Game Preview - June 28th: BlackJacks Ready to Take on Alliance for the First (Full) Game This Season
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) are back home at TD Place to take on the Montreal Alliance this afternoon, at 3 p.m.
This game acts as a homecoming for the BlackJacks, who are coming off of back-to-back road wins against the league’s two teams from the Greater Toronto Area–one against the Scarborough Shooting Stars, and one against the Brampton Honey Badgers. Those two wins bumped their record up to 4-6 on the season, good for fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Alliance, on the other hand, have been on a bit of a skid in their recent games. Before their win against the Saskatchewan Rattlers on Sunday, Montreal had lost four straight–an unusual series of events considering they started off the season with four straight wins. They now sit in third in the East.
These highs and lows make it difficult to predict the threat level that the Alliance pose to the BlackJacks this afternoon.
The two teams don’t have much history against each other this season either. Back in May, the BlackJacks and the Alliance faced off in the CEBL’s Summer Classic: Canada’s first ever professional 5v5 game held outdoors.
Unfortunately, the game had to be cancelled at halftime due to event staging issues caused by inclement weather–it was later announced that the game would be ruled as a no contest.
As heartbreaking of a result as that was for the fans, the BlackJacks caught a lucky break by having the game cancelled –they were down 52-29 before the game was stopped.
Montreal outmatched Ottawa during that game–but the one this afternoon is under far different circumstances.
Both of the team’s rosters have made significant changes since they last met: the BlackJacks’ starting centre, Isaih Moore, was injured during that game, and rotation players like guards Javonte Smart and Keevan Veinot along with forward Zane Waterman had yet to appear with the team.
The Alliance had yet to sign guard Tavian Dunn-Martin or forward O.D. Anosike, and have since released forward Dontay Bassett.
Dunn-Martin is the most important name of that list for Montreal, as the 5’8” guard has led the team in points per game (18.3) and assists per game (6.6) this season, among players who have appeared in two or more bouts with the club.
Anosike is another solid piece for the Alliance, scoring 13 points in his lone game so far this season, to go along with 10 rebounds and 4 assists.
But the BlackJacks’ roster changes may have been even more impactful–Moore is fourth in the CEBL in rebounds per game this year (9.8), leading Ottawa while Smart is leading both Ottawa and the CEBL in points per game with 27.5.
Smart especially has made a massive impact on the BlackJacks in their last few games–with him on the court, Ottawa looks like a completely different team.
They’ve struggled in clutch situations this season, blowing multiple fourth-quarter and target time leads because they lacked a go-to scorer that can reliably create their own shot down the stretch.
Smart has been just that for them. In the team’s last game against the Brampton Honey Badgers, he scored all nine of Ottawa’s points in target time, culminating with a contested isolation three to win the game.
A player archetype like that is especially crucial for a team like the BlackJacks, who have been looking to improve in late game situations.
Another spot that Smart has helped the team improve in is turnover rate. Although he himself has averaged a team-high 4.5 per game since he’s joined the roster, Ottawa has gone from averaging the third most turnovers per-game in the league (15.4) to being tied for the lowest in their last two games, with just 12.0.
That level of statistical impact is incredibly telling of just how much Smart can help the team.
BlackJacks Head Coach David DeAveiro has been vocal about stopping turnovers in recent practices, and is incredibly happy with where the team has come, especially with Smart.
“I think we’re in a good place right now,” he said, “Adding Javonte has definitely helped our team.”
Smart, a player with two seasons of NBA experience, is grateful to be a part of the CEBL, “I think it’s a good league for the summer…I’m happy to be here.” Those words coming from somebody with four years of NBA Summer League experience means a whole lot.
Smart’s signing to the team was announced whilst the team was on their road trip in Toronto, so most of his experience with the team so far has been solely during pregame warmups. He hasn’t yet built a foundational chemistry with his teammates, or his knowledge of the team’s playbook.
He immediately got right to work though, creating friendships with the rest of the roster: “Everywhere I go, I attract people. I’m a good person…I came here with open arms, and [the team] welcomed me in.”
With more time to practice comes a better understanding of the team’s systems, too. After practicing with the team for a few days, Smart is excited to make his home debut this afternoon.
“I’m gonna put on a show for the fans,” he said when asked about his expectations for the matchup, “my foot won’t come off of the pedal.”
Smart’s addition and integration to the team is just one of many new additions that weren’t there the last time these teams matched up–Moore, Veinot, and Waterman are also on that list.
And to add to things, forward Deng Adel is returning to the team against Montreal after a two-game absence due to an illness. His accolades as the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, and assists speak for themselves. His presence will stack on yet another layer of talent to a BlackJacks roster that is already swimming in it.
So look out for a much different outcome than the first half of the Summer Classic in this afternoon’s game. While both teams have made changes to their rosters since then, the BlackJacks’ changes may just be too much for the Alliance to handle.
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