Mike Bohn

USA TODAY Sports

So perhaps it is time to panic, after all.

The Toronto Raptors, who since Jan. 18 have dropped 10 of 14 games, the most recent of which featured a 15-point fourth quarter collapse in a 102-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, have been adamant the recent woes could be chalked up to a rough patch.

That attitude has shifted, though, and the evidence of that was been no more clear than when three-time All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry outright admitted legitimate concern has set in.

"Yeah I am (worried)," Lowry told reporters following the loss to the Pistons. "I'm starting to get worried. We're not going where we're supposed to be going and things aren't changing, so yeah, I'm starting to get worried."

For portions of the skid the Raptors could direct at obvious issues. All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan has been hampered by an ankle injury in recent weeks. Patrick Patterson, a key role player, has also been plagued by injuries. Noted offseason signing Jared Sullinger, who has played just 11 games this season, has struggled to ingrain himself effectively since returning from an October foot surgery.

It seemed as if the Raptors were taking a turn for the better after putting together consecutive wins for the first time since early January. However, the late-game meltdown against the Pistons sent up a new series of red flags. Suddenly the Raptors have fallen from a comfortable position as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference standings to a middling club which could be battling just to get home court in the opening round of the playoffs.

Throughout the season the Raptors have been one of the most high-volume offense teams in the league, ranking in the top five in points scored per game. The defense has left something to be desired for quite some time, though.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey said he's seen legitimate improvement from his club on defense. However, that doesn't matter if the offense can't hold a lead down and close out games down the stretch. Improvements must be made, and All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan said it must happen immediately.

"We can (get ourselves out of this), but it's got to be quick," DeRozan says. "Twenty-seven more games. That's going to fly by. We ain't got much time when it comes to the practice time. We got to be able to take things and go and run with it."

With a noticeable stir forming within a basketball club ordinarily filled with confidence, adjustments are seemingly in order. What that will be exacly remains to the seen. The Feb. 23 NBA trade deadline is rapidly approaching, but in recent years the Raptors have been among the league's quietest dealmakers.

Lowry believes he knows the recipe for a fix, but was reluctant to say it publicly.

"We keep putting (ourselves) in the same situation over and over and we're not being successful something's got to give, something's got to change," Lowry says. "I have an idea (what it is), but I'm going to keep my mouth shut keep it very professional."

DeRozan, on the other hand, had no problem admitting positive roster changes would be welcomed.

"Help is always beneficial," DeRozan says. "I never looked at help as a negative thing at all. If help is an option, why not?"