“It’s simple, we have Kyle Lowry”. That’s what replied Jimmy Butler when asked the difference between the Heat who finished 8th in the regular season, and that of the playoffs. At 37, the former leader of the Raptors is therefore the X factor of this surprising Miami team, capable of eliminating the Bucks in five rounds, then repelling the Knicks. All without Tyler Herro or Victor Oladipo.
A Lowry who thanks his leaders for being patient with him. He had a difficult season, and at the end of March, his state of health remained worrying, to the point that his playing time was limited. And then, at the best possible moment, everything was back to normal.
A luxury joker
“I’m lucky to have a franchise that told me: ‘Listen, take care of yourself’, it’s important'”, explains Lowry. “For me, it was all about getting my health back so that I could help my team in these kinds of times and situations. But it was also about persevering, believing in what I have done in my career and believing in what I can still do. »
Substitute, Lowry appears as the brain of this team. His experience and accuracy compensate for the weight of years and a fragile physique. Like other very great leaders before him, he plays more than ever with his head, and Erik Spoelstra appreciates having such an asset off the bench.
“He’s such a competitor. For him, it’s about saying, ‘OK, if you take this out, I’m going to do that’. Or, ‘Right now we can’t do this, so I’m going to do that.’ We need something in defense, to make an action, he will do it” appreciates the Miami coach.
” With him as a substitute, we settled a lot of things.
In fact, Lowry has become a Swiss army knife, adapting according to the needs of his team. ” For me, it makes more sense to get him off the bench.” continues Spoelstra. “It’s to protect him, but also to protect me. He’s got the game time of a starter, and he’s smart and experienced enough to earn it. It’s an incredible luxury. What drives him is only victory. His injury sidelined him for five weeks, and we had talked about it a bit, and it made more sense to get him off the bench. »
Result, the Heat discovers a new bench, finally decisive. “We didn’t have a lot of time, and he’s fantastic in this role! What we discovered is that we end up with a Hall Of Famer off the bench. Our bench has been struggling for most of the season. With him as a substitute, we settled a lot of things. »
| Kyle Lowry | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2006-07 | SAME | 10 | 18 | 36.8 | 37.5 | 89.3 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 5.6 |
| 2007-08 | SAME | 82 | 26 | 43.2 | 25.7 | 69.8 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 9.7 |
| 2008-09* | All Teams | 77 | 22 | 43.5 | 25.5 | 80.1 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 7.6 |
| 2008-09* | SAME | 49 | 22 | 41.2 | 24.6 | 80.1 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 7.6 |
| 2008-09* | HOO | 28 | 22 | 47.5 | 27.6 | 80.0 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 7.6 |
| 2009-10 | HOO | 68 | 24 | 39.7 | 27.2 | 82.7 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 9.1 |
| 2010-11 | HOO | 75 | 34 | 42.6 | 37.6 | 76.5 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 6.7 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 13.5 |
| 2011-12 | HOO | 47 | 32 | 40.9 | 37.4 | 86.4 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 14.3 |
| 2012-13 | TOR | 68 | 30 | 40.1 | 36.2 | 79.5 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 6.4 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 11.6 |
| 2013-14 | TOR | 79 | 36 | 42.3 | 38.0 | 81.3 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 7.4 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 17.9 |
| 2014-15 | TOR | 70 | 35 | 41.2 | 33.8 | 80.8 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 17.8 |
| 2015-16 | TOR | 77 | 37 | 42.7 | 38.8 | 81.1 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 6.4 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 21.2 |
| 2016-17 | TOR | 60 | 37 | 46.4 | 41.2 | 81.9 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 7.0 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 22.4 |
| 2017-18 | TOR | 78 | 32 | 42.7 | 39.9 | 85.4 | 0.9 | 4.7 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 16.2 |
| 2018-19 | TOR | 65 | 34 | 41.1 | 34.7 | 83.0 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 8.7 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 14.3 |
| 2019-20 | TOR | 58 | 36 | 41.6 | 35.2 | 85.7 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 19.4 |
| 2020-21 | TOR | 46 | 35 | 43.6 | 39.6 | 87.5 | 0.8 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 7.4 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 17.2 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 63 | 34 | 44.0 | 37.7 | 85.1 | 0.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 13.4 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 55 | 31 | 40.4 | 34.5 | 85.9 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 11.2 |
| Total | 1078 | 32 | 42.4 | 36.7 | 81.5 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 6.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 14.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
