The Saskatchewan Rattlers host the Edmonton Stingers at 7 p.m. CT in the first single elimination play-in game of the 2022 playoffs.
Stream the game live on the CEBL Mobile App for IOS and Android devices, the CEBL’s OTT streaming service CEBL+, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Gem free streaming service, the CBC Sports App for IOS and Android devices and on NXT Level Sports in the U.S.
The game features the two teams who have won a championship in the past. The Rattlers won the inaugural championship and are now coming in off an 11-9 regular season and slotted as the fifth seed. The Stingers are the back-to-back champions and they start their playoff run after a 10-10 regular season and slotted in the sixth seed.
The Rattlers and Stingers faced each other two times in the regular season. The Stingers took the first matchup 84-71 in Edmonton with the Rattlers taking the second 97-85 in Saskatoon. In the Stingers win, they distributed the ball and won the rebounding battle. The Stingers assisted on 25 of their 29 made baskets and that came from Jordan Baker and Jahmal Jones. Baker finished with 11 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Baker provides the primary rebounding for the Stingers who rank second in the league in rebounds with 37.4, alongside Marlon Johnson Jr, and he’ll look to win the rebounding battle against the Rattlers forward Jordy Tshimanga.
In the second meeting the Rattlers disrupted the Stingers facilitation which led them to their victory. Tshimanga recorded eight rebounds, and with the Rattlers 55 per cent shooting he complimented the scoring of the Rattlers guards. Tshimanga is the primary rebounder for the Rattlers and his presence inside the paint will be important for the spacing required in the Rattlers play. Now back in Saskatoon where they found their last victory over Edmonton, Tshimanga will look to repeat the same effort with the same efficiency of the guards.
The Rattlers scoring in their win primarily came from Devonte Bandoo and Tony Carr. Bandoo and Carr are the two leaders for the Rattlers and they take the helm once again as the Rattlers look to eliminate the defending champions and move on to the quarter-finals.
Bandoo scored 25 points on 69 per cent shooting in the Rattlers win over Edmonton, and Carr added 20 points with five rebounds and four assists showing his facilitator skills being a spark for the offence. The Rattlers rank second in three-point percentage and three-pointers made this season. Carr and Bandoo provide a lot of that efficiency with Malik Benlevi taking his shots as he gets them off of kick out passes.
Carr and Bandoo go against Jones, Aher Uguak and Trahson Burrell. Burrell’s 37-point performance in Edmonton’s 101-100 win over Guelph showed him as an all-around scorer that will attract attention from the Rattlers defence.
Uguak provides three-point and mid-range scoring for the Edmonton offence that likes to establish the inside offence before extending outside. With Baker cleaning up the boards and being physical getting to the hoop, having Uguak and Mathieu Kamba to kick the ball out to has shown to be an important facet of the Stingers offence later in games when opponents tighten up around the rim.
While the shooters go at it from the perimeter, the battle of Johnson and Clarke against the Rattlers forwards will be important as the paint battle has proven important in this matchup. Clarke scored 19 points in the Rattlers and Stingers second matchup and 22 points in the first matchup, and his ability to work around the paint has been important for the execution of the Stingers offence.
A single elimination game between the two teams who have come away with championships previously. This is the most important game of the year for both sides and efficiency paired with smart execution will be important for the two sides.
Fans will be able to live stream all games including the playoffs on the CEBL’s OTT streaming service CEBL+, the CEBL’s official app, CEBL Mobile for iOS and Android devices, cbcsports.ca, the free CBC Gem streaming service, the CBC Sports App for iOS and Android devices and on NXT Level Sports in the U.S. As part of its playoff coverage, CBC Sports will broadcast the quarterfinal games Sunday, August 7, semifinal games Friday, August 12, and the Championship game on Sunday, August 14. For the complete broadcast and streaming schedule, click here. All times are subject to change.
The CEBL’s fourth regular season began May 25 and ends August 1. A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL is the largest pro sports league in the country with 10 teams located in six provinces. It has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 71 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook& YouTube.