CharlieTO wrote:Hair Canada wrote:I think all we are saying is that these things are not at all obvious -- it's not obvious he'll come motivated rather than just "doing us a favor" (all indications so far point to the latter)
This is what I was talking about. You say it's not obvious, but it's obvious and then relaunch criticism. I think some sports fans, especially in this forum just intuitively gravitate to criticizing when given the opportunity without absolute, objective info. I get that we don't usually get absolute, objective info and so that leaves it up to us to interpret the info that we have, but boy do people lean towards criticism and negativity when it comes to evaluating players and coaches. I just think that this coming summer and tourney will finally be the absolute, objective info we'll need to define Andrew Wiggins' relationship with the senior men's national team. I look forward to it and hope he pulls through, travels and is key for us. But, if he fails to answer the call or does and acts like a lazy diva then I'll feel justified in berating him to the level he has been around here and I'll be right there with some of you guys in scolding the **** out of him lol.
Okay, I should clarify that I'm not a hater. I would love for Wiggins to come happily, play team basketball and help Canada win. I don't wish him badly at all and in fact, continue to cheer for him when he plays with Minnesota. I even don't think that he HAS to come this summer or ever. Playing for the national team is a privilege and an honor (as many see it), but not an obligation and players who do not want to do it are fully within their right.
BUT -- the skepticism about him here as it relates to the national team is by no means just a matter of us being negative. I think it's well merited and highly based on facts. As I said, he's given people every reason to doubt that he has any commitment to the team by not showing up to the last few campaigns (including the last chance games before the Olympics) and not even bothering to fake interest or being happy for team wins on social media, like many others have done.
And what we've seen from him in the NBA has been mostly inefficient basketball, with little contribution in any aspect of the game besides scoring (which he does inefficiently), playing poor defense, showing little passion for the game, and not helping his team win games. Again, this is not me hating. Those are just the facts and we would say this about any player who is not a Canadian who was playing the way he does. So yes, this kind of basketball, despite the clear talent and tools, gives me pause and I'm not that convinced that he can truly help team Canada. I'd love to be wrong about this (truly I would; obviously I have no interst in seeing Wiggins or team Canada fail).
