When It Comes To Lowry, Eating Crow Isn't So Bad After All.

[Craiger]

I find there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and Lowry is one of those players who is constantly riding that line. Right now he's on the good side.

I think you see his arrogance when certain things aren't going his way - butting heads with coaches, sulking (for lack of a better word - maybe 'less enthusiastic' would be better) when not starting, willing to give up the ball but alot less so if he's not going to get it back, quick to react to the refs not giving him calls (or calls against him). He gets reckless and he gets more selfish.

With the exception of the ref part (because he still complains alot and quite aggressively at times - I'm still absolutely shocked that he's not getting techs. Unrelated, also shocked he hasn't got a flopping fine, let alone warning, yet) I don't think we've been seeing any of the rest since the Gay trade, and as such he's played much better.

I really do wonder if one of, or all of, the following have had a positive impact on him.
- getting the ball more since the Gay trade
- having potential starter behind him that could challenge him for his position, but having not lost his position
- fear of being traded, not only the Knicks (I know I'd be afraid if I had to play with Bargnani again ), but of being moved into an unknown situation (ie. he knows he'll get the ball here, get minutes, be a starter etc - while he won't if he's elsewhere)
- the contract year itself

There is no question he's been playing very good ball, I don't even question that he's likely the leader on the team (none of the other starters strike me as they could or would be). I do question though, if this is going to last - not necessarily this year, but into next year and beyond (if he even resigns which I think is still a big if itself)

[Superjudge]

As you say I hope this is a full time thing and not just a contract year thing.

You raise a good point,however, in contract years, effort is what is increased. Lowry has always given his 100% effort, thats who he is, he wasnt using his head, and his ego was through the roof. He's basically learned how to be a leader. AND the positive side effect for him is that his numbers are better.

[Superjudge]

I'll admit I've always been a little skeptical of Lowry in general, and have eaten quite a bit of crow over this last month, but I to say that there couldn't be a more clear cut leader of this team then Kyle Lowry right now. I've read alot of comments here and elsewhere where people feel its DeMar's team or he's the leader, but I have to disagree.

This article today via TSN reaffirmed those feelings:



Not only has Kyle shown on the court that he's a major "cog in the machine" but reading how vocal and assertive he is has really given me new found appreciation and respect for Lowry. I really and truly hope this is the Klow we hoped for when we signed him a couple years back and it isn't the incentive of being a free agent this summer and a new contract that is pushing him as hard as he's been playing at the moment.

We all know of the corny saying "There's no "I" in team", but if you had to choose who on this team could be considered its true leader or a team MVP right now, would most not tend to agree by now that its Kyle? God forbid he goes down with an injury, but I just have this gut feeling that this team will live or die by Lowry. Agree or disagree guys?

Source to Article - Click here

Lowry, as I mentioned the other day, has made an incredible amount of progress in the last 2 years. He has grown up. I have no idea whats in his past, or in his private life, but whatever it may be, he seems to be a grown up man now. He is leading, he's no longer crying to the officials constantly, he's playing really smart ball, keeping his guys fed, running the offence.... he is finally that Calderon/Lowry hybrid myself, and lots of other thought impossible two years ago.

And he's fucking just as good as I always dreamed that Hybrid could be.

I hop ehe keeps this going, and if her does, they need to resign.

[Machine]

wow really great article. Thanks for sharing.

I have a feeling that Jose had a really big impact on Kyle as far as leadership and being a team guy goes, and just being a professional in general. I have no evidence but just a guess based on some of their interactions last year and the way kyle has evolved. I am loving the player he is now and hope it lasts.

[Pill]

I have been very lukewarm on Kyle since he came over because I didn't pay attention to what he did before I only know what he has done since he got here. Outside of the first 3 games and this last stretch of games he has been fairly mediocre with flashes of greatness. He has stopped doing all the things that bothered me with his game. He is no longer a gambler on defense like he was. He now plays within the defense that the coaching staff has been pushing since they were put in place. He also is not as reckless driving to the net when there is nothing there. He now takes what is there and when its not he attempts to make plays for his team mates. He has also had the ability since we started winning to make a big shot when the other team is making a run or starting to come on strong that usually ignites our team and then we end up on a run as a result.

As you say I hope this is a full time thing and not just a contract year thing.

[Doc]

I'll admit I've always been a little skeptical of Lowry in general, and have eaten quite a bit of crow over this last month, but I to say that there couldn't be a more clear cut leader of this team then Kyle Lowry right now. I've read alot of comments here and elsewhere where people feel its DeMar's team or he's the leader, but I have to disagree.

This article today via TSN reaffirmed those feelings:

He continues to make nightly mistakes - with his positioning, in the pick-and-roll game, and on defence, particularly as the help man - and Lowry is usually the first person to let him hear about it.

"Every time he messes up we talk about it," Lowry said. "I tell him what he did and then he fixes it and I congratulate him when he does it [right].

"I think he has the skills and he has the heart and he has the right mentality to be one of the best bigs in the league," the Raptors' point guard continued. "My constructive criticism is just tough, big brother love. I think the world of him, I think he can be so good [and] that's why I push him. I'm always going to be tough on him because I know how good he's going to be."

Not only has Kyle shown on the court that he's a major "cog in the machine" but reading how vocal and assertive he is has really given me new found appreciation and respect for Lowry. I really and truly hope this is the Klow we hoped for when we signed him a couple years back and it isn't the incentive of being a free agent this summer and a new contract that is pushing him as hard as he's been playing at the moment.

We all know of the corny saying "There's no "I" in team", but if you had to choose who on this team could be considered its true leader or a team MVP right now, would most not tend to agree by now that its Kyle? God forbid he goes down with an injury, but I just have this gut feeling that this team will live or die by Lowry. Agree or disagree guys?

Source to Article - Click here