Dial 905: Welcome to the Heslip Show, Toupane returns and more

The 905 are currently out on the West Coast, and they still just keep winning (mostly).

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

Friday Mar. 3rd — vs. Reno Bighorns

Final Score: 94-81 for the 905. They are the first team in D-League to reach 30 wins.

Brady Heslip Takeover

With every game passing, Heslip looks better and better as a point guard in charge of the offense. With the 905 out west and Kyle Lowry injured it has meant that the Raptors aren’t assigning Fred VanVleet or Delon Wright, and it’s put Heslip into the starting role.

Heslip took over this game and in 33 minutes, put up 33 points along with 4 rebounds while shooting 10-of-21 from the field as well 8-of-15 from three and a +19. If Heslip can continue this he may get looks for one of those new 2-way contracts or a hefty overseas deal.

Yanick Moreira Keeps Producing Off the Bench

Moreira has been the backup centre since the 905 claimed Walter Tavares. So far on the west coast Moreira has produced, and is actually a mite bit faster than Tavares, as well a better passer. That showed as in this game Moreira played in 21 minutes with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal and a block.

Notes

• With Toupane gone, Antwaine Wiggins got more minutes in this one and produced as a secondary scorer. Wiggins had 11 points, 1 rebounds, 1 steal while shooting 5-of-7 FG in 20 minutes.
• Bruno Caboclo had a nice outing. In 25 minutes he put up a mere 9 points and 6 rebounds but his defense was tremendous.
• Negus Webster-Chan was the lone inactive while Goodluck Okonoboh was hit with a DNP-CD.

Saturday Mar. 4th — vs. Los Angeles D-Fenders

Final Score: 111-104 for the 905, winners of 9 in a row.

Bruno Caboclo Shows Up

Caboclo has had some good games and some very bad ones in the D-League. Consistency was supposed to be a big stepping stone in his development, but he has yet to find it. Caboclo’s stats won’t jump off the page, but what he does during the game is often important. He continues to use his freaky long arms to his advantage on defense, and sometimes his shot is falling. In 31 minutes, Bruno put up 16 points along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists while shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 4-of-7 from three.

All Around Scoring

The 905 used an all out team effort to take down the top team in the west. In a lot of cases with this team one player often steals the show, but this game was different. The final result had eight of the nine 905 players who played put up double digit point totals. As well the 905 combined to have 30 assists.

Notes

• Yanick Moreira had a double-double off the bench. In 25 minutes he put up 14 points, 11 rebounds and shot 6-of-12 from the field.
• C.J. Leslie had a nice game in which he put up 13 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 27 minutes.
• Christian Watford was the lone inactive with Negus Webster-Chan and Goodluck Okonoboh being hit with a DNP-CD.

Wednesday Mar 8th — vs. Santa Cruz Warriors

Final Score: 128-122 for Santa Cruz; the 905’s nine game win streak comes to an end.

Axel Toupane Returns

Toupane re-joined the 905 on the west coast road trip, fresh after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks halfway through his 10-day contract. Toupane came back down to the D-League hoping his stay wouldn’t be long, and this game definitely helped his case. Toupane came off the bench and in 27 minutes, he recorded 20 points while adding 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

C.J. Leslie Continues Solid Play

The past couple weeks Leslie has been a huge part of the 905’s winning streak, and started a little hot streak of his own. Leslie continues to produce offensively and defensively. In this game Leslie got the start with Caboclo out and played in 29 minutes, compiling a total of 19 points and adding 12 rebounds and 2 assists.

Notes

• Bruno Caboclo (shoulder), Negus Webster-Chan and Antwaine Wiggins were the two inactives.
• Yanick Moreira had a double-double off the bench. In 22 minutes he put up 16 points and 14 rebounds.
• Goodluck Okonoboh saw game action in this one, recording 2 points and 1 rebound in 3 minutes.
• Has anyone checked in on Cleanthony Early? We may never hear from him again after this: