Fansided

Podcast: The Canton Charge’s importance for the Cavaliers

By Chris Reichert

Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Quinn Cook celebrates with fans after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers the 2015 NCAA Men
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Quinn Cook celebrates with fans after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers the 2015 NCAA Men /
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The Canton Charge franchise has been in existence since the inaugural 2001-02 NBA D-League season, however they have moved cities a couple times. They started as the Huntsville Flight, then they were the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, then New Mexico Thunderbirds, and finally to Canton for the 2011-12 season.

The Charge have made the playoffs every season since that move (five straight seasons) and have not had a losing season in that same time frame. Each of the last two seasons they’ve compiled an outstanding record of 31-19.

In the 2015-16 season they earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference drawing a matchup with the Maine Red Claws. They “upset” the Claws, but ran into the league-wide buzzsaw known as the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the semifinal round.

Head coach Jordi Fernandez does an outstanding job of employing the same schemes, lingo and overall culture as the Cleveland Cavaliers — the team’s NBA affiliate — and this past season was no different as the team allowed the 5th fewest points per game. The season had a slightly new wrinkle as well with the team finishing 7th in points per game and 10th in overall PACE.

Assisting in that transition was D-League Rookie of the Year Quinn Cook and sharp shooting forward Nick Minnerath. It’s hard to predict team success from year to year in the D-League due to the massive amount of roster turnover each season. With the Charge’s track record, however, it seems you can pencil them in for 30+ wins each and every season, which in a 50-game season equates to 49 wins in the NBA’s 82-game season.

With all that in mind, Upside & Motor teamed up with Fear the Sword (SB Nation’s Cleveland Cavalier’s site) to discuss the Charge, impact players for the Cavaliers next year and more!

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