As the NBA Development League playoffs approach, the Canton Charge and Sioux Falls Skyforce can claim some similarities.  One of those includes a fast start courtesy of a home heavy schedule. 

Much like Sioux Falls, Canton got out of the gate quickly to a hot start.  A steady diet of Eastern Division teams spiced with a win from a struggling Tulsa team propelled Canton to an 8-1 start.  By December’s end, the Charge were a healthy 9-4 with a lot of those contest played at home.

January found the Wine and Gold at the top of the Eastern Division standings forging ahead with an 8-5 mark.  Two crucial home wins against Fort Wayne placed Canton in prime position to win their second division title in their third year in existence.  A levelling off occurred in February with the Charge posting a 6-5 mark, but still good enough to safely put them in the playoff chase.

The homestretch for Canton was road heavy and the Charge finished 5-8 through March and April.  A split at home with Sioux Falls plus two double digit losses to the Los Angeles D-Fenders and a road split with the Iowa Energy stand out among the contests among playoff contenders.  As the regular season closed, Canton was within reach of one of the top seeds.  Three straight losses including a listless performance at Tulsa closed the season.  That appears to be the starkest contrast between the two first round combatants.

Despite the disappointing end to the regular season, Canton was the lower-seeded team nobody wanted to play in the first round.  With plenty of weapons including assignees from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Canton Charge will be ready to lace it up Thursday night at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

 

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