Toronto Raptors 2016-17 player grades: The starters
By Nate Wolf
Kyle Lowry
What a season for Kyle Lowry. The diminutive guard has long been Toronto’s emotional leader and most experienced veteran, but this season, he took his individual game to yet another level.
At 31, Lowry just continues to improve. His 22-7-5 line was ridiculous, and becomes all the more impressive when you factor in his 56.9 effective field goal percentage. Lowry shot at career-high percentages on both twos and threes, ultimately canning an absurd 3.2 three-pointers per game.
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Lowry’s shot difficulty was extreme as well, with 1.9 of those three-pointers coming off the dribble — the most in the league behind only James Harden and Stephen Curry. Overall, the majority of his shots came with defenders within four feet of him, per NBA tracking data.
Lowry’s aging legs logged 37.4 minutes per game and Toronto needed every second. The Raptors outscored opponents by 8.3 points per 100 possessions with Lowry on the court. They got outscored when he sat.
Once again, Lowry didn’t have a sterling postseason. The Bucks and Cavs limited his shot attempts, meaning he wasn’t able to impact games like he usually does. His ankle injury in Game 2 against Cleveland basically doomed the Raptors.
Now, Lowry is a free agent, and he’ll be seeking a maximum contract. Toronto should do everything in their power to keep him. Lowry is a top 10 point guard – top six or seven at his best. If he leaves for Philadelphia or the Western Conference, the entire Raptors franchise will be thrown into flux.