When the national spotlight turns to the Toronto Raptors, it usually focuses on star forward Kawhi Leonard. Guard Kyle Lowry has played second fiddle to the dominant forward all season, due to Leonard's brilliance. However, Lowry isn't too shabby himself. Teammate Marc Gasol praised his point guard in an interview with The Athletic's Blake Murphy, pointing out on attribute that makes Lowry stand out:
“He plays hard. That is what makes him the player he is. That is why he is special. The energy he plays (with), those plays … the one steal he had and then the assist with 50 some seconds left and we trapped the pick and roll. He just anticipated. He had the shooter, made the read and made a great basketball play.”
Kyle Lowry is a hustler who doesn't give up on any play. While he may be outsized by some of these modern-day point guards, he makes up for it with his basketball IQ and heart.
By his standards, Kyle Lowry had a “down” regular season. He averaged only 14.6 points a game, the lowest since his first season in Toronto in 2012.
However, as Gasol noted, some of Lowry's contributions do not show up in the box score. Lowry is the vocal leader of the Raptors, due to Leonard's stoic approach to basketball. He sets examples to the younger players with his work ethic. Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell have both improved under his wing.
Kawhi Leonard will not defeat the Milwaukee Bucks by himself. The Raptors will need every bit of Lowry's hustle and heart to secure a spot in the NBA Finals.
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