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Raptors 905 D-League team has big game tonight also

By Brian Boake

Jan 31, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) rebounds the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors won 108-106 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) rebounds the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors won 108-106 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Raptors may have a short bench tonight against the Bucks, but there’s a good reason for that.

The Toronto Raptors affiliate team in the Development League, the 905, can win the championship tonight. They are tied with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers at one game apiece in their best-of-three (this ain’t the big leagues, folks) final.

RGVV is the affiliate of the Houston Rockets. I don’t know what the co-relation is between success at both the big-team level and minor-league level in pro hoops. I know it’s tight in baseball, and I’ll go so far as to suggest it’s not a coincidence that both Houston and Toronto are still very much alive in the NBA playoffs, as are their JV teams. [20-second timeout: No, JV isn’t short for Jonas Valanciunas in this context. It means “Junior Varsity”, a term with little resonance in Canada.]

Mar 13, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) dribbles the ball up court against Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) in the second half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) dribbles the ball up court against Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) in the second half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Well done, Stack

Jerry Stackhouse was named D-League Coach of the Year as a rookie, and would surely like to end the season hoisting whatever passes for the championship trophy. He got help for Game 2 from the major-league squad, who dropped Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and Bruno Caboclo onto his roster.

The fly-in players made major contributions to the 95-85 win. Siakam had 32 points and 10 boards, thus removing any lingering doubt concerning his readiness for the NBA.

While I’m unable to determine with certainty if these 3 will be in Mississauga or Milwaukee tonight, I suspect the former. There’s little purpose in having Siakam and Caboclo in street clothes, while Fred dresses but doesn’t play. Better for them to play, compete and win, then close the door on their minor league days.

What just happened?

The rules for the D-League are most confusing. The two players promoted from the 905 to the NBA didn’t play for Toronto. Edy Tavares, the D-League Defensive Player of the Year, was picked up by the Chicago Bulls. Axel Toupane, who had a cup of coffee with the Denver Nuggets last season before returning to Mississauga, is on the New Orleans Pelicans roster.

I suppose I should be happy for the players who get promoted. Unlike minor leaguers in other sports, they are not stuck waiting for their NBA team to call them up. If someone else likes them, off they go. However, I’m a Toronto Raptors guy, and I don’t see the value to our organization in having someone(s) who has been with the minor-league squad having the right to be wafted off somewhere else.

OK, I’m done kvetching. Let’s hope we have double wins to celebrate tonight.

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