01-21-2020, 03:27 AM
SALT LAKE CITY - Just four days after becoming one of the most disputed all-star omissions, Kyle Lowry received his consolation prize from the NBA. The Raptors point guard has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 27, through Sunday, Feb. 2, the league announced ahead of Torontos meeting with the Jazz on Monday. Lowry led off the week topping 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career - including a season-high 33 points in Wednesdays win over the Magic - carrying his team to a pair of victories without injured leading scorer DeMar DeRozan. Overall, the eighth-year guard averaged 25.0 points and 8.0 assists as Toronto finished the week with a 3-1 record. For Lowry, the recognition is long overdue. "He is one of the best point guards in the league right now," Dwane Casey said in Denver Thursday evening, hours after the all-star reserves were announced and Lowry, despite his body of work this season, was left off the list. DeRozan, a first-time all-star, was voted in by the coaches and will deservedly represent the Raptors in New Orleans later this month but Lowrys case should have been just as, if not more, compelling. Since the early-December trade of Rudy Gay, Lowry has come out of his shell, emerging as the teams leader. Hes been the Raptors most reliable contributor and a big part of the post-trade resurgence. Toronto has won 19 of 29 games since moving Gay, recording 20 or more assists in 23 of those contests. "Me personally, I thought he should have made [the All-Star team]," DeRozan said Thursday. "Especially [with] what he means to this team. There are not too many players that are doing the things he is doing." Lowry, sincerely happy for his teammate, shrugged off the coaches oversight, concerning himself with team success over individual accolades. Similarly, he downplayed a couple nominations for earlier Player of the Week awards and will likely do the same after winning one, but after putting the team on his shoulders this past week, the honour comes well deserved. With DeRozan sidelined for the first time this season, nursing an ankle injury, Lowry engineered a thrilling victory over the surging Nets in Brooklyn to begin the week. In that game, Lowry become the first player this season to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals, something only LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant accomplished last year. The 27-year-old is also having a career year from beyond the arch, connecting on 16 of his 36 attempts from three-point range last week. Lowry goes into Mondays game in Utah needing nine more threes to match his career-high for treys in a season (129). Hell also chase down Morris Petersons franchise record for most three-pointers made in a single campaign (177). Lowry became the fifth Raptor to win Player of the Week, joining Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Mike James and Jalen Rose. Also left off the All-Star squad, Suns guard Goran Dragic - Lowrys former teammate in Houston - captured the award in the West. Custom Colorado Avalanche Jerseys . As they are wont to do, the Spurs made things real easy. The Spurs signed Parker to a multi-year contract extension on Friday, ensuring that the six-time All-Star point guard will be in the fold whether Duncan and Ginobili are able to continue their careers or not. Avalanche Jerseys 2020 . 1-9 on TSN. With more than 65 hours of exclusive live coverage, TSN delivers all the action beginning with Draw 1 on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . Western and the second-ranked Laval Rouge et Or (7-0) once again received 20 and 10 first-place votes from the Football Reporters of Canada panel, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 are the Calgary Dinos (7-0), Queens Gaels (7-1), Guelph Gryphons (7-1), Montreal Carabins (5-2), Bishops Gaiters (5-2), McMaster Marauders (5-3), Manitoba Bisons (4-3) and the Saskatchewan Huskies (4-3) Western crushed York 50-10 last Saturday in its league finale to secure first place in the OUA standings and a bye in the first round of the conference playoffs. Colorado Avalanche Gear . The Jets have now won three straight at home and four of the last five at the MTS Centre. After a scoreless first period, Brad Marchand scored his first goal in eight games eight seconds into the second. Avalanche Jerseys China . The third-seeded Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., was coming off a semifinal appearance at the French Open. She took the opening set before the unseeded American came back for the 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory.Speaking of your dad, hes of Macedonian decent, can you name any other Macedonian NHL players?Yes I can. Ed Jovanovski, Jose Theodore, Steve Staios, Mike Zigomanis...Those are the only ones I remember, to be honest.See I could name more than you knew (laughs).Apparently, you were a pretty good student in school?I was decent.If you were to go to university/college, what would your major be?Ohh my major. Thats a tough one, it would have to be something with sports, like sports marketing or sports management or something like that.BarDowns team Toronto; Tavares, Stamkos, Perry, Doughty, Subban.Thats a pretty good team.I know you cant say youd come to Toronto, but would you consider being the Dwayne Wade of the NHL and getting a couple of those superstars to join you in Florida and form a super team?Absolutely, If I could win 2 Stanley Cups as a result of that I would do it in a heartbeat. I think a lot of people gave those guys grief for doing that, but they got two championships, so cant complain about that.(Photo via petitpetitgamon.com)Steve Yzerman isnt an ordinary GM, hes a hall of famer, whats the best piece of advice hes ever given you?To be honest, for the most part he tries to stay away from the players and let the coaches do the job and stuff. But when hes around, hell grab guys. For me, it was just kind of what it takes to win it at this level. He was an unbelievable offensive player in the first part of his career too, obviously they had a great team in Detroit, but he realized what it took to win and had to change his game and his style a little bit. Ive been fortunate enough to have 50 and 60 goal season, but I havent been lucky enough to win a stanley cup yet, so you do have to make some sacrifices and being the captain now, you obviously want to lead by example, so looking forward to the challenge.Gary Roberts, Genius or maniac?Both. The maniac genius. That guys still in unbelievaable shape.ddddddddddddI was fortunate to play with him in my rookie season in Tampa and started working out with him the summer after. Its just a lifestyle change, its something I never even thought about before I met Gary, was all the stuff away from the gym that you need to do in order to stay successful and keep your body, which is ultimately your temple, in top form. If your body is still intact youll still be able to play, so hes taught me a lot about that.Favourite Tampa Bay Lightning jersey?Oh, I like the vintage. I used to play EASports NHL games a lot and loved the one with the flames on the sleeves... Ya, we should bring those back. Just for one game.(photo via gamewornauctions.net)That should be one of your duties as captain, to bring those jerseys back.(Laughs) Ya, Ill put in a good word.Youre a big PGA fan, whats your dream foursome, alive or dead?That ones pretty easy. I think you have to go with the big boys, Arnie, you have to go with Jack. And Id like to play with Tiger, I know, a lot has gone on in Tigers life, but Tiger in his prime was probably the best golfer of all time.Top played song on your iPod?Probably, um, definitely a JayZ song. Theres so many good ones. I hardly ever listen to music though, thats the thing. Favourite teammate of all time to be on the road with?Ou, theres a couple. Theres life of the party kind of guy, Ryan Malone, great teammate. And Teddy Purcell, hes a good guy.Go to pickup line?(laughs) Ummm.Have you heard of heygirlimstevenstamkos.com?No, but I like that one. Hey girls, Im Steven Stamkos, wanna party? I think I make a better wingman.Take a look at some of these.(scrolling and laughing) who does this? This is a legit website? Ohhh man. Ive got an iron... (laughs). I may have to jot some of those down.(Photos courtesy heygirlimstevenstamkos.tumblr.com)And for our final question, can you go BarDown?I think Ive proved that I can. ' ' '