Where does each Toronto Raptor rank at their position
Kyle Lowry HoopsHabit Rank: 7 Our Rank: 7
No matter your stance on Kyle Lowry, it’s pretty safe to say that he is in the second tier of NBA point guards. (Depending on the size of your tiers).
He isn’t in the class of Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul, but he is pretty safely in the next tier below. At his career peak, you might argue he slipped into the edge of that tier. His apex is similar to, although a hair below, Damian Lillard now.
But he has slowed just a bit, and projecting to next season, it’s reasonable to expect another incremental decline. Lowry isn’t in the twilight of his career, but he is certainly passed the peak of the mountain.
Immediately below him:
10. Mike Conley
9. Kemba Walker
8. John Wall
All these players are in a similar range of Lowry, and depending on the year, the order of these four could largely fluctuate.
When healthy, Mike Conley is a slightly better version of Lowry. He can do a few more things offensively, often times tasked with creating in a clogged up Memphis offense. Defensively, Lowry is very good. Conley is great.
But you can’t guarantee health, and Mike Conley has not been consistently healthy in a long-time. Edge Lowry.
Kemba Walker vs. Kyle Lowry is one reason why rankings are such a difficult task. Swap players and I think you would make both the Hornets and the Raptors worse. Lowry’s defense makes him a little more flexible fitting into other rosters, so I’ll agree to give him the edge.
There was a time John Wall was arguably the third best player in the East, and his ceiling is certainly the highest of this group. When healthy and engaged Wall is a monster. However, after last season, he can’t be placed above Lowry.
Immediately above him:
6. Ben Simmons
5. Damian Lillard
4. Kyrie Irving
Two of these selections are no-brainers. Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard have surpassed Lowry as point guards and will soon be rising even higher on this list. Irving’s defense improved dramatically last season while Lillard was named to first team All-NBA.
I’d place Lillard four and Irving five, but they remain above Lowry regardless.
Ben Simmons will be the point of controversy due to his inability to score outside of 10 feet. Last season he didn’t attempt a three-pointer, and it is suspected by some, that he is shooting with his wrong hand.
I don’t care. As “a rookie” last season, Simmons averaged 17, nine, and nine. I am not a triple-double guy, but to stuff the sheet like that in your first NBA season is insane.
If you’re a fan of advanced stats, Simmons does that too. Last season when Simmons was on the court, the 76ers offense had an offensive rating of 109.4, when he was off 101.4. That takes you from about sixth in the league, to 28th.
Oh, and he received votes for All-NBA Defensive Team as well.
Lowry is really good, and his shooting opens up parts of the offense that Simmons can’t. But as a 6’10” point guard who processes the game at an elite level, Simmons opens up plenty of things on his own.
Last season, I’d give Lowry the edge. This year, I am taking Simmons.