NBA Playoffs must-follow storylines: Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets
Key Matchup: Kyle Lowry vs. Caris LeVert
In need of some creativity to generate offense without both Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn’s interim head coach Jacque Vaughn has elected to embrace the lone shot-creator at his disposal, Caris LeVert.
The move has worked wonders for LeVert’s game as the unofficial point guard. He averaged 25.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game en route to an All-Bubble Second Team selection. He scored over 30 twice in the six games he appeared in after doing so just three other times this season.
For as well as he’s played against the Washingtons and Portlands of the bubble — two sub-par defensive teams — LeVert has yet to face a Raptors unit that’s continued its defensive excellence with the No. 1 ranked bubble defense. As the newly-minted point guard, that includes an individual matchup against Kyle Lowry.
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LeVert has stood tall against Toronto this season, averaging 23.3 points per game with a blistering true-shooting percentage of 71.3 in three games. But he has yet to truly come face-to-face with Lowry, who has only guarded the fourth-year stud for less than nine partial possessions.
Lowry was typically concerned with Brooklyn’s traditional point guards, but circumstances have brought his focus to the man who opposes him at the position. Across their limited matchup, Lowry has held LeVert to 1-of-4 shooting.
Toronto has slowed many star talents, but it’s never been less than on the backbone of a collective effort. The same will be required to halt LeVert’s torrid pace, but the tone will be set by the player likely to see the most face time.