Sea Bears going to the Moon?

Ask around the Winnipeg Sea Bears, and both players and coaches acknowledge that this is not only a barometer test against one of the best teams in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, but an excellent opportunity to make a statement that they, too, are a team to be reckoned with in the second half of the season.

The Sea Bears (6-4) are riding high after sweeping a home-and-home against the Calgary Surge last weekend, but now a stiff test awaits in the Vancouver Bandits (7-3) with the top spot in the Western Conference up for grabs at Canada Life Centre on Thursday (7 p.m.).

“If you look at all the standings and the rankings, the gurus usually (have them) No. 1 in most of them,” said Simon Hildebrandt. “So, it’s good to know, and we feel like we’re the best team in the league, so it’s good for us to prove a point and get people talking about us that way.”

The Bandits already boast a dangerous offence, averaging a league-best 104.6 points per game, and the club recently added even more firepower with reigning MVP forward Mitch Creek returning to the team.

The 6-5 Australian was a handful for everyone last season en route to receiving the league’s top personal honour, averaging 24.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals while starting all 20 games.

Creek picked up right where he left off, registering 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists in his season debut against the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Monday.

“He doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses,” said head coach Mike Raimbault. “He’s obviously able to impact the game in a variety of ways. He can shoot it from range, he’s tough off the dribble, he scores with both hands around the bucket. He’s just such a veteran guy that’s always composed and makes great decisions, and he obviously makes other people around him better.

“His impact on the game is enormous.”

Creek will be just one storyline to keep an eye on in this anticipated matchup. Here are three more pointers in the latest edition of Beyond the Arc.

Moon landing?

The much-anticipated debut of three-time CEBL MVP guard Xavier Moon is near.

The Sea Bears’ prized off-season signing landed in Winnipeg on Wednesday afternoon, following the conclusion of his season with Zenit Saint Petersburg, who recently placed fourth in Russia’s VTB United League.

While Saturday’s contest against Moon’s former club — the Edmonton Stingers — figures to be a good time to deploy him, Raimbault did not rule out the possibility of him jumping right into the lineup on Thursday.

“Oh, there’s a chance,” Raimbault said.

Import guard Armani Chaney was released on Monday as Winnipeg prepared to activate Moon to its active roster.

Moon’s arrival likely relegates Trey McGowens to a role off the bench to run the team’s second unit. McGowens has started all nine games since arriving in Winnipeg, but the guard maintains he’s excited to see more talent injected into the lineup and that he is taking the impending role change in stride.

“I can play off the ball, as well. Either or — I’m very ready to learn from him and pick up, knowing he’s a vet,” McGowens said. “I played with him in summer league — I want to say my first year of summer league — he was the starting point guard, so I didn’t play it all, but I mean he’s a good guy. I learned from him; he helped me out, so really just looking forward to chopping it up with him and just getting better.”

Taking it to the House

Make no mistake, this is a talent-laden opponent coming into Winnipeg, but until Creek arrived, the Bandits were led by a rising star in guard Jaelen House.

The 25-year-old CEBL newcomer has been one of the best stories of the season so far, averaging 23 points per contest.

House set the league’s single-game franchise record with 17 assists in Vancouver’s season-opener against Edmonton and has continued to prove that wasn’t a fluke, dishing out the rock with a league-leading 8.8 assists per game.

He will be equally important for the Sea Bears to control in this one.

“He has a lot of different stuff to his game, but I think just how fast and quick he is is the thing that probably presents the most challenge,” said McGowens, who faced House during their time in the NBA G League. “I wouldn’t say (that’s) the only challenge but, I mean, he keeps his dribble alive, and he’s never done, so just guard him the whole shot clock.”

Burns making an impression

There’s a common thread that gets pulled when DJ Burns’ teammates speak about the 6-7 forward, who arrived last week.

“High energy, that’s for sure,” McGowens said while chuckling. “Morning practices, nights, whatever. He’s definitely high-energy, cares about his teammates, and wants to win.”

The charismatic 25-year-old from New Orleans made his debut in Sunday’s victory over the Calgary Surge, recording six points and three rebounds in 13:29 of action.

Both Burns and Raimbault had anticipated him being in Winnipeg for training camp, but Burns’ season in Israel ended much later than anyone had expected. Raimbault remained interested in adding him, despite having to wait.

“He’s slowly getting more comfortable,” Raimbault said. “Obviously, he’s only had a couple of full-out practices, but he’s a great person. He’s got unbelievable energy. He brings a ton of charisma to our group. I thought in small spurts of the game on Sunday, he did a really good job for the limited amount of time that he’s had in terms of practicing with other people. He’s unselfish, he’s physical, he’s got a unique skill set that we’re looking forward to deploying when the time comes.”

Burns admitted that it can be difficult to join a team midway through a season, but that it’s been a seamless transition since arriving in Winnipeg. He became interested in signing after Niagara River Lions star guard Khalil Ahmad gave both Raimbault and the Sea Bears organization a glowing review.

“(Ahmad) spoke really highly of coach and Winnipeg’s organization, and he gave him a lot of credit,” Burns said. “Coach — he’s my type of guy. He wants hard-working guys; that’s what I do. He wants rebounding, he wants toughness, and I felt a connection instantly when he was on the phone all through the time, and we talked throughout the whole situation.

“I was real excited and just happy that he still wanted me to come and was welcoming.”

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