{"id":20381,"date":"2019-04-22T12:29:59","date_gmt":"2019-04-22T16:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=20381"},"modified":"2019-04-22T12:29:59","modified_gmt":"2019-04-22T16:29:59","slug":"examining-kyle-lowrys-playoff-struggles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2019\/04\/22\/examining-kyle-lowrys-playoff-struggles\/","title":{"rendered":"Examining Kyle Lowry’s Playoff Struggles"},"content":{"rendered":"

In their last few playoff pushes, the Toronto Raptors<\/a> have, along with all other Eastern Conference challengers, been inevitably snuffed out by LeBron James<\/b><\/a>. Every time, two men bore the brunt of the blame for the Raptors. Kyle Lowry <\/b><\/a>and current San Antonio Spur<\/a>, DeMar DeRozan<\/b><\/a>, were both pegged as \u201cplayoff chokers\u201d after several years of losses. Kyle Lowry\u2019s playoff struggles are exaggerated. Here are some facts and stats to refute those claims.<\/p>\n

Examining Kyle Lowry’s Playoff Struggles<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Lowry’s Performances in past Postseasons<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Setting aside the 2014-2015 playoff series against the Washington Wizards<\/a> in which the Raptors were swept and Lowry scored just 12.3 points per game on horrific shooting numbers (21.7% from deep, 31.6% from the field), Lowry\u2019s numbers have remained relatively the same in the playoffs compared to the regular season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In some seasons, Lowry even showed improved stats in the playoffs. His field goal percentage remains roughly the same, his three-point percentage dips just slightly, and his scoring (again omitting 2014-15) is steady throughout. Even when Lowry’s stats dipped again in the 2016-17 playoffs, it was because he was playing through an injury that eventually sidelined him against the\u00a0Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>. Lowry had a positive net plus-minus in each of his postseasons in Toronto. In fact, in his last three playoff runs, he\u2019s shot 48.1% from the field<\/a>, a mark well above his career regular-season average of 42.4%.<\/p>\n

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Meanwhile, Kyle Lowry\u2019s last three playoff runs, including the last 2 games: 111\/231 (48.1%)<\/p>\n

Westbrook has been what people *think* Lowry is during the playoffs https:\/\/t.co\/GTbGzryj6g<\/a><\/p>\n

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) April 17, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n