"I think the defence has gotten better instantly," Lowry said. "We've got a big fella (rookie centre

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Toronto Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo (centre) introduces new players Landry Fields (left), and Kyle Lowry at a news conference in Toronto, Tuesday, July 17, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Willms
Lowry was introduced along with another new acquisition, new england bed and breakfast inns swingman Landry new england bed and breakfast inns Fields, at Air Canada Centre on Tuesday. Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo said they are "giving the keys" to Lowry with hopes that he can become the cornerstone of a young, emerging team.
"When I found out about the trade I actually went online and looked at the roster, looked at the YouTube new england bed and breakfast inns clips of guys and I even got more excited seeing the opportunity and the talent that's on this team," Lowry said.
The Raptors haven't been to the playoffs since the 2007-08 season, and haven't progressed past the first round since that 2001 East semifinal against Philadelphia that Lowry called new england bed and breakfast inns "one of the best series I've ever witnessed on TV, period."
The six-year veteran may get them back there if he continues to improve. Lowry averaged a career-best 14.3 points to go along with 6.6 assists over 47 games with the Rockets last season. He also showed toughness on defence and averaged 4.5 rebounds new england bed and breakfast inns a game, putting him in the top 10 at his position.
"We've got a young, talented guard that is just coming into his prime," Colangelo said. "He's performed at a top-10 level in the point-guard category the last couple of years, and I feel that given the opportunity to take over a team ... and he has a chance to continue to grow in that position and continue to develop into an elite point guard."
"I think the defence has gotten better instantly," Lowry said. "We've got a big fella (rookie centre Jonas Valanciunas) coming over I think that helps, but ... I really can't wait to step on the floor with this team and see what T-dot's all about."
Fields saw his numbers decline in New York last season after a promising rookie campaign. Still, he averaged 4.5 rebounds a game and Colangelo believes he will flourish in a system that stresses ball distribution, rather than in New York where superstar Carmelo Anthony needs a lot of touches.
"His on-court production, what I'll call pre-Carmelo Anthony was a lot better than post-Carmelo Anthony," Colangelo new england bed and breakfast inns said. "And that's not a shot at Carmelo by any means it's just the roster composition was different, the flow of the offence was different and the outlook, including a coaching change, was different."
Fields could play primarily at small forward, with James Johnson leaving new england bed and breakfast inns via trade and with the Raptors already set at shooting guard with DeMar DeRozan. Wherever he plays, he will be counted on to provide offence and take some of the heat off DeRozan and high-scoring forward Andrea Bargnani.
With the team rebuilding around Lowry, the future for point guard Jose Calderon is uncertain. Calderon is an excellent passer and makes few mistakes when he has the ball, but Lowry is a clear upgrade defensively at the position.
"We've got two starting-calibre point guards, and that's not easy to find that kind of a combination," Colangelo said. "Finding the chemistry around that is obviously something that takes some management.
"I know that Jose's a professional. Having said that he's not entirely thrilled with the situation but at the same time he's a pro and I think he'll show up and play." © Copyright (c)       E-mail this Article Print this Article Share this Article
Toronto Raptors president new england bed and breakfast inns and general manager new england bed and breakfast inns Bryan Colangelo (centre) introduces new players Landry Fields (left), and Kyle Lowry at a news conference in Toronto, Tuesday, July 17, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Willms       E-mail this Gallery Print this Gallery Share this Gallery