Dial 905: Siakam and Poeltl join the party, and more

The 905 finished the west coast road trip on a sour note, but headed back home, all the way downtown, to play a March break game at the Air Canada Centre.

Here’s a summary of what went down the past week.

Friday Mar 10th — vs. Salt Lake City Stars

Final Score: 112-106 for Salt Lake, handing the 905 their second straight loss.

Antwaine Wiggins Adds Secondary Scoring

Antwaine Wiggins continues to add much needed defense and scoring off the bench for the 905. This game was no different as Wiggins inserted his energy on the court. It was needed as Salt Lake was up big when Wiggins got in and he helped the 905 try for a massive comeback. Wiggins finished the game with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals while shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the field in just 20 minutes of play.

Update: Brady Heslip Still A Great Shooter

The sharp shooting Canadian is hands down the best shooter in the D-League. For the 905, Heslip has also improved as a facilitator and point guard. Against Salt Lake, Heslip continued his offensive production with 18 points, 3 assists and 4 rebounds in 31 minutes.

Axel Toupane Keeps on Keepin’ On

In only his second game back since his brief stint with the Milwaukee Bucks, Toupane proved he hasn’t lost his touch. For this game, in 30 minutes, Toupane added 18 points, 1 assist and 2 rebounds, as he presumably looks to get another NBA call-up.

Notes

• C.J Leslie continues to produce. In 23 minutes he added 15 points and 5 rebounds.
• Negus Webster-Chan was an inactive along with Yanick Moreira who was out with the flu.

On the West Coast Trip:

Here’s coach Jerry Stackhouse:

“I thought it was well man. We had the game circled [905 vs LA D-Fenders] and I thought we took of our business there. Santa Cruz, it was game that went down to the wire, it was great basketball and they jumped up and made shots that was heavily contested and we had really no complaints about that. Although there could have been a call or two that could have went our way down the stretch and that game could be different. But after not having Yanick [Moreira] in Utah, that kinda hurt a bit as we had to throw different lineups that we hadn’t really seen this year. But man, that last game of a long road trip, and actually this game today. First game back after a long road trip, it’s just like the same as the last game. And on a noon on Monday, time change, lost an our of sleep, it is what it is. Hopefully guys come out and are prepared to go.”

And a little thought from C.J. Leslie:

“Yeah, those last couple games guys were a little tired, and travel was hitting guys a little bit. But yeah overall, yeah the last game we fought back hard but the west coast trip we are very proud of what we did.”

The travel gets hard out there.

Monday Mar 13th — vs. Austin Spurs

Final Score: 116-87 for the 905, a win at the ACC in front of a D-League record for attendance.

Jakob Poeltl Drops A Double-Double

Poeltl had a double-double on the stat sheet and games played on the day. Poeltl was assigned to the 905 in this one to get some more minutes. It was clear from the beginning that Poeltl was a top 10 pick and he was playing against D-Leaguers. Poeltl was just so much stronger in the post, faster, and smarter. He knew where to be and when to be there, and ended up finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks in a crazy +40 in 32 minutes. Despite all that, Jakob played again later that night with the Raptors.

Pascal Siakam Produces On Assignment

Siakam’s assignment to the 905 made a ton of sense given his lack of meaningful minutes as of late with the Raptors. Just like Poeltl however, you could tell Siakam was an NBA player going up against D-Leaguers. His energy was crazy in everything he did: getting up and down the court, setting screens, bullying his way to the basket, offensive rebounding. Siakam ended up playing in 32 minutes, in which he put up 20 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks along with being a +33. Not a bad game.

Brady Heslip Shoots Lights Out

Heslip continued his lights out shooting with a dynamite performance of 33 points, 2 assists and a ridiculous 8-of-9 from three and 12-of-17 overall from the field in 29 minutes. Afterwards Stackhouse had high praise for Brady. “What can you say about Brady, Brady was Brady,” said the 905 coach. “When he sees these lights, he belongs in the NBA arena. He really locks in and focuses in when he sees this type of environment. So I’m hoping something good comes to these guys.”

Notes

• “I know coaches aren’t supposed to have favourites but he is my favourite,” Stackhouse said about E.J. Singler, post-game.
• Will Sheehey had a nice outing with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists while shooting 9-of-12 from the field in 27 minutes.
• Negus Webster-Chan and Christian Watford were the inactives with Goodluck Okonoboh being hit with a DNP-CD.