Raptors 905 look to maintain dominant form heading into G League playoffs

The Raptors 905 tip off a game during a previous season. (Frank Gunn/CP)

TORONTO – Fifteen games in 25 days with five back-to-backs, contests played as early as 11:00 a.m. ET and turnaround times in between games that are sometimes less than 24 hours.

This was the rapid sprint of a season the Raptors 905 had to deal with as one of just 18 teams that opted to enter the G League bubble – or the “Gubble” as it’s been affectionately nicknamed – at Walt Disney World in Orlando. And they’ve passed this test with flying colours.

On Saturday, the 905 beat the Lakeland Magic 122-100 to clinch the No. 1 seed in the G League heading into Monday’s playoffs where they’ll see the exciting new G League club, G League Ignite in the first round.

Finishing with a 12-3 record and on an eight-game winning streak on their way to the No. 1 seed, the 905 have once again established themselves as one of the preeminent organizations in the G League, dating back to when they won the D-League championship in just their second season of existence in 2017.

“I think it starts at the top from Masai (Ujiri), Bobby (Webster), Dan (Tolzman), Teresa (Resch),” 905 general manager Chad Sanders told Sportsnet. “I talk to someone just about every day or multiple people every day, or multiple people just about every day, on what’s going on down here from the players to the staff and the coaches and the trainers. Everything that’s going on. We’re working to build not just NBA players but coaches and staff in the NBA as well.

“So they truly care, and it’s a full organizational buy-in, I guess you could say, for the development and what happens with the 905 program. So when your leaders at the top care I think it’s just a trickle-down effect to everyone else and, of course, we reap the benefits due to that.”

As a direct example, the 905's strong regular season is a result of a decision by the big club in Toronto for its affiliate before the G League bubble tipped off: The appointment of Patrick Mutombo as head coach.

Taking over for Jama Mahlalela, who had the reins the last two seasons, Mutombo jumped at the opportunity to be a head coach for the first time. And, based on the team’s fantastic season, it’s obvious that Mutombo’s done a solid job so far. But perhaps more important than just the on-court results, the education Mutombo got as a lead decision-maker on the bench for the first time will only lead to better things for the 905, the Toronto Raptors organization and him, personally.

“I’ve learned so many things,” said Mutombo after his team’s victory Saturday. “That you can really coach guys up and if you believe in something stick with it and help people believe and the belief is spread throughout the group that you’re leading through one conversation at a time and one interaction at a time, that’s one thing.

“I learned a lot about the game but also I have a lot of empathy now for the head coaches I’ve worked for and for leaders because it’s certainly not an easy task and oftentimes it’s so easy for assistants to say how they’d rather see things done and what they would do until you’re thrown into that chair and you realize it’s a whole different world. It’s fun, but it’s different. And I already had respect for head coaches, but now my respect for them is off the roof.”

Added Sanders about the job Mutombo has done this season with the chance given to him: “He’s been amazing dealing with such a difficult situation here. We’re playing 15 games in 25 days and I feel bad for him because you’re trying to coach these guys and it’s so hard and we’ve maybe had four or five practices since the regular season started. So it’s like you’re trying to get through watching film and walkthroughs because you don’t get the necessary time to go over everything in practice like you would in a normal season.

“So Patrick’s been great and he’s kind of played the hand that he was dealt and he’s done an excellent job and the assistant coaches have as well. They’re working together, they spend about 22 hours a day together every day. I think they go home to nap and then they get together, so the group has been awesome and they’re all working hard together and we’ve all got one thing on our mind and that’s bringing home a championship.”

With Mutombo at the helm, the 905 will have a good shot to do just that, particularly because the personnel the coach has to work with has proven itself to be among the league’s very best.

Blessed with a mix of veteran and young talent, what the 905 have been able to do – and within their last eight games, in particular – is no fluke.

Led by players like leading scorer Henry Ellenson, ball-hawk extraordinaire Gary Payton II, rebound monster Alize Johnson, Canadian Nik Stauskas and Raptors rookie Jalen Harris – who rejoined the team just in time to be playoff eligible – the 905 have proven to have the necessary talent all season long.

And more than just talent, this is a group that has bought into Mutombo’s message and has developed chemistry in a short amount of time.

“I think the reason why we came together so quickly is because we play unselfishly. It would be hard to like your teammate next to you if you don’t think they’re going to pass you the ball and we’ve been unselfish and that’s equalled wins for us,” said Ellenson earlier in the week. “We have a lot of faith in each other, we know everyone’s gonna step up and make big shots and make a big defensive play and so we’ve got a lot of faith in each other and it makes it more fun to play with each other on the court.”

The 905 will need more of the strong, unselfish play they’ve used to propel them to the top of the G League standings in their first-round playoff matchup and beyond.

The playoffs will be nearly as fast as the regular season with eight teams competing in NCAA Tournament-style win-or-go-home, single-elimination contests. The 905 will see the G League Ignite in the first round, a team that was created as an alternative for top NBA prospects who want to forgo college and start getting paid as a professional right out of high school.

The Ignite features projected top-five picks Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Suggs, as well as former Raptors veterans Amir Johnson and Jarrett Jack.

In their one meeting this season, the Ignite actually handed the 905 one of their three losses, but that was in just the team’s third game of the season and the it has figured out much more about itself since then.

“Our guys’ will to win is so big. Even in this game when we were down 20 and they just refused to give in and they just refused to lay down. So I think that’s just a tribute to the type of people and the type of competitors we have on this team,” said Mutombo of his team after it won its fifth straight game last Monday.

So, as the season has progressed, this is a 905 team that has become more confident in its abilities and has become that much more resilient.

As talented and exciting as the Ignite are, if things continue to trend the way they have for the 905 all season long, then Monday should be just the first step toward a triumphant championship march.

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