Montreal Saints: The Resurgence of Canada's Second Franchise

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Season Opener | Cavs @ Saints | 26 October 2016



The city of Montreal made history as they hosted their first ever NBA regular season game. They faced the defending Eastern Conference Champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers led by none other than LeBron James. Unfortunately for the Saints, it was a forgetful one as they were completely dominated throughout the game, losing to the Cavs by 29 points. Not a good start for what seemed a promising roster re-tool. The news got even worse when Tony Allen suffered a right thigh injury three minutes into the game. He is expected to be out 4-6 weeks which immediately thrusts rookie, Jamal Murray, in the deep end!

Cleveland Cavaliers at Montreal Saints
Oct 26, 2016	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Cleveland (0-0)	24	28	18	33	103
Montreal (0-0)	22	17	15	20	74

Cleveland Cavaliers
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
K. Love	30	3-8	2-5	4-4	6	1	0	0	1	12
T. Thompson	31	2-6	0-0	2-6	10	0	0	1	2	6
L. James	33	4-13	1-6	4-7	7	5	2	4	2	13
I. Shumpert	30	4-9	3-6	0-0	7	2	0	0	4	11
K. Irving	41	7-13	6-8	3-4	7	7	4	4	6	23
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
C. Frye	19	6-7	3-3	2-2	4	1	1	2	0	17
M. Beasley	24	4-9	2-5	2-2	3	3	1	2	0	12
N. Stauskas	15	1-1	0-0	4-5	3	1	0	0	0	6
R. Jefferson	13	1-4	1-2	0-0	0	1	1	0	1	3
T. Wallace	-- DID NOT PLAY --
T. Quarterman	-- DID NOT PLAY --
E. Brand	-- DID NOT PLAY --
M. Barnes	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		32-70	18-35	21-30	47	21	9	13	16	103

Montreal Saints
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
A. Horford	30	8-18	1-1	1-2	6	1	1	0	1	18
M. Gasol	27	4-12	0-0	2-2	8	1	0	1	3	10
D. Carroll	24	4-9	2-6	0-0	5	1	0	0	3	10
T. Allen	3	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	1	0	0	0
M. Conley	41	1-7	1-2	3-4	3	7	3	0	4	6
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Adams	20	5-9	1-2	1-2	1	0	1	0	3	12
J. Noah	24	4-6	0-0	1-2	7	4	1	2	1	9
J. Murray	23	2-9	1-4	0-0	2	5	1	0	4	5
B. Wright	13	1-2	0-0	0-0	3	0	0	0	0	2
T. Snell	20	0-1	0-1	2-2	2	0	1	0	0	2
P.J. Hairston	3	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0
J. Green	3	0-1	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	0
J. Martin	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		29-75	6-17	10-14	39	19	9	3	19	74

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Battle of the North! | Saints @ Raptors | 29 October 2016



Both teams came in to this game winless. The atmosphere was absolutely electrifying at Jurassic Park and it definitely felt like a Playoff game!
This one came right down to the wire with rookie Jamal Murray shining in the Saints first ever franchise victory.


Surely the Raptors regret trading away that 9th pick..?

Montreal Saints at Toronto Raptors
Oct 29, 2016	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Montreal (0-2)	28	22	24	30	104
Toronto (0-2)	28	30	17	26	101

Montreal Saints
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
A. Horford	32	6-14	0-0	6-7	9	1	0	0	2	18
M. Gasol	31	2-4	0-0	4-4	10	6	0	5	2	8
D. Carroll	30	0-5	0-2	4-8	3	0	0	0	1	4
J. Murray	33	8-17	4-8	4-4	3	4	2	0	2	24
M. Conley	33	6-10	3-6	1-2	5	5	3	0	4	16
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Adams	18	5-7	0-0	0-0	1	2	0	0	2	10
J. Noah	20	3-5	0-0	3-8	8	6	0	1	4	9
B. Wright	10	4-4	0-0	0-0	4	0	1	1	0	8
T. Snell	24	1-2	0-1	3-5	6	0	1	0	2	5
P.J. Hairston	3	1-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	2
J. Green	-- DID NOT PLAY --
J. Martin	-- DID NOT PLAY --
T. Allen*	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		36-69	7-17	25-38	49	24	7	7	19	104

Toronto Raptors
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Z. Randolph	27	4-11	0-0	2-4	9	2	1	0	1	10
J. Valanciunas	30	7-12	0-0	1-1	11	0	1	2	0	15
T. Ross	28	4-12	1-6	0-2	2	1	1	0	0	9
N. Powell	26	1-4	0-1	3-3	2	1	1	0	0	5
K. Lowry	33	6-15	3-5	2-3	3	9	0	0	3	17
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
G. Neal	25	6-10	2-5	4-5	1	3	0	0	2	18
C. Joseph	26	6-11	0-1	0-0	1	5	1	0	0	12
P. Patterson	17	5-8	1-2	0-0	4	1	0	0	1	11
J. Hill	21	2-9	0-0	0-0	5	2	0	3	0	4
D. Sabonis	-- DID NOT PLAY --
D. Wright	-- DID NOT PLAY --
S. Dalembert	-- DID NOT PLAY --
L. Nogueira	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		41-92	7-20	12-18	38	24	5	5	7	101

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So fast forward to the end of the regular season and the Montreal Saints post a respectable 46-36 record, sitting with the #3 seed. After a rough start to the season, sitting well below the .500 mark for the first month and a half, Coach Nash made a crucial lineup change which got the team going and found its' groove. Nash was instrumental by inserting third year pro, Jordan Adams, into the starting lineup for the rest of the season where he posted career highs in just about every category.

NBA Standings - Updated: Apr 20, 2017
ATLANTIC	W	L	GB	DIV	CONF
Montreal Saints	46	36	--	10-4	33-18
New York Knicks	41	41	5.0	5-9	28-22
Toronto Raptors	36	46	10.0	5-3	12-16
Boston Celtics	34	48	12.0	6-8	22-29
Brooklyn Nets	22	60	24.0	6-8	17-33
CENTRAL	W	L	GB	DIV	CONF
Cleveland Cavaliers	60	22	--	13-3	39-11
Chicago Bulls	50	32	10.0	7-9	31-19
Detroit Pistons	45	37	15.0	8-7	31-19
Philadelphia 76ers	29	53	31.0	5-9	13-28
Indiana Pacers	29	53	31.0	5-10	19-31
SOUTHEAST	W	L	GB	DIV	CONF
Orlando Magic	46	36	--	9-7	30-20
Washington Wizards	40	42	6.0	9-7	26-24
Charlotte Hornets	35	47	11.0	9-7	21-30
Miami Heat	35	47	11.0	7-9	22-29
Atlanta Hawks	27	55	19.0	6-10	18-32
NORTHWEST	W	L	GB	DIV	CONF
Minnesota Timberwolves	52	30	--	5-3	18-10
Portland Trail Blazers	46	36	6.0	8-6	24-26
Utah Jazz	40	42	12.0	7-7	22-28
Milwaukee Bucks	39	43	13.0	8-6	23-27
Denver Nuggets	37	45	15.0	4-10	21-30
PACIFIC	W	L	GB	DIV	CONF
Golden State Warriors	62	20	--	14-2	41-9
Phoenix Suns	46	36	16.0	11-5	28-22
Los Angeles Clippers	44	38	18.0	6-10	26-24
Sacramento Kings	38	44	24.0	6-10	19-32
Los Angeles Lakers	25	57	37.0	3-13	13-38
SOUTHWEST	W	L	GB	DIV	CONF
Oklahoma City Thunder	61	21	--	13-3	39-11
San Antonio Spurs	47	35	14.0	8-7	27-24
New Orleans Pelicans	43	39	18.0	7-8	26-24
Houston Rockets	40	42	21.0	6-10	20-30
Dallas Mavericks	35	47	26.0	5-11	19-31

Montreal Saints Stats - 2016/17
Player	GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FPG
A. Horford	81	31.5	15.5	8.2	3.7	0.7	1.5	1.9	1.8
M. Gasol	81	29.0	14.1	8.4	3.9	0.4	1.8	1.6	3.2
J. Murray	82	27.8	13.4	3.7	4.4	1.2	0.0	2.9	2.2
M. Conley	81	32.6	12.2	3.0	6.0	1.6	0.3	2.1	2.3
J. Adams	82	26.4	11.7	3.0	1.2	1.1	0.4	2.0	2.5
J. Noah	81	22.1	6.6	9.0	3.9	0.4	1.1	1.4	0.8
D. Carroll	81	25.8	6.4	4.1	0.4	0.9	0.7	1.1	3.4
T. Snell	58	14.1	4.1	1.9	0.2	0.4	0.2	0.5	0.8
T. Allen	64	19.0	3.9	3.8	0.3	0.6	0.4	0.7	2.6
B. Wright	82	9.4	3.8	2.4	0.1	0.2	0.5	0.5	0.9
P.J. Hairston	73	4.8	2.2	0.7	0.1	0.2	0.0	0.3	0.4
J. Green	16	3.4	1.6	1.0	0.1	0.2	0.0	0.3	0.4
A. Poythress	5	5.6	1.4	0.8	0.2	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.6
J. Martin	7	3.9	0.3	0.7	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3

Season Awards



MVP - Stephen Curry
35 PPG | 9.0 AST | 2.6 STL | 62-20 Team Record (#1 in League)

ROY - Ben Simmons
16.3 PPG | 7.8 REB | 6.0 AST | 1.4 STL

Sixth Man - Mason Plumlee
12.2 PPG | 8.7 REB | 1.2 BLK

DPOY - DeAndre Jordan
10.8 PPG | 14.0 REB | 2.8 BLK

Most Improved - Cody Zeller
10.9 PPG | 7.8 REB | 1.3 BLK

COY - Tyronn Lue
60-22 | 33-8 at Home | 27-14 on the Road

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Playoffs First Round | Saints (3) vs. Knicks (6)



The Playoffs are here and boy does this mark a historic day for the city of Montreal as they host their first ever postseason game!

After securing the #3 seed, the Saints face the New York Knicks in a first round matchup. After such a strong start by the Knicks in the first half of the season (they were the #1 seed during the All Star break), it all came crashing down when their starting center, Robin Lopez, was ruled out for the rest of the season with a dislocated right patella. Since then, they have been a below .500 team and it doesn't look pretty.

Game 1: Saints def. Knicks 88-80
Marc Gasol | 27 PTS, 12 REB, 8 AST

Game 2: Saints def. Knicks 97-85
Al Horford | 28 PTS, 9 REB

Game 3: Knicks def. Saints 113-104
Carmelo Anthony | 32 PTS, 9 REB, 2 STL

Game 4: Saints def. Knicks 82-63
Marc Gasol | 14 PTS, 9 REB, 8 AST, 4 BLK

Game 5: Saints def. Knicks 94-88
Marc Gasol | 23 PTS, 7 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK

Saints win 4-1

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Eastern Conference Semi-Finals | Bulls (2) vs. Saints (3)



The Saints caught a huge break in this one as Jimmy Butler suffered a pulled calf muscle towards the end of the regular season that ruled him out for the first two rounds of the Playoffs. We also see some familiar faces (Noah and Snell) returning back to the Windy City whilst, arguably the pivotal matchup of the series, the Gasol brothers, battle it out.

Game 1: Bulls def. Saints 95-86
Nikola Mirotic | 22 PTS, 12 REB, 5 BLK

Game 2: Bulls def. Saints 101-63
Pau Gasol | 16 PTS, 11 REB, 9 AST, 4 BLK

Game 3: Saints def. Bulls 74-66
Marc Gasol | 17 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST

Game 4: Saints def. Bulls 103-75
Marc Gasol | 28 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 4 BLK

Game 5: Saints def. Bulls 95-69
Jamal Murray | 13 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 5 STL

Game 6: Saints def. Bulls 92-90
Al Horford | 24 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 2 STL, 6 BLK

Saints win 4-2

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Eastern Conference Finals | Cavs (1) vs. Saints (3)



Well here we are. 7 months later and these two teams are back at it again! It almost felt like yesterday that Montreal's franchise first started where they got whooped in the season opener by the Cavs.

Mind you, the Saints have caught some lucky breaks in these Playoffs with crucial injuries to their opponents so far but not anymore! The true test lies against a healthy Cleveland Cavaliers squad...

Game 1: Cavs def. Saints 98-85
LeBron James | 28 PTS, 6 REB, 3 STL

Game 2: Cavs def. Saints 131-126 (OT)
LeBron James | 24 PTS, 15 REB, 11 AST

Game 3: Saints def. Cavs 94-76
Marc Gasol | 16 PTS, 9 REB, 9 AST, 6 BLK

Game 4: Saints def. Cavs 110-98
Mike Conley | 21 PTS, 10 AST

Game 5: Saints def. Cavs 104-87
Mike Conley | 23 PTS, 4 AST

Game 6: Saints def. Cavs 129-109
Mike Conley | 27 PTS, 10 AST, 4 STL

Saints win 4-2

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NBA Finals | Warriors (62-20) vs. Saints (46-36)



Can the fairy tale continue?

First a new city, then it goes through its' highs and lows during the course of the season, then they come back 0-2 down, not once but twice! Can they really keep this up against the Golden State Warriors? The same Golden State team searching for their 3-peat? The same team that have dominated each and every other opponent for the past three seasons?? The same team that just so happens to feature three time MVP, Steph Curry???

One way or another, history is about to be rewritten...

Game 1: Warriors def. Saints 109-97
Steph Curry | 49 PTS, 5 REB, 2 STL, 8 3PM

Game 2: Warriors def. Saints 99-89
Steph Curry | 29 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST

Game 3: Warriors def. Saints 112-92
Steph Curry | 31 PTS, 13 AST

Game 4: Warriors def. Saints 90-75
Steph Curry | 31 PTS, 5 AST

Warriors win 4-0

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