Photo by MattAzevedo.com
Good news begets more good news.
Late Saturday, Raptors 905 found out they had clinched the first playoff berth in franchise history.
The Toronto Raptors’ affiliate, in just its second season of existence, owns the D-League’s best record at 31-11, a strong enough hold in the Eastern Conference to clinch a playoff spot with eight games still to go. They also have a two-game lead over any other team in the league, giving them the inside track on home court throughout the playoffs. Failing that, they’ll almost surely have home court through the first two rounds, they have a 5.5-game lead on anyone else in their conference.
The D-League postseason can begin as early as April 4 and consists of three best-of-three rounds. In an odd twist meant to help save on travel, the team with home-court advantage actually hits the road for Game 1, then gets Games 2 and 3 on their own floor.
Now that the Raptors and 905 are both back home after lengthy road trips, the D-League club is getting some additional help. The Raptors assigned rookies Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl to the 905 on Sunday. Each has played just a single D-League game on the year, with Siakam putting up a 15-and-12 double-double and Poeltl dropping 21-and-15. The assignment is a nice chance for Siakam, in particular, to get some run, as he’s played primarily in garbage time of late. Poeltl has been the Raptors’ backup center when they’ve employed one, jumping Lucas Nogueira in the rotation.
After the 905 play at noon at Air Canada Centre on Monday, both players – and perhaps Bruno Caboclo, too – will likely be recalled, as the Raptors host the Dallas Mavericks later that evening. If you want to check the game out on short notice, you can go to this link and use the promo code REPUBLIC905 for a discount.
