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TSN basketball analyst Jack Armstrong checks in with his thoughts on a rough stretch for Toronto’s star point guard and the need for the NBA to return to Seattle

1. KYLE LOWRY (Raptors): I think back to my career as a coach and dealing with players who sometimes would look for reasons or excuses for why they were failing instead of just looking in the mirror and saying, “It's on me. I own it and I've got to fix it.” Lowry is struggling big time and I can see by his body language that he's really fighting himself and searching. I admire and respect his approach. He’s not making any excuses. Lowry is going to put in the work and try to fix it. Obviously, he needs to play a lot better for the Raptors to have a legitimate chance to beat a very talented Miami Heat team. That being said, his struggles are a reminder that as great as these NBA players are, they’re also human and have to learn to deal with failure like the rest of us mere mortals. I totally get that it's only a game, but you have to remember that this is Lowry’s profession and his livelihood. It’s a big part of his persona, so not playing well has to be killing him. The bottom line is he cares very deeply and he's trying. He can't let his shooting woes affect his overall game because he still impacts his team positively in so many other ways. I saw a little bit of doubt creeping into his overall game for the first time on Tuesday night. That can't happen. Lowry is too good a player to get that far down on himself. This isn't an incurable disease we're dealing with here — it can and will be fixed. I believe he will do everything in his power to try and get back on track. He paid the price this past off-season, getting himself into excellent shape. The success he had in the regular season was both earned and deserved. Lowry has to continue to pay that price and believe. It’s time to play like the 'Bulldog of Bay Street' again. Let it all hang out. Lowry is too good and has come too far. Now is no time to surrender.

2. PAT RILEY (Heat): Give the man credit. Two Februarys in a row he's come up with gems that have solidified his organization in the absence of LeBron James. Adding point guard Goran Dragic via trade and swingman Joe Johnson through free-agent signing has kept this franchise competitive. Imagine if the Heat had a healthy Chris Bosh in the lineup right now? Even without him they’re playing very well as a team. Dragic is an improving player who has a nice feel for running his team and is fearless. Johnson might not be as explosive as he once was, but he's still a beast physically. He can be extremely effective on a team with talented, intelligent guys like Dragic, Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng feeding him high-percentage shots. Miami was a great landing spot for Johnson.

3. CAVS DEFENCE: I was so impressed with the job that J.R. Smith and LeBron James did guarding Kyle Korver in Game 1 versus the Atlanta Hawks. Everywhere Korver went, Smith or LeBron were right with him. We all know Korver is a wonderful shooter, but he's also got a knack for helping his team excel at a higher level with his fabulous passing. The Hawks play with so much more flow and pace when Korver is touching the ball. Give the Cavs credit. They know that if they can keep the ball out of Korver’s hands the Hawks don't function like the same unit.

4. DRAYMOND GREEN (Warriors): I had the pleasure of talking basketball with a few fans before the Raptors game Tuesday night and the topic of Green and his unique game came up. It was refreshing to hear folks say the same things I see in him. Who wouldn't want this guy on their team? I love the guy. He’s a super competitor, a wonderful passer, can rebound, has crafty old-man moves and brings big-time passion. The Warriors will need Steph Curry to win the whole thing again, but I marvel when I watch the undersized Green play. He'd be outstanding in any era. There are times he gets overshadowed in Golden State, but he's legit. What a player.

5. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS: I'm not a Seattle Seahawks fan, but I'm a bigger Russell Wilson fan now that the quarterback blasted the Seattle City Council for once again blocking the construction of a new downtown arena to help lure the NBA back to the city. This is ridiculous. I've said it so many times: How can an awesome city and fantastic basketball town like Seattle not have an NBA team? What a shame. Hopefully, at some point saner heads prevail and we’ll see the NBA back in one of my favourite cities. Seattle also happened to be one of the NBA's best cities for years. While we're at it, let’s get a team back in Vancouver as well. I have no doubt it can and would succeed there this time around