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PHOENIX -- Of course, the NBAs most improved team would have its most improved player. Goran Dragic, whose breakout season helped the Phoenix Suns make a remarkable transformation, was presented the most improved award at a ceremony Wednesday at US Airways Center. The 6-foot-3 Slovenian, who turns 28 in two weeks, flourished under first-year coach Jeff Hornaceks double-point guard system, teaming with Eric Bledsoe to form a dynamic backcourt. "Were looking for players who can go out there every night and lay it all out there," Hornacek said, "play through injuries, do everything the coaches ask, play with confidence. Thats what Goran did." Dragic averaged 20.5 points and 5.9 assists per game, shooting 50.5 per cent from the field, 40.8 per cent on 3-pointers. He was the only player in the NBA to shoot better than 50 per cent from the field and 40 per cent from 3-point range. "The main thing was my confidence this year," he said. "I feel that my teammates, they trust me. The coaches trust me. I can play my game, be confident, be tough and then shoot the ball better." Dragic recalled the doubters when he came into the league. "I can remember one quote from a newspaper, somebody said that Im the worst player in the NBA and my last name should not be Dragic but tragic," he said. "That sticks in your head. It sticks in my head. On the practice court, I always have this in my mind." Dragic received 408 of a possible 1,134 points, including 65 first-place votes, from a panel of 126 sports writers and broadcasters in the United States and Canada. Indianas Lance Stephenson was second with 158 points and 13 first-place votes, and New Orleans Anthony Davis third with 155 points and 16 first-place votes. Two other Suns were among the top 10 -- Gerald Green fourth and Markieff Morris 10th. Under Hornacek, who finished second to San Antonios Gregg Popovich for NBA coach of the year, the Suns went from 25-57 in 2012-13 to 48-37 last season, a 23-win improvement, and they barely missed making the playoffs in the tough Western Conference. While the Suns were at their best when Dragic and Bledsoe both played, Dragic had to carry the brunt of the scoring and playmaking load when Bledsoe was out for two months following knee surgery. The left-handed Dragic is in his second stint with Phoenix. He was drafted in 2008 by San Antonio in the second round, the 45th pick overall, then was traded to the Suns for Malik Hairston, the 48th pick. Dragic was groomed to be Steve Nashs successor but just before the trade deadline in February 2011, the Suns sent him to Houston for Aaron Brooks. Brooks languished in Phoenix, and after Nash was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers following the 2011-12 season, the Suns brought Dragic back, signing the free agent to a four-year, $30 million contract. He can opt out of the deal after next season. Dragic and the rest of the Suns struggled through a miserable 2012-13 season, but with the hiring of Hornacek and new general manager Ryan McDonough, everything changed. Hornacek said he could see Dragics emerging leadership when he watched the guard play for the Slovenian national team last summer. "We could tell from watching him that he was in charge of that team and that he has taken that next step," Hornacek said. "Thats the sign of a great player, when he can take his game to another level." Dragic credited the freedom and confidence that Hornacek and his staff gave him and the rest of the team. Now he and the Suns wont be a surprise but will be expected to win. "Next year, of course, theres going to be pressure," Dragic said. "Im not scared of pressure. I always like to take any challenges that you guys (reporters) or guys on opposing teams give me." Dragic was married last off-season and has a new son, Mateo. His wife and son were in the crowd when he was presented the trophy. Asked how he could be so low-key and at ease off the court and such a dynamo on it, he said it was basically a split personality. "Off the court, Im always shy, dont talk much. Im kind of calm," he said. "But on the floor, Im a different guy. I can express my will on the court. Im kind of cocky." He is the third Suns player to win the award, following Kevin Johnson in 1988-89 and Boris Diaw in 2005-06. Bill Mazeroski Jersey . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys .ca. Hi Kerry, Thursday nights Bruins-Blackhawks game had a goal by Patrice Bergeron initially waved off by the referee, but video review clarified it was a good goal. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/. 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DETROIT LIONS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 9:30 AM (ET) Detroit - RB Reggie Bush, TE Eric Ebron, TE Joseph Fauria, WR Calvin Johnson, QB Kellen Moore, TE Brandon Pettigrew, OT LaAdrian Waddle Atlanta - CB Javier Arenas, DT Jonathan Babineaux, OT Cameron Bradfield, WR Freddie Martino, QB Sean Renfree, OT Jonathan Scott, LB Tyler Starr SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Seattle - DT Jordan Hill, CB Byron Maxwell, OT Andrew McDonald, TE Zach Miller, C Max Unger, LB Bobby Wagner, WR Bryan Walters Carolina - CB Bene Benwikere, LB Chase Blackburn, WR Philly Brown, G Amini Silatolu, G Trai Turner, RB Fozzy Whittaker, RB DeAngelo Williams HOUSTON TEXANS AT TENNESSEE TITANS, 1:00 PM (ET) Houston - OT Jeff Adams, DB Josh Aubrey, LB Brian Cushing, DB Darryl Morris, WR DeVier Posey, QB Tom Savage, LB Jeff Tarpinian Tennessee - RB Antonio Andrews, WR Kris Durham, TE Richard Gordon, DL DaQuan Jones, CB Coty Sensabaugh, OT Will Svitek, TE Taylor Thompson BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1:00 PM (ET) Baltimore - CB Chykie Brown, LB Arthur Brown, DL Chris Canty, TE Owen Daniels, G/C Gino Gradkowski, RB Bernard Pierce, OT Jah Reid Cincinnati - RB Rex Burkhead, DE Will Clarke, WR A.VAL-DOR, Que. -- Sebastien Auger stopped 53 shots for his second shutout of the season as the Saint John Sea Dogs blanked the host Val-dOr Foreurs 2-0 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Auger made 29 saves through 40 minutes of action, but was at his best in the third period as his club was outshot 24-1. Mathieu Joseph opened the scoring for the Sea Dogs (16-30-4) with a power-play goal at 10:22 of the second period while Oliver Coopers insurance goal was into an empty net at 19:39 of the third. Guillaume Gelinas and Nicolas Aube-Kubel led the Foreurs (31-18-2) with seven shots apiece on Auger. Val-dOrs Antoine Bibeau kicked out 19-of-20 shots in a losing cause. --- TIGRES 6 ISLANDERS 2 CHARLOTTETOWN -- Jean-Francois Plante scored twice and set up one more and Francois Tremblay made 30 saves as Victoriaville downed the Islanders for its eighth win in a row. Angelo Miceli, Mark Tremaine, Philippe Hudon and Jan Mandat also scored for the Tigres (25-19-6) while Carl Marois and Cameron Yarwood each had two assists. Troy Vance and Spenser Cobbold scored for Charlottetown (17-30-5), which is on an eight-game skid. Eric Brassard turned away 46-of-52 shots in a losing cause for the Islanders. --- SAGUENEENS 4 PHOENIX 3 (OT) CHICOUTIMI, Que. -- Simon Tremblay scored twice, including the winner 3:30 into overtime, as the Sagueneens edged Sherbrooke to snap a three-game slide. Dominic Beauchemenin had two goals and an assist for Chicoutimi (25-25-1) while Laurent Dauphin added three assists. The Phoenix (15-29-7) got goals from Julien Bahl, Matej Beran and Kevin Domingue. Domeninc Graham made 23 saves for the Sagueneens as Sherbrookes Gabriel Parent stopped 34-of-38 shots in defeat. --- ARMADA 6 REMPARTS 4 QUEBEC CITY -- Ryan Tesink scored twice and Philippe Sanchee tacked on three assists as Blainville-Boisbriand halted Quebecs seven-game win streak.dddddddddddd Emil Aronsson, Marc-Olivier Roy, Danick Martel and Marcus Hinds also scored for the Armada (31-10-9), who went 3 for 4 on the power play. Anthony Duclair had a goal and two assists for the Remparts (30-13-8), who went 2 for 5 with the man advantage, while Tyler Brown, Adam Chapman and Nick Sorensen each scored once. Blainville-Boisbrainds Samuel Montembeault made 29 saves for the win. Francois Brassard started in net for Quebec and allowed five goals on 22 shots through 40 minutes of action. Callum Booth started the third period for the Remparts and stopped 4-of-5 shots in relief. --- VOLTIGEURS 6 OLYMPIQUES 5 (SO) DRUMMONDVILLE, Que.-- Frederick Gaudreau scored the winner in the seventh round of the shootout as the Voltigeurs toppled Gatineau. Ryan Culkin scored once and set up two more for Drummondville (32-16-3) and Nikolas Brouillard, Olivier Caouette, Matthew Boudens and Alexandre-Grande-Maison had the others. Alexandre Chenier-Allard had a pair of goals for the Olympiques (30-17-4) while Taylor Burke, Jake Coughler and Simon Tardif-Richard each scored once. Louis-Philip Guindon made 16 saves for the Voltigeurs as Gatineaus Robert Steeves stopped 23 shots in defeat. --- MOOSEHEADS 4 CATARACTES 3 SHAWINIGAN, Que. -- Jonathan Drouin had two goals and an assist as Halifax slipped past the Cataractes. Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist for the Mooseheads (34-17-1) and Brent Andrews scored what turned into the game winner. Alex Filatrault, Alexis DAoust and Nicholas Welsh scored for Shawinigan (13-31-7) and Brandon Gignac helped out with two assists. Halifaxs Kevin Darveau made 23 saves for the win as Marvin Cupper stopped 31-of-34 shots for the Cataractes. Wholesale USA Soccer Jerseys discount uswnt jersey Wholesale AC Milan Jerseys Wholesale Arsenal Jerseys Wholesale A.S. 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