Kyle Lowry decided to stick around at Air Canada Centre after Tuesday’s loss to the Miami Heat in order to work on his jumpshot, which has failed him throughout the postseason.
Though Lowry did make an improbable half-court shot to send Game 1 of the Raptors’ Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Miami Heat to overtime (video here), he has struggled from the field. Normally one of the Raptors’ most reliable players, Lowry entered Tuesday’s game having shot 31.6 percent on field goals in the playoffs. He then went 3-for-13 in Game 1 against the Heat, including the bomb from half-court.
After the game, Lowry headed straight to the Raptors’ practice court to work on his shot.
Lowry held a ball in his hands as he spoke to media. Had been shooting upstairs in the practice court for 30+ minutes, plans to go back up
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 4, 2016
Lowry also called his shooting slump “frustrating.”
Lowry: "[I'm] trying to just get the touch back. I don't know where it's at, it's kind of mind-boggling right now, it's frustrating"
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 4, 2016
The Raptors point guard said he’s making shots in practice, but not in games, and that is causing him to pass up shots he usually would attempt.
Motivated to improve his shooting, Lowry went back out onto the main court at Air Canada Centre to continue practicing after speaking with the media. Here’s some video:
12:25am: Kyle Lowry shooting by himself on the main court at ACC pic.twitter.com/g3SezIzkSl
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 4, 2016
More of Lowry, taking shots on the main floor at ACC 90 minutes after the final buzzer pic.twitter.com/DwytqDsjhi
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 4, 2016
You have to at least respect his work ethic, if nothing else. Maybe the extra practice will help his shot fall in Game 2 on Thursday. And we’re guessing he’ll end up with more support for his actions than this famous player had for doing something similar.
