As Kyle Lowry stood at mid-court watching the time expire and his Toronto Raptors advance to the NBA Finals, you could physically feel the emotion coursing through him. Head in hands, smiling from ear to ear. It was infectious.
You could taste the vindication, the satisfaction of finally getting over the hump after being bounced out of the playoffs five straight seasons in a row. The jubilation that comes with leading his franchise to the big dance for the first time in their history. The relief of shaking off the playoff narrative that has been anchored to him for over half a decade.
“It means a lot.” Lowry told the media after finally winning the Eastern Conference Championship. “It’s taken a long time to get here in my career … I’m going to savor the moment, but I’m not satisfied. Our goal is to win an NBA championship.”
In the six games against a Milwaukee Bucks squad that finished first in defensive rating over 82 regular season games, Lowry put up 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. All while shooting 50.2 percent from the field, 46.5 percent from long range and defending with a staunchness that is immeasurable with raw statistics.
Even with Kawhi Leonard producing one of the most colossal playoff runs in recent memory, Lowry remains the heart and soul of the Raptors. Void of advantageous size or athleticism, the 33-year-old perfectly embodies the underdog spirit of the franchise that he has poured his heart and soul into for the past seven seasons. All-Star and All-NBA appearances are a nice dividend for his consistently stellar play, but it was always going to take a Finals appearance to rid the playoff monkey that has been clinging to his back.
In both 2017 and 2018, he and his former teammate DeMar DeRozan were ruthlessly ripped apart by the media when LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers brushed Toronto aside in four games. This season, he was shoved under the microscope again when he scored 10 or fewer points in three of the seven games against the Philadelphia 76ers. It seems like an annual theme that he is torched by the media, even when he himself has a solid individual series.
What many don’t seem to realize is just how impactful Lowry is outside of the box score. He has legitimate gravity as a 3-point shooter, which allows Leonard and Pascal Siakam the space they need to operate inside the arc. He is an extremely underrated passer, even when it isn’t going to end in an assist he is willing to make the right play every time. Perhaps most importantly, he is a spearhead for Toronto’s shackling defense, defending the point of attack with ferocity and staying extremely alert in off-ball situations. And even at just 6-foot-1, he never questions having to give his body up for the betterment of his team.
Putting your self on the line and drawing a charge is one of the biggest momentum builders in basketball, and Lowry is a master at it. So far in the postseason he has conjured up 13 charge calls, blowing the second-placed Damian Lillard (7) out of the water. As you can see below, his combination of courage, positioning and sheer will is virtually unmatched.
Sure, Leonard’s ability to wow the world with his scoring and defensive expertise is a huge reason the Raptors have made it this far. Nobody is questioning that. Pascal Siakam’s otherworldly growth to a tertiary star has propelled them, too. But it should be obvious that their spiritual leader is their gritty, hearty point guard. He is the kind of selfless player every great team needs next to its star. The kind that rights the ship when the tides aren’t as smooth as expected.
Now, he has the chance to truly cement himself into the annals of NBA history. An Eastern Conference championship is and always will be a special achievement, but taking down one of the most dominant dynasties of all time on route to the Larry O’Brien trophy is something else entirely. That’s easier said than done, though.
So many questions have been answered about Lowry and his squad, but the most pressing ones remain. Can he contain the greatness of Steph Curry? Can their stifling defense withhold against the greatest troupe of scorers ever assembled on a single team? Will Lowry bring the same type of offensive fire that helped Toronto crush the Bucks?
All of these queries will be answered in due time, but for now, the five-time All-Star isn’t going to cave under the pressure. In fact, according to him, there isn’t even any pressure to cave into.
“This is basketball, ain’t no pressure.” He said at the Raptors media availability, “This is fun. This is amazing. This is a great time.”
When you have traveled the path less taken like Kyle Lowry has, pressure is just a word. He has been through the lowest lows a playoff team can experience and right now they are playing with house money. Is it going to be an uphill slog to beat the Warriors? Sure. Will failing be a blotch on Lowry’s resume? Not a hope in hell. He has triumphantly slammed the door on his critics this postseason, and stumbling against an all-time great team will not be enough to open it again.
The long road has paid off for the Toronto legend. He has conquered his demons. Now, it’s time to try and show the world what he can really do.
