Welcome back to "Pat's Top 25 NBA Players Countdown". The list is starting to make its way to the top, slowly but surely. On Tuesday, July 24th, 2018, I presented you all with the 25th and 24th best players in the NBA. As tough as it was to make those two selections over players who didn't quite make the list, deciding who's the 23rd and 22nd best player was difficult as well. In matter of fact, 23-20 where all interchangeable players to me, so I really wanted to provide an even more in depth analysis on their value . Before I announce those two players, here's a recap of the list so far. 

Players that didn't quite make the cut.

• Nikola Jokic *Denver Nuggets
• Andre Drummond *Detroit Pistons
• Devin Booker *Phoenix Suns
• Kevin Love *Cleveland Cavaliers
• Kemba Walker *Charlotte Hornets
• C.J. McCollum *Portland Trail Blazers
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 Top 25 Players list 25-24

• (25.) SG. Bradley Beal *Washington Wizards.
  

  

(24.) C. Karl-Anthony Towns *Minnesota Timberwolves

Now here's the 23rd and 22nd selection of the list.

(23.) PG. Kyle Lowry *Toronto Raptors

• Kyle Lowry might just be the most unappreciated player in the league. He's one of 12 players appearing on my top 25 list that has made every All-Star game the past four seasons. Kyle Lowry made Third team All-NBA in 2016, had 11.4 win shares in 2016 and for the past four seasons has a cumulative stat line of (19.4 Pts, 5.0 Rebs, 6.8 Ast, 1.6 Stls, 43 Fg%, 38 3pt% and 82 Ft%). Lowry's most efficient season  came in 2016-2017 he shot a career best from  the field and three point line, 46 Fg% & 41 3pt% ,while averaging a career high in points (22.4). Lowry numbers are similar to guards such as Kemba Walker and Isaiah Thomas over that span, but he gets the nod over both of them ,because he's a much better defender and a leader. His leadership alongside former teammate Demar Derozan propelled the Toronto Raptors to finish at least  top four in the East the last four seasons , making their deepest run in 2016 where they lost 4-2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. One Knock against Lowry is his perceived "SUBPAR" performances in the playoffs. Let's look at them,  in 2015 against the Wizards in the first round he shot 32% for the entire series and got embarrassed by John Wall. In 2016  Lowry had an overall inconsistent playoff run as well. In three game 1's he played in during the 2016 Postseason  his team lost all three and his stat line was horrible particularly his scoring an Fg%, he averaged (8.7 Pts, 25 Fg% 3.3 To's ). Lowry did have some good games. In the first round against the Pacers in game 3 he put up 21 points  and 8 assist and the Raptors were able to steal back the home court advantage and ultimately the series. In game 3 against the Miami Heat he scored 33 Pts , shooting 58% from the field which shifted the home court in their favor and they ultimately won the series. In games 3&4 of the ECF against the Cavaliers he averaged 27.5 points, 4 assist and shot 62% from the field, Raptors won both games and evened the series. Even in game 6 he scored 35 points in a loss. Lowry playoffs average in 2016 came out to  (19 Pts, 6 Ast,5 Rebs ,40 Fg% , 30% 3pt% & 75 Ft% , in 20 games).  Lowry numbers in 2017 saw his 3pt% decrease by nine points , his points decrease by six points, but everything else was consistent. (  15.8 Pts, 5.9 Ast, 2.8 Rebs, 1.5 Stls,  46 Fg%, 32 3pt%and 81 Ft% in eight games.) , In 2018 Lowry scoring increased ,Fg% increased by eight points and his 3pt% increased by four points with Playoff totals of  (17.4 Pts, 8.5 Ast, 4.3 Rebs, 1.5 Stl, 51 Fg%, 44 3pt% & 81 Ft% in 10 games). By the numbers Kyle Lowry played horrible in the 2015 postseason , played so-so in 2016, played alright in 2017 and played good in 2018 ,this notion that he's a horrible playoff performer is somewhat debunked. Although,  I can't  rank him much higher than this, he definitely is a top 25 player in the NBA. Also, he has Kawhi Leonard as the lead dog on the Raptors instead of Demar Derozan which is an upgrade to a team that just won 59 games in a now "LeBron less" Eastern Conference.  I expect the Raptors to be a legit contender and for Lowry to continue his consistently good play.
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• (22.) SG. Victor Oladipo *Indiana Pacers
  

  
• Victor Oladipo was the number two overall pick in the 2013 draft. Before last season I was starting to question that, especially after his subpar one year stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder. With OKC he was supposed to be Russell Westbrook's "Robin", but the best thing that ever happened to him was getting traded to Indiana along with Domantas Sabonis  for fellow star player Paul George. Victor Oladipo had a breakout year in 2017-2018. He made his first All-Star appearance, Steals Champion , All-NBA Defensive first team, All-NBA third team, Most Improved Player and finished eight in Defensive win shares with 4.0. Also, Oladipo averaged a career highs in points, (23.1), assist (4.3), rebounds (5.2), steals (2.4) Fg% (48%), and 3pt% (37%). From my knowledge Victor Oladipo had a familiar glow up to Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady's 2000-2001 season .In fact T-Mac 2000-2001 season is nearly identical as Oladipo. He switched teams and posted career highs in points  (26.4) , assist (5.3), Rebs (7.5), Stls (1.5) , Fg% (46%) and 3pt% (36%). made 2nd team All-NBA, finished sixth in MVP voting and won Most improved player as well, all while leaving a superstar in Vince Carter and becoming a lead dog for the Orlando Magic. Also, Oladipo saw his numbers and overall efficiency increase in this past season playoff run compared to his 2017 Postseason with the Thunder. Oladipo playoff stats with the Thunder ,( 10.7 Pts, 5.6 Rebs, 2.0 Ast, 1.4 Stls, 34 Fg%, 24 3pt%, 1.2 Fta per game in a 5 game series.) Oladipo stats with the Pacers (21.9 Pts, 8.0 Rebs, 5.8 Ast, 2.3 Stls, 42 Fg%, 41 3pt%, 73 Ft% in 7 games). As you can see , he clearly played better last year and would have beaten the Cavaliers if it wasn't for the Pacers faltering late in Game 4 and LeBron's game winner in Game 5 . Even though Oladipo wasn't an All- Star before this past season, he still was a solid two-way player. The past four seasons he accumulated a stat line of (18.2 Pts, 4.6 Rebs, 3.7 Ast, 1.7 Stls, 45 Fg%, 36 3pt% and 80 Ft%).  Furthermore, it's good to see Oladipo finally coming into his own, I remember watching how explosive he was in college and how  he was heralded as the next Dwyane Wade. Dwyane Wade and Oladipo do have very similar playing styles and defensive acumen. Although I feel Wade was more explosive offensively, I do feel that Oladipo shoots from range at a much higher clip. wade was already a champion and a Finals MVP by his third season, so Oladipo has waysss to go ,but his potential is limitless.  I really wanted to put Oladipo higher, but there are other Shooting guards and Point guards that have proven more in this four year stretch and are simply still better than him, at least at this moment.Oladipo does have a much higher upside than almost any other guard let alone player in the league ,I can definitely see him becoming a top 10 player in the league one day. I'm excited to see can he get even better this upcoming season!

There you have it, so far you'll have seen players 25-22 . Be ready to check out the 21st and 20th player on Sunday, July 29th, 2018!