"Call it synchronicity or a bit of serendipity, but the junior dinos did their best impression of the Toronto Raptors from their season-opener last month against the very same organization. The 905's 130-94 victory - their largest season-opening win in franchise history - over the College Park Sky Hawks stood as proof of concept for the work head coach Drew Jones and his players had put in throughout camp to mimic the tenets of the big club."
"I think the beauty of it is we've got a few guys that have already felt our identity (with) the Raptors, right? So defensively, we pressure the ball, we're intense, we harass the ball handlers," the second-year head coach said pre-game in anticipation of shellacking the Atlanta Hawks G League affiliate. "We're sharks out there, you know? We really swarm the ball. When there's an opportunity, we're striking. And so one thing that I love is that we've got a group that really buys into that level of defensive play. So, you know, first and foremost, I'm looking forward to that level of defensive intensity."
G League teams prioritize connectivity and shared identity alongside winning to prepare players for potential NBA call-ups and roster evaluation. Minor-league clubs are expected to mirror NBA counterparts' playing style to build cohesion. The Raptors 905 opened the season with a 130-94 victory over the College Park Sky Hawks, the largest season-opening win in franchise history. Head coach Drew Jones emphasized a defensive identity characterized by pressure, intensity, ball harassment and collective swarming. Players bought into the defensive principles practiced throughout camp, producing aggressive defence-to-offence moments and validating the developmental approach aligned with the big club.
Read at Raptors Republic
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