Frustrated Kyle Lowry goes to locker room to relax during game, gets ripped by fans
Kyle Lowry has had more than his share of struggles this postseason, and the Toronto Raptors' All-Star point guard is feeling the frustration.
Lowry has just 18 points on 8-for-28 shooting in the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals, as he's been badly outplayed by Cleveland's Kyrie Irving. Lowry has more turnovers (9) than field goals or assists (8), he's taken just two free throws and he's missed 14 of 15 3-pointers.
On Thursday night, Lowry retreated to the locker room with 2:35 left in the first half, while the Cavs went on a 16-2 run. He told ESPN's Doris Burke he needed to blow off some steam.
"Just to kind of decompress, get back there, kind of relax my body and relax my mind," Lowry said after the game. "And knowing that we had a chance to kind of make some things [happen], I wanted to get myself going and get my teammates going and get the team going. It was nothing more than just kind of to decompress, breathe and get back out."
Lowry said it's not the first time he's done it.
"I've done it plenty of times," he said. "It's just now with the magnitude of the situation, it shows a little bit more."
ESPN's Michael Eaves said team sources are "worried" that Lowry's psyche is "fragile". But Lowry refuted the idea that he's lost his confidence.
"I'm super confident," Lowry said. "I missed countless 3s that I thought were good and that I made last series. That's why I'm not down on myself. I'm not down — I'm really like, we've got a game on Saturday, and I know I'm going to be much more effective on Saturday. Simple as that."
Fans, however, saw something completely different — especially after Tyronn Lue told reporters before the game that Lowry, whom the Cavs coach has mentored, wanted to watch Wednesday's Warriors game with him — and torched him on Twitter.
I'm not sure if I've ever seen a more pathetic thing in sports than Kylie Lowry leaving the game to "clear his head" #Pathetic
— #Runechi (@HashtagRunechi) May 20, 2016
DeRozan lookin at Kyle Lowry like.... You know I'm going to the Lakers right ??? #CavsRaptors #NBAPlayoffs #TORvsCLE pic.twitter.com/CVotUnD9mx
— Kapo Sports (@BigKapo121) May 20, 2016
@Raptors Lowry goes to the locker room mid game to "decompress"? Not what the team needed at that point. Man up!!
— Kevin Sloan (@schloaner) May 20, 2016
I miss the old Lowry
— Daniel Zepeda (@danielzepeda_93) May 20, 2016
Play with consistency Lowry
Never leave the game to go collect his thoughts Lowry#kylelowry #Kanye
Lose Kyle Lowry in customs @Raptors
— SHERM Murdock (@SHERMradio) May 20, 2016
Come on Lowry, keep your head in the game. Stop beating up yourself.… https://t.co/qzFkzgpE1P
— Andy B Bad (@Dabadone_mec) May 20, 2016
Lowry is not mentally prepare for this stage and the Raptors don't match up well at all #sweep
— Jose (@DEHARO92) May 20, 2016
@FearTheSword the real question is how soft is Kyle Lowry??? Biggest game of the year and you need a rest???? #pathetic
— Mr Nice Nice (@CraterRhodes) May 20, 2016
Kyle Lowry: Poster Child of millenials. #decompress
— Stephen Albanese (@StephenAlbanese) May 20, 2016
Lowry setting up movie nights with the opposition's coach??? To review game tape??? Am I hearing this right??? pic.twitter.com/dFkLeVxb69
— Milly T. Ribbs (@j_millerdark) May 20, 2016
@B1ZN1CK @Raptors @Reflog_18 LOL- Bruh, since Lowry quit on his team for a lockeroom tantrum, does he get credit for "participating"?
— JRZ (@ClevelandMade13) May 20, 2016
"This line is too long at Chipotle! I gotta go decompress" Kyle Lowry. #decompress #kylelowry
— Stephen Albanese (@StephenAlbanese) May 20, 2016
Just heard #lowry say he went to the locker room to re group an calm down, in first half ? never heard that. He should stayed #NBAPlayoffs
— Colin Kennedy (@Flucchi22) May 20, 2016
Soooo there wasn't anything wrong with Kyle Lowry??---he just doesn't know how to take an ass whooping?? ??#Frail
— Bing-Ah-Stick-Stick! (@coopandaquarter) May 20, 2016
"Oh I'm Super Confident" - Kyle Lowry pic.twitter.com/WHiPdEoXd6
— J'Rod (@JROD813) May 20, 2016
Soooo Kyle Lowry texted Tyron Lue last night to watch the warriors game pic.twitter.com/UZWzdeM8oR
— DJ Hennessy (@HypebeastRelly) May 20, 2016
