th in the league in defensive rating (per NBA.com).

While the 53-19 Raptors have a sizable cushion atop the Eastern Conference, the loss is probably particularly stinging since the Cavs have eliminated them in the playoffs each of the last two years. Granted, Toronto is looking the best that they ever have in, both in terms of depth and overall play, so one subpar game may not do much to reverse the respect they have commanded all year.