Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens was in a merry mood ahead of a Christmas Day matchup against the Toronto Raptors and point guard Kyle Lowry. The coach admitted the Raptors have had their share of setbacks, but are still a team to be reckoned with, only to segue to praising their veteran point man for his play this season.

“They have the injuries, but they’re great,” said Stevens ahead of the first game of a five-game slate during the holiday, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. “[Lowry] is playing as well as I remember seeing Lowry play, and he was one of the best guards in the league from the moment I came into the league.”

Lowry is the exact type of player Stevens loves to coach — smart, tough, and committed at both ends of the floor.

As Bontemps pointed out, it's likely that Lowry will get a nod from Stevens for a spot as a potential All-Star reserve, considering his admiration for the 6-foot point guard.

The 33-year-old is putting up 20.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game — numbers right along with the best of his career. However, the Raptors have a prime chance to get a leg over the Celtics, only a half-game behind them in the Eastern Conference standings.

A win on Christmas would mean Toronto would inch closer to the second seed, rising to the third spot and dropping Boston to fourth. Lowry had led the Raptors to a five-game win streak before Monday's overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers, one Toronto intends to rebound from on Wednesday.