Only Three games left for the 905, and they all matter!
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — There are three games left in the regular season for Raptors 905, and every one of them matters.
The G League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors, the 905 have to beat the College Park Skyhawks at Paramount Find Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ont., and then close the season out with two road wins against the Greensboro Swarm.
Raptors 905 will also need several of their conference rivals to drop at least two of their final three games of the season to get into the sixth and final Eastern playoff berth.
"Oh, we've got to be hungry, to refocus," said 905 guard/forward Sterling Brown after a critical loss to the fifth-place Lakeland Magic on Saturday. "We've got another game in a couple days and we've got a bigger goal.
"We've go to put this game behind us and then on to the next."
Brown had a career-high 27 points, along with four rebounds, six assists, and a career-high five steals in Saturday's game against Lakeland, the minor-league affiliate of the Orlando Magic. The 905 led by two points with time winding down, but Lakeland point guard Zavier Simpson drained a three-pointer with one second left on the clock.
After a Raptors 905 timeout, forward Kylor Kelley reached up for an alley-oop dunk, the game-winning points in his hands, but the ball hit the rim and bounced away.
That dropped the 905 to 14-15 on the season, 11th in the East. Lakeland sits fifth at 16-13, with the Capital City Go-Go holding an identical record at sixth.
The top six teams advance to the post-season with the Motor City Cruise, Cleveland Charge, and Fort Wayne Mad Ants sitting seventh through eighth with 16-14 records. College Park is 10th with a 15-14 record and Raptors 905 are 11th, the lowest team not mathematically eliminated from contention.
"I'm a competitor and I want to win, you know? I hate to lose," said Brown. "But you've got to fill your cup back up and get ready for the next game.
"That's the good thing about this league and the NBA. You've got many games back to back, you can't sulk on one loss for too long. We've got three games left to get position in the playoffs."
Raptors 905 head coach Eric Khoury said that the next three games will be all about execution by his players and staff. He added the G League is as much about developing talent and helping players get to the NBA as winning.
"If we win all three then we can hope the right teams lose and we have a chance but if not, then if not," said Khoury. "In this league winning is super important, but it's all about exposure and developing winning habits and playing the right way so you want guys to be putting their best foot forward."
The Raptors 905 roster includes several prospects who have spent time with the major-league team this season, including guard Jeff Dowtin and forwards Ron Harper Jr. and Joe Wieskamp.
Khoury said having a winning culture on the 905 is integral to those players' development.
"At the end of the day, you're trying to develop players into winning basketball players, so if they develop skills that don't affect winning it's not very productive," said Khoury. "The best way to develop winning habits is if everybody's doing it.
"If everybody's developing into winning basketball players, you're going to have a winning product, so they do go hand in hand."
References:
By: unknown
Title: Raptors 905 have to win final three games of G League season to make playoffs
Sourced From: www.vancouverisawesome.com/national-sports/raptors-905-have-to-win-final-three-games-of-g-league-season-to-make-playoffs-6730188
Published Date: 03-21-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you name the number of NBA teams in Canada?
As of 2001, the Toronto Raptors are the only Canadian NBA team. From 1995 to 2001 the Vancouver Grizzlies had been a NBA team. However, they moved to Memphis to become the Memphis Grizzlies. Canada did have the Vancouver Grizzlies (and the Toronto Raptors) for a time, but there are no NBA teams in Canada. Canadian basketball fans are still passionate, even though Canada does not have an NBA team. Many Canadians travel to the United States to see games. The Toronto Raptors are a renowned team that has attracted large crowds to Scotiabank Arena since 1995. Hundreds of Canadians also travel annually to attend the NBA All-Star Weekend in the United States. With a population of over 38 million, Canada can have more than one NBA team. Many North American basketball fans debate the possibility of having a second NBA team. The Toronto Raptors continue to be the only Canadian representation within the NBA.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is a professional basketball league based in Canada. The league includes six teams representing Canadian towns and cities: the Fraser Valley Bandits, Abbotsford (BC), Edmonton Stingers(Edmonton (Alberton), Guelph Nighthawks) Guelph Nighthawks [Guelph], Ontario], Hamilton Honey Badgers (“Hamilton”), Saskatchewan Rattlers (“Saskatoon”), and the Niagara River Lions (“St. Catharines”) The CEBL currently operates Canada's sole professional basketball league.
The National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC), a professional men's basketball team, was in existence from 2011 through 2020. It featured eight teams from Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Cape Breton, Summerside, London, Windsor and Kitchener. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the NBLC ceased operation.
Canada also has junior hockey leagues, like the Canadian National Basketball League. This semi-professional men's league is located in Vancouver BC. CNB is home to teams from British Columbia. Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Manitoba. Canadian Elite Development League, (CEDL), is another Canadian junior basketball league that focuses primarily on the Greater Toronto Area. AC) and the Canadian Youth Basketball League. These leagues allow young basketball players to grow their skills while playing in a competitive environment.
What is the name and origin of the Toronto Raptors' Mascot?
The Toronto Raptors are a NBA franchise which was established in 1995. They play their games at Scotiabank Arena.
The Raptors' mascot is Raptor, a giant red dinosaur. Raptor was introduced in 1995 and appears at home games, entertaining fans with his acrobatics and slam dunks. Raptor also appears at community events and charity events throughout Toronto. He was awarded the NBA Mascot of the year award in 2019 for his many years of dedication to the Raptors. Raptor is a beloved figure in Toronto and around the NBA, making him one of the most recognizable mascots in professional sports. He has also been a national symbol for Canada's basketball fans.
Many in the country and throughout the city share Raptor’s enthusiasm for his team as well as its fans. Raptor was the Raptors' most prominent leader and they won their first NBA championship in 2019. This was a landmark moment for basketball fans in Canada and Toronto. Raptor remains a major source for pride for those who are Raptors fans. There will be plenty of Raptors pride as long as he's around. The Raptor will live on! Go, Toronto Raptors!
What year did the Raptors beat Chicago Bulls?
On March 24, 1996, the Raptors beat the Chicago Bulls, who would win the NBA Championship that year. The final score was 109-108. Michael Jordan tried a last-second shot for the Bulls to win the game, but it didn't count as it occurred after the buzzer had sounded.
How many Toronto Raptors all-stars did they have?
Eight All-Stars from the Raptors include Vince Carter, Antonio Davis, Chris Bosh, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. These players, with the exception of VanVleet and Davis, have all been part of an impressive All-Star team.
Why are Toronto Raptors called Raptors
The NBA's expansion to Canada saw the creation of the Toronto Raptors in 1995. The name and logo of the team were inspired by Jurassic Park's film. The team colors are bright red, silver, purple, black and silver.
The Raptors finished their first season with a 21-61 record. This was due to the team's inability to find their feet in the league. However, the team improved each year, and by 1999, they had made their first playoff appearance.
The Raptors' most memorable moment occurred in 2019, when they won their inaugural NBA championship title. Toronto won its first championship under the leadership of Kawhi Leonard (backcourt) and Kyle Lowry (courtside).
Since then, Canada's most loved sports team, the Raptors, have been an institution. Toronto continues bringing excitement to basketball fans across the world with its international superstars as well as local talent.
Canada's basketball heritage is proudly represented by the Toronto Raptors. Young athletes are inspired by their success on the court. The Raptors are a beloved team in Canada thanks to their passion, unmatched style of play and dedication to excellence.
Statistics
- Thomas named Raptors' GM NBA superstar to have 10% stake in the new franchise". (en.wikipedia.org)
- After Thomas attempted to execute a letter of intent with Slaight to purchase the team failed, he resigned from his position in November and sold his 9 percent stake in the team to Slaight. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Thomas named Raptors' GM NBA superstar to have 10% stake in the new franchise". (en.wikipedia.org)
- By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In November of the 1996–97 season, Bitove sold his ownership interest in the team to Slaight for $65 million after Slaight had activated a shotgun clause in their partnership agreement,[32][33] giving Slaight 79 percent control of the team, [34] (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
sportingnews.com/ca
assets1.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/teams/toronto-raptors
basketball-reference.com
bleacherreport.com
How To
How to get to a Toronto Raptors game from your location
Toronto Raptors events take place at Air Canada Centre, (ACC), downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada. TTC Metro system takes you to ACC. Union Station takes 30 minutes to reach ACC. The closest stop to ACC is Bay Street station.
Bay street station should be used if Union Station is your destination. From there, follow the signs to ACC. If you arrive at ACC via another direction, please take the signs to Bay Street station.
Follow the signs to the ACC from Bay Street Station.
The venue is accessible for people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities can use the designated seating areas. In addition, the ACC offers sign language interpretation services.
There is no parking fee at ACC. Parking is not available on the streets nearby.
