Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet play bigger than their height
Toronto Raptors are fueled by Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet
Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet have continued their prowess as leaders for this Toronto Raptors team. The duo might be shorter than other guards in the NBA, but both play BIG for their squad.
The backcourt of Lowry and VanVleet keeps producing impressive results for the Raptors in the bubble. Their gusto and tenacity make up for their lack of size. Gritty style, mixed in with good fundamentals, makes them shine above the rest and hopefully will propel them deep into the playoffs.
The IQ of these guards is incredibly high on both ends of the court. They make sure to understand their opponent inside and out, planning and scheming prior to the match, as well as recognizing and making alterations during the game itself. These floor generals thrive off of knowing how to dismantle their opponent’s confidence. They’ll never let up once they’ve broken their opponent.
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Lowry and VanVleet are physically strong, as they are able to hold their own against the competition. They capitalize on their quickness and low center of gravity for their offensive game and use leverage to get underneath opponents in order to unsettle them on the defensive end.
Both guards love barreling into defensive players, as getting contact is key for them to create space and openings. VanVleet is incredible at shaking his opponent on the perimeter, attacking the inside, sizing up the next defender, and jumping directly into them – essentially creating a barrier between the defender and the ball. This type of attacking style is what both of these small guards do at a high level – they know how to protect the ball by using their bodies as shields to create space on their drives.
Being crafty is a gift these two possess. They are able to outwit their defender with an array of fakes and misdirection plays. VanVleet is a magician with his ball fakes, as he gets a defender spinning at least once a game. Slight body movements like shifting his head or turning his eyes, along with understanding his defender’s M.O., all contribute to his offensive magic.
Lowry is sneaky while on the court, as he is great at capitalizing on opponent’s mistakes. He is the league leader in charges taken and loves putting his body on the line for the team. Lowry’s anticipation is next level, as he knows the exact moment to slide in and plant his feet, leaving the offensive player helpless in committing an offensive foul.
The Toronto Raptors’ success is linked to Lowry and VanVleet
VanVleet and Lowry pride themselves on the defensive end, they never want any offensive player to punk them. Lowry gets giddy when being posted up, as this is his time to push back and act extra aggressive. He knows the refs will be more lenient towards his brutish post defense because he is usually smaller than his opponent. This allows Lowry to jockey for better positioning, and maybe get a few jabs in at the ball…or the offensive player.
Both Lowry and VanVleet are geniuses when being in the position as a help defender. Both have a keen sense of predicting the opposing team’s offensive movement, as they make deflections regularly throughout the game.
Being the point of pressure is another area that these two bulldogs salivate after. Disruption and agitation are their calling cards, as whoever (guards, forwards, centers) have the ball gets a sense of urgency or anxiety when any one of these guards are around.
Forceful defense is the aim – positioning themselves beneath the opposition, attempting to make them lose balance, travel, or, make a bad pass. The same tactics are used when defending a player on the move with the ball, as they attempt to pressure them into picking up their dribble – they understand how to overwhelm the offensive player into making a bad decision with the ball.
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Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet each contribute heavily to the Raptors’ success, as they don’t let their small size inhibit the impact they have on the court. Opposed to their size, they play like giants for Toronto, time will tell if their dominance will continue on their pursuit of the championship.