Team Canada Basketball Thread V2.0

[TrueNorth31]

I agree with you about sending boys to play men , it would be very difficult for these kids to compete. In terms of entry to P.R, your absolutely right ( I checked ) all you need is a negative test within 72 hours of arrival , pass the airport temperature screening and then your off with no quarantine.

In terms of Spain (Where many of our prominent players play ) it appears the situation is much murkier.

"Travelers from the European Union, Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, Thailand and Uruguay are all allowed to enter Spain without having to undergo quarantine. However, arrivals from the UK are restricted until February 2, 2021, except for Spanish nationals and legal residents of Spain.
Visitors from other countries are not permitted to enter, unless they gain special permission from the Spanish government."

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/spain-travel-covid-19/index.html

Could our athletes get this special permission after leaving the Euro Union bubble, going to a country on the no fly list and then transiting through the USA or the UK to return. Hard to say, but I have my doubts ?

[TrueNorth31]

Entry into France doesn't seem all that promising either.


"Those arriving from European Union countries, as well as those from Australia, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Rwanda, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and Thailand can enter France without any restrictions. French nationals and permanent residents may return from any country. Arrivals from the UK are currently restricted, thanks to the new variant.
Those arriving from other countries must meet strict exemption criteria, complete a sworn declaration that they do not have any Covid-19 symptoms and have an exempted international movement certificate. These are available from the French Interior Ministry."

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/france-travel-covid-19

What makes it confusing is that travel within the European bubble seems to be acceptable so the various Euro leagues and qualifiers can go on without much of a hitch - go out of that bubble it becomes more daunting. Man what a logistical nightmare. I hope Canada Basketball can pull it off.

[mtr15]

I mentioned this in another thread but I think Canada Basketball needs to get creative and explore elite prep high school players, such as Elijah Fisher, Enoch Boykae, Shaedon Sharpe and Caleb Houstan (the latter two depending on their US prep schedule). It looks very likely the Canadian prep season (OSBA, NPA) will not take place this year, freeing up players like Fisher and Boykae for next month's FIBA Americup.

Another issue is the coaching staff. Probably would need to have some of the prep HS coaches on staff, like Tony House from Canada Topflight Academy, Ro Russell from Crestwood Prep and Tony McIntyre from Orangeville Prep.

15-17 year olds versus grown men? Professionals no less? I don't care if it is USVI or Cuba that's a recipe for disaster.

I think people tend to overrate these children to this level. There are a couple hundred Canadian pro's better than these kids at this point in time. One or two for roster filler then sure - maybe we can even get away with some on floor role if there are solid pro's all around them.

Yes....yes... now go ahead and tell me how awesome RJ Barrett was playing for the senior team in 2019 at 18. Surrounded by pro team mates, hidden by coaches, still targeted at torn up on D by the USVI, shot like crap from outside, but scored double digit points on open court layups in transition.

My apologies. I actually meant having a couple of those HS prep players on the squad in order for Canada to field a full team. I didn't mean having a whole team full of 15-17 year old players. That wouldn't make sense. You definitely need most of the squad to be seasoned pros.

This YT video is a roundtable discussion with Greg Francis, Ro Russell and Drew Ebanks regarding Canada's participation in the FIBA Americup. This was recorded back in November (before the November round of games) and it mentions having some players in the youth HS ranks on the FIBA AmerCup squad.

Watch on YouTube

[TrueNorth31]

I mentioned this in another thread but I think Canada Basketball needs to get creative and explore elite prep high school players, such as Elijah Fisher, Enoch Boykae, Shaedon Sharpe and Caleb Houstan (the latter two depending on their US prep schedule). It looks very likely the Canadian prep season (OSBA, NPA) will not take place this year, freeing up players like Fisher and Boykae for next month's FIBA Americup.

Another issue is the coaching staff. Probably would need to have some of the prep HS coaches on staff, like Tony House from Canada Topflight Academy, Ro Russell from Crestwood Prep and Tony McIntyre from Orangeville Prep.

15-17 year olds versus grown men? Professionals no less? I don't care if it is USVI or Cuba that's a recipe for disaster.

I think people tend to overrate these children to this level. There are a couple hundred Canadian pro's better than these kids at this point in time. One or two for roster filler then sure - maybe we can even get away with some on floor role if there are solid pro's all around them.

Yes....yes... now go ahead and tell me how awesome RJ Barrett was playing for the senior team in 2019 at 18. Surrounded by pro team mates, hidden by coaches, still targeted at torn up on D by the USVI, shot like crap from outside, but scored double digit points on open court layups in transition.

My apologies. I actually meant having a couple of those HS prep players on the squad in order for Canada to field a full team. I didn't mean having a whole team full of 15-17 year old players. That wouldn't make sense. You definitely need most of the squad to be seasoned pros.

This YT video is a roundtable discussion with Greg Francis, Ro Russell and Drew Ebanks regarding Canada's participation in the FIBA Americup. This was recorded back in November (before the November round of games) and it mentions having some players in the youth HS ranks on the FIBA AmerCup squad.

Watch on YouTube

I could see this happening , send Houstan and Nembhard as 11-12 men. They did this with SGA in Manila for him to get some experience.

[mojo13]

Entry into France doesn't seem all that promising either.


"Those arriving from European Union countries, as well as those from Australia, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Rwanda, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and Thailand can enter France without any restrictions. French nationals and permanent residents may return from any country. Arrivals from the UK are currently restricted, thanks to the new variant.
Those arriving from other countries must meet strict exemption criteria, complete a sworn declaration that they do not have any Covid-19 symptoms and have an exempted international movement certificate. These are available from the French Interior Ministry."

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/france-travel-covid-19

What makes it confusing is that travel within the EU bubble seems to be acceptable so the Euro qualifiers can go on without much of a hitch - go out of that bubble it becomes more daunting. Man what a logistical nightmare. I hope Canada Basketball can pull it off.

A couple things to note. Neither of the quotes say anything about the USA so still a little unknown on the specifics there. Further, many Canadian players are using European passports and some may even be considered permanent residents of their current nation. Also the French quote above mentions "an exempted international movement certificate. These are available from the French Interior Ministry." Surely the guys playing in the international competitions (EL, EC, BCL) have these.

Again - I just look at what other countries are doing. Other FIBA Americas teams are pulling Euro based guys. I don't see why Canada can't unless it chooses not to.

Edit:
I looked at the French govt website and the restrictions are much looser.
"Internal European borders remain open. . All travellers arriving in France from countries outside of European Union must present a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old in order to board a plane or boat.
If you do not have access to a PCR test in the country you are travelling from you will be tested on your arrival."
https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19


People are travelling all over the world... it is not as hard as you guys seem to think. Canada really seems in a bunker mentality.

[TrueNorth31]

I wonder if the work around for Brazil with some of their European players on the initial roster, is do those players have dual Spanish/ Brazilian citizenship ?

I see that Luz does, but Lima a Brazilian teammate on Murca doesn't. Maybe that's a factor ? Easier to return from travel abroad if your a permanent resident or Spanish Citizen ?

https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Spain/Universidad-Catolica-de-Murcia-CB/258?Page=1

[TrueNorth31]

Interesting discussion . What we need is real journalists to start asking the hard questions . I don't Canada is alone in this bunker mentality ( just look at the Australian open ) , I think you just live in a place with the polar opposite attitude. Your right though international travel is all around us , just bizarre .

https://www.flightradar24.com/46,-118.72/5

[mtr15]

15-17 year olds versus grown men? Professionals no less? I don't care if it is USVI or Cuba that's a recipe for disaster.

I think people tend to overrate these children to this level. There are a couple hundred Canadian pro's better than these kids at this point in time. One or two for roster filler then sure - maybe we can even get away with some on floor role if there are solid pro's all around them.

Yes....yes... now go ahead and tell me how awesome RJ Barrett was playing for the senior team in 2019 at 18. Surrounded by pro team mates, hidden by coaches, still targeted at torn up on D by the USVI, shot like crap from outside, but scored double digit points on open court layups in transition.

My apologies. I actually meant having a couple of those HS prep players on the squad in order for Canada to field a full team. I didn't mean having a whole team full of 15-17 year old players. That wouldn't make sense. You definitely need most of the squad to be seasoned pros.

This YT video is a roundtable discussion with Greg Francis, Ro Russell and Drew Ebanks regarding Canada's participation in the FIBA Americup. This was recorded back in November (before the November round of games) and it mentions having some players in the youth HS ranks on the FIBA AmerCup squad.

Watch on YouTube

I could see this happening , send Houstan and Nembhard as 11-12 men. They did this with SGA in Manila for him to get some experience.

If this Montverde basketball schedule is accurate, they could be available for the February round. So far it looks like the last Montverde regular season game is in early February.

https://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/montverde-academy-eagles-(montverde,fl)/basketball/schedule.htm

EDIT: Looks like the full link is not showing. Add the final part of the link to get the schedule.

[TrueNorth31]

We've been sanctioned by Fiba !

http://www.fiba.basketball/americup/2022/qualifiers/news/sanctions-for-failure-to-participate-in-the-fiba-americup-2022-qualifiers-window-in-november

I see they've deferred some of the penalty to use as a carrot to get our asses down there in February.

CHF is Swiss Francs ( Fiba head office is in Geneva ).

160,000 CHF is about 229,000 Trudeau dollars ( CB should just send the bill to Skippy ).

Frankly we deserve it somewhat given how other countries have managed to show up for Fiba events during times of Covid.

Better get Drake on the horn

[mojo13]

We've been sanctioned by Fiba !

http://www.fiba.basketball/americup/2022/qualifiers/news/sanctions-for-failure-to-participate-in-the-fiba-americup-2022-qualifiers-window-in-november

I see they've deferred some of the penalty to use as a carrot to get our asses down there in February.

CHF is Swiss Francs ( Fiba head office is in Geneva ).

160,000 CHF is about 229,000 Trudeau dollars ( CB should just send the bill to Skippy ).

Frankly we deserve it given how other countries have managed to show up for Fiba events during times of Covid.

Better get Drake on the horn

Got to drag us Canadian's kicking and screaming to play bball when faced with a wee bit of adversity.

Not like Canada Basketball can afford this but it is a good kick in the pants. Lucky it wasn't worse.

[TrueNorth31]

I've heard Rowan Barrett was/is working remotely for Basketball Canada while living close to R.J. in New Jersey. It seems if you live in the States you can go to P.R. , return with no quarantine and then get back to your life with no questions asked.

Maybe time to get him back in shape ?

Heck - get the whole band back together again.

Wennington, Wiltjer , Rick Fox any Canadian hoop expatriate living in the States who wants a free trip to San Juan ?

[mojo13]

I've heard Rowan Barrett was/is working remotely for Basketball Canada while living close to R.J. in New Jersey. It seems if you live in the States you can go to P.R. , return with no quarantine and then get back to your life with no questions asked.

Maybe time to get him back in shape ?

Heck - get the whole band back together again.

Wennington, Wiltjer , Rick Fox any Canadian hoop expatriate living in the States who wants a free trip to San Juan ?

Heck...it would be nice if they could drag the G-League guys into this. Stuaskas, Brissett, Shittu, Justin Jackson, XRM would be a fine starting five to me.

[Kenter16]

I've heard Rowan Barrett was/is working remotely for Basketball Canada while living close to R.J. in New Jersey. It seems if you live in the States you can go to P.R. , return with no quarantine and then get back to your life with no questions asked.

Maybe time to get him back in shape ?

Heck - get the whole band back together again.

Wennington, Wiltjer , Rick Fox any Canadian hoop expatriate living in the States who wants a free trip to San Juan ?

Heck...it would be nice if they could drag the G-League guys into this. Stuaskas, Brissett, Shittu, Justin Jackson, XRM would be a fine starting five to me.

The G-league will be in it's bubble. So, unfortunately none of them will be there unless they don't make a roster.

[TrueNorth31]

Canada Basketball responds to the sanctions.

https://www.basketball.ca/news/canada-basketball-statement-on-fiba-americup-2022-qualifiers-sanctions

I can understand both points of view.

I thought Canada had quite legitimate concerns about going to the D.R. , a poorer third world country with a limited medical system in the middle of a pandemic ( although to give the D.R. their due they seemed to pull it off without any great concerns ) .

Having said that , 47 other countries managed to play in November without issue. If Fiba doesn't put down some sort of hammer their whole qualification system is going to fall apart if other teams follow Canada. I don't love this new system, but you can't let the squeaky wheel run the whole show.

My guess is we appeal - they reduce the fine down the road.

By changing the tournament schedule they've given us a way out this mess so we'd better show up in P.R. This is a place which is an American territory and has a robust health infrastructure so I think they can pull off a safe bubble experience.

Off course on twitter we have all sorts of jingoistic flag waving and virtue signalling from people who have a very limited knowledge base.

[mojo13]

Canada Basketball responds to the sanctions.

https://www.basketball.ca/news/canada-basketball-statement-on-fiba-americup-2022-qualifiers-sanctions

I can understand both points of view.

I thought Canada had quite legitimate concerns about going to the D.R. , a poorer third world country with a limited medical system in the middle of a pandemic ( although to give the D.R. their due they seemed to pull it off without any great concerns ) .

Having said that , 47 other countries managed to play in November without issue. If Fiba doesn't put down some sort of hammer their whole qualification system is going to fall apart if other teams follow Canada. I don't love this new system, but you can't let the squeaky wheel run the whole show.

My guess is we appeal - they reduce the fine down the road.

By changing the tournament schedule they've given us a way out this mess so we'd better show up in P.R. This is a place which is an American territory and has a robust health infrastructure so I think they can pull off a safe bubble experience.

Off course on twitter we have all sorts of jingoistic flag waving and virtue signalling from people who have a very limited knowledge base.

Yeah the Canadian Exceptionalism is alive and well on Twitter. Quite sanctimonious per usual.
Have to think any country would be hit like this by FIBA - probably harder to be honest.

[Kenter16]

Read on Twitter

Well, I guess there goes our chance of seeing the best Canadian team ever play in the Olympics this year. Sounds like this Olympic cycle will be skipped completely.

The report seems to be speculation, but Arash Madani retweeted it, so that gives me the idea that there is SOME merit to it.

It's awful for us fans. I really wanted to see our top guys compete on the world stage. The next world tournament is the 2023 world cup. However, that takes place in Japan, Philipines and Indonesia. We couldn't get our B team to go to China, so there not much chance of our A team showing up in 2023. I guess it's Paris 2024.

[OAKLEY_2]

We've been sanctioned by Fiba !

http://www.fiba.basketball/americup/2022/qualifiers/news/sanctions-for-failure-to-participate-in-the-fiba-americup-2022-qualifiers-window-in-november

I see they've deferred some of the penalty to use as a carrot to get our asses down there in February.

CHF is Swiss Francs ( Fiba head office is in Geneva ).

160,000 CHF is about 229,000 Trudeau dollars ( CB should just send the bill to Skippy ).

Frankly we deserve it somewhat given how other countries have managed to show up for Fiba events during times of Covid.

Better get Drake on the horn

In a Pandemic with millions dead?

"In the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic that has claimed the lives of over two million people around the world, and infected 96 million more, never did we think we'd be forced to make a decision between the well-being of players and staff, and sanctioning for an inability to safely participate in an international competition,'' Canada Basketball said in a statement."

Olympics and FIBA are corrupt.

[TrueNorth31]

"Olympics and FIBA are corrupt"

By this rationale are not the NBA, NHL, MLB, Euroleague soccer, Hockey Canada ( World Juniors ), CEBL, Canada Curling or anybody else who've tried to have a bubble concept also corrupt ?

As I said in a following post Canada Basketball had legitimate reasons to not go to the D.R. , but Fiba also has a mandate, just like all the other sports organizations that are trying to keep moving forward in difficult times. Canada has every right to complain about it's treatment and to find a reasonable compromise.

On this thread we try to get to the bottom of things, looking at all the various perspectives. Vacuous virtue signalling and emotionally labile flag waving doesn't add much to the discussion.

[TrueNorth31]

I was wrong Canada was not the only country sanctioned by Fiba. China Taiwan and Korea also chose not to play in the last window and have been sanctioned by Fiba ( exact same fine ? ).

https://www.fiba.basketball/asiacup/2021/qualifiers/news/sanctions-for-failure-to-participate-in-the-fiba-asia-cup-2021-qualifiers-window-in-november#:~:text=MIES%20(Switzerland)

Interesting Canada is not alone and has not been singled out as some narratives lead us to believe. In the November window 60 of 64 teams in Europe, Asia, South and North America were able to compete. I haven't heard any major outbreaks occurring during these events , although media coverage has been limited. I imagine Fiba has put the hammer down hard fearing other countries are going to jump ship and join those who are in mutiny. I'm sure they are particularly worried about the influence of China. Hopefully they reduce the fines on appeal down the road.

It's fair to ask why don't they just delay things a few months ( although it may be too late as most foreign leagues have built in breaks into their schedules to accommodate these windows ) ? The new competition system initiated by Fiba in the last quadrennial is not universally popular and they may be fighting tooth and nail to preserve it.

At any rate as Kenter points out the Olympics in Japan are in serious trouble and may not occur. It's odd the IOC ( which derives its revenue from TV broadcasting ) and the Japanese government which has spent 25 billion on the event seem keen to go, but the Japanese population is 80% against having the games. Who wins out the people or the big institutions ? On top of that the squabble with Fiba may put Canada's participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics in jeopardy.

Alas - being a fan of Canada Basketball is not a road for the meek!

[mojo13]

Japan denying the report from yesterday about canceling the Olympics.

For what it is worth.

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/olympic-games/1159697/japan-denies-report-of-2021-olympics-cancelation/



TrueNorth - thanks for staying on top of this. Very helpful.

The comments on Twitter are frustrating to see. Just complete indignation that FIBA would do this to Canada with no reflection on what's happening. It is really is a black/white good/bad world out there to most people.

Refreshing when people actually think about both sides of an issue.