The road to the 6ix from Mississauga’s Hershey Centre isn’t the smoothest drive. From accidents, to construction, to rush hour, there are plenty of delays in getting to the eventual goal. Raptors 905 players face a similar path in getting to the senior Raptors squad. That path can present several potholes, roadblocks, and U-turns. Whether it’s finding their niche, their stroke, or often themselves, the challenges in making the big-league roster – in Toronto, or anywhere else on a call-up – are abundant.
Tuesday marked a special day for school kids and 905ers alike, as they both were treated to a day at the Air Canada Centre. For the 905 roster, it was a chance to showcase themselves on one of the 30 courts they’d one day like to call home. And if the likes of Norman Powell and Fred VanVleet could do it, or even closer to home, Axel Toupane a season ago, why not them?
For some 905ers, seeing those examples before them and getting to work closely with players on the NBA roster is a constant opportunity to learn and a reminder of what they’re trying to do.
“At the end of the day, everybody’s goal is to get to the next level however they can,” 905 point guard John Jordan said prior to tip-off. “If you have somebody that you actually played with, that you know pretty well and exceeded that goal, that’s always a good thing and a good person to study.”
Powell and VanVleet are great examples to study. Powell was drafted in the middle of the second round, while VanVleet went undrafted. Powell then made a terrific impression in the D-League last year, and an injury to DeMarre Carroll created the opportunity for him to make an impression on the big stage. For VanVleet, a shoulder injury to Delon Wright granted him his window of opportunity as the Raptors’ third-string point guard, and he has taken full advantage.
Those players have one thing in common: Winning plays. It sounds cliched, but the term is a cliche for a reason. Both are zoned in on the needs of the team, understanding that addressing those needs is the best way for them to demonstrate what they have to offer. Most of the players in the D-League are talented enough to put up gaudy stats, but an NBA team isn’t likely to be scouring the D-League for a gunner. This can be tricky for those in the D-League to reconcile, as that urge to put up big numbers to make an impression can get in the way of just trying to make the right play.
This is where the synergy between the Raptors and the 905 is so crucial. The expectations are clearly laid out, and the 905 players understand what really gets noticed.
“A winning play should be a good play. Winning teams value those types of plays,” 905 wing Will Sheehey said. “A lot of times those plays don’t show up in the stat sheet. It’s probably a struggle in the D-League since guys see points, rebounds, and all that and think there’s a direct correlation between that and success. Sometimes there is, but, a lot of times winning plays don’t show up on stat sheets. But if you make [those winning plays], a lot of times the points and rebounds and things like that will come.”
The 905 are winning at a .769 clip right now, and a lot of that stems from building with guys that have the right attitude, and a system that preaches winning habits above all else. VanVleet is the only player averaging over 30 minutes or 15 points per game, with Brady Heslip the only player outside of VanVleet to average over 10 shot attempts a game. It could be C.J. Leslie one night, or Edy Tavares the next. It really doesn’t matter to them when they can win a game with nine players scoring in double-figures, like they did Saturday.
On a day where former NBA player Jordan Crawford went off for 40 points to stake his claim for a return to the big leagues, the 905 tried to plug away at a large deficit by running their offense and trusting what head coach Jerry Stackhouse was preaching rather than make the game about themselves or trying to gun the team back into it. As a former player, Stackhouse recognizes that players can get caught up in the moment, and that competitiveness and drive to lead their team can even be a good thing.
“I’ve been that guy so I understand it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s really any lines of selfishness or anything, but just the team needs something and I wanna do it for ‘em. Gotta try and find a way to blend those individual wants into what we wanna do as a collective group.”
Beyond finding that blend, players also have to find a way to be positive when they don’t see the court at all. In the same manner that Powell has to adjust to the variety of roles the senior squad assigns him, the 905 ask the same of some of their guys. Heslip and Jordan both take on different roles depending on the availability of VanVleet, while forwards like Antwaine Wiggins and E.J. Singler see fewer minutes when Bruno Caboclo makes an appearance.
Wiggins, who flew himself to Toronto this summer to try to earn a spot on the team, is another who understands exactly what’s being asked of him and why it’s in his best interest to play for the team.
“It’s really mind over matter. When you’re on the court, do the best you can. When you’re off the court, you want your team to do the best they can, so you cheer them on,” he said. “As long as you stay positive and keep the right mindset, you can go as far as you want.”
This is the type of attitude that has helped the 905 accumulate a 10-3 record, and by serving the team’s needs by being so supportive, players also make known an aspect about themselves that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. When other NBA teams look for players that could potentially fill a need on their roster and call the Raptors to know a bit more about a player, they’ll find out they’re getting a guy that can not only contribute to the box score, but also contribute positively towards the organization’s culture.
While the Raptors 905 players may face their individual road blocks and challenges in the process of following their path, the Raptors organization has created a culture whereby they can enjoy the moment and build not only their game, but their character. By helping these players grow as men and as members of a team rather than as stand-alone players, they’re limiting the number of stumbling blocks in those players getting to their ideal destination.
