The Toronto Raptors affiliate D-league team Raptors 905 have won the title after winning the best of 3 series against Rio Grande Valley Vipers 122-96. The Raptors 905 opened the series with a loss in Texas but returned home to win the final 2 games claiming the title in the process.
In the decisive game 3 the 905 were led by some of their Toronto Raptors affiliate players Bruno Caboclo, Pascal Siakim and Fred VanVleet who scored 28 points and dishing 14 assists. Caboclo scored 31 points and pulled in 11 rebounds om his way to a double double. Siakim also proved important with 17 points. The 905 got off to a good start winning the first quarter 27-18 and then despite giving up 31 in the second the team led by 8 heading into the main break. The third quarter saw the Raptors run away and the fourth became almost ceremonial. Like the regular season the game featured more than enough high flying dunks and alley-oops. Siakim using his big frame and athletic prowess to throw down a number of highlight reel plays. The big 3 of the 905 were huge and combined for 76 points and were dominant across the game. The Vipers seemingly had no answer for the high powered offence that led the 905. Outside of the big 3 Yanick Moreira and John Jordan managed double digits with 10 and 12 points respectively. For the Vipers Houston Rockets assignee Troy Williams top scored with 23 while Darius Morris chipped in with 18.
905 coach Jerry Stackhouse added the all important championship to his coach of the year award from the regular season adding some impressive achievements to his young but impressive CV. He was an assistant coach with the main team before being given the chance as the head coach challenge with the 905. It may be a matter of time before we see him in the NBA.
The Raptors players from the 905 remain unlikely to feature in the main roster during the playoffs but could be seen in future seasons. Caboclo has been in and out of the D-league team and along with Lucas Noguira is continuing to develop. VanVleet is also very young and Siakim are both very young and would also expect to make an impact with an NBA roster in the years to come. The Raptors have reaped the benefits of development from this team in the past and may do so again soon.
The 905 was established in 2015 and this season claim their first piece of silverware with the championship capping off the division title won in the regular season.
