Saskatchewan sits atop the Canadian Elite Basketball League standings along with the Edmonton Stingers, who the Rattlers play next as the two Western Conference leaders clash Sunday in Edmonton.
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Undefeated at home thanks to a perfect 3-0 home-stand, the Saskatchewan Rattlers will hit the road for their next three games.
Saskatchewan sits atop the Canadian Elite Basketball League standings along with the Edmonton Stingers — and that’s the team the Rattlers will play next. The two Western Conference leaders clash Sunday afternoon in Edmonton.
“Edmonton’s next; coaching staff’s going to get together and start to plan for Edmonton,” said Rattlers head coach Larry Abney when asked about the upcoming road swing, which includes stops in Edmonton, Calgary and Brampton.
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“They won again (Thursday) so they’re feeling good. We’ll game-plan for them. One game at a time. Home or away, neutral — we approach it the same.”
Although undefeated, the Rattlers have been lacking that killer instinct when it comes to the Elam-ending target score. It’s been a bit of an adventure so far this season, and first-year head coach Abney knows it.
“It is,” admitted Abney, whose team defeated the previously undefeated Vancouver Bandits 98-86 Thursday night at SaskTel Centre but struggled to close out the game at the end with a number of missed opportunities.
“Everybody told me about it. Everybody talked about the challenges in it. I see it in the other games. You think it won’t be you. You think you can execute, but it gets ugly, you know what I mean? We’ll continue to work on it. We’ll continue to look to close in those situations. I thought we had some opportunities — you can’t be mad at the opportunities we’re getting. As long as they continue to get better each game, and we execute and get the opportunities, we just have to put it down.”
Former Toronto Raptor guard Jalen Harris led the way Thursday with 26 points and nine assists to go along with six rebounds and two steals.
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“The approach has to be better,” said Harris, who is the Rattlers’ team captain. “We’re 3-and-0 right now but, honestly, I’m not super happy. I think we could be a lot better. We’re on a good run — I’m happy we’re on a good run — but I think we need to be better, on the road especially. I think, going forward, we will.”
Elijah (E.J.) Harkless finished the night with 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
“Wait until he starts shooting it, because he’s actually a good shooter,” pointed out Abney. “He’s not shooting it well and he’s still coming up big with his defensive pressure. Last game (against the Montreal Alliance), if you look at his numbers, they weren’t fantastic but I thought he was one of the chief reasons we were able to make that comeback (from a 23-point deficit).
“Tonight, the same thing. We talk about guys playing 40 minutes. I think he’s the head of the snake right there. I don’t think there’s anyone in this league who can match his energy.”
Harkless thrilled fans with a thundering one-handed dunk to end the third quarter with a 19-point lead.
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Harkless — who is new to the CEBL this season after playing under Abney for the NBA G League Ontario Clippers in the Los Angeles Clippers organization — admits he doesn’t know what to expect on these upcoming road games.
“Home game was a surprise to me,” noted Harkless. “I didn’t know the routine it was or if we had routines. It was kind of me getting back into it. Just like on the road, I’m not really sure what to expect but I know I’m going with my guys and it’s a great unit going. I know we’re going to fight and we’re going to go out there and try and take some games on the road.”
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