Raptors by the numbers: Kyle Lowry ranks among NBA's best point guards

The Toronto Raptors haven't just survived without leading scorer DeMar DeRozan — they've thrived.

Toronto is 11-5 since DeRozan went down with a groin injury in late November and are 24-8 overall, good for the best record in the Eastern Conference. With Kyle Lowry at the controls they've been the NBA's second most productive offence through the season's first two months averaging 111.7 points per 100 possessions.

After he was unceremoniously snubbed from the All-Star game last season, Lowry has been even better this year. He's averaging career highs in points (20.7), assists (7.7), and rebounds (4.8) per game and he elevated his game to even greater heights in the month that DeRozan has been out.

A quick look at Lowry's peripheral statistics and the improved box score numbers should come as no surprise.

He's taking exceptional care of the ball. Only 8.1% of his possessions result in a turnover, that's the fourth best mark for a starting guard with a usage rate above 20%. He's also been one of the most effective players at getting to the basket. Lowry's 217 points scored on drives ranks just behind James Harden (240) and Monta Ellis (231).

The mix of team and individual success of late has vaulted Lowry into the conversation of the game's best players — his stats show he absolutely deserves to be there, and has deserved to be there for some time.

Since the start of the 2013-14 season only two point guards, Chris Paul and Stephen Curry, have been more productive than Lowry according to Estimated Wins Added, a catch-all stat designed to give the "estimated number of wins a player adds to a team’s season total above what a 'replacement player' would produce."

Lowry has been the NBA's sixth best player by EWA so far this season, putting him in elite company.

Now it shouldn't be long before DeRozan is back and the Raptors continue to build off their superb 2014. Lowry's top priority is to lead his team deep into the playoffs, but getting recognition as an All-Star would provide a deserved boost to his hoops resume.

If the fans don't vote Lowry in as a starter, he's currently fourth among guards, there's no good reason for the NBA coaches to make the same mistake they made last year and leave him off the roster.

Lowry's playing the best ball of his career and carrying the Raptors to a level they've never been at before.

More NBA coverage from Yahoo Canada Sports:

- - - - - - -

Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter @israelfehr.