Team Canada Basketball Thread V2.0

[mojo13]

First WC Qualifier team roster tidbit: Per Twitter Rana was at the 905 game today with the intent to watch the Canadian players. Said that Duane Notice will be part of the upcoming roster.
Unsurprisingly nothing said about Boucher (for or against) as we are pretty sure two-guys are not being released. Too bad as he was fantastic again today. 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting, nine rebounds, a pair of triples, and six blocks in 25 minutes.

[mojo13]

Melvin Ejim hasn't played for UNICS since Oct 23rd vs Unicaja. Can't find anything on whether he is injured, but that seems a logical conclusion. Anyone know? With the next FIBA WC Qualifiers window in a little over two weeks - that would certainly put his participation in doubt.


EDIT: There was a mention of him being injured last month by UNICS president, but no details on severity or length of recovery time. Obviously a huge loss if he is out - but some other good PFs out there we might be able to get to show up (Nicholson? Wiltjer?). I still think Marc Trasolini is a little underrated and didnt get much chance to to show off last November. Perhaps Dyshan Pierre/Tommy Scrubb combo at the forwards will be what we get. I can deal with that - I cant deal with Grandy Glaze on the roster and getting minutes again. I suppose we could have Anthony Bennett and/or Justin Jackson in the mix as well. Jackson finally played for the Lakeland Magic this week (6 minutes) - but I'd consider him an injury absence risk right now. Bennett could be hurt for all I know too - only 5 played minutes on Sunday. He supposedly left the game early with the trainer. Sure wish Chris Boucher was available.

Now news of XRM injured and out for 2-3 weeks. There goes him as a PG option.
https://www.talkbasket.net/32535-xavier-rathan-mayes-out-for-2-3-weeks/amp?__twitter_impression=true

The bad news is beginning to trickle in.

[Hair Canada]

Melvin Ejim hasn't played for UNICS since Oct 23rd vs Unicaja. Can't find anything on whether he is injured, but that seems a logical conclusion. Anyone know? With the next FIBA WC Qualifiers window in a little over two weeks - that would certainly put his participation in doubt.


EDIT: There was a mention of him being injured last month by UNICS president, but no details on severity or length of recovery time. Obviously a huge loss if he is out - but some other good PFs out there we might be able to get to show up (Nicholson? Wiltjer?). I still think Marc Trasolini is a little underrated and didnt get much chance to to show off last November. Perhaps Dyshan Pierre/Tommy Scrubb combo at the forwards will be what we get. I can deal with that - I cant deal with Grandy Glaze on the roster and getting minutes again. I suppose we could have Anthony Bennett and/or Justin Jackson in the mix as well. Jackson finally played for the Lakeland Magic this week (6 minutes) - but I'd consider him an injury absence risk right now. Bennett could be hurt for all I know too - only 5 played minutes on Sunday. He supposedly left the game early with the trainer. Sure wish Chris Boucher was available.

Now news of XRM injured and out for 2-3 weeks. There goes him as a PG option.
https://www.talkbasket.net/32535-xavier-rathan-mayes-out-for-2-3-weeks/amp?__twitter_impression=true

The bad news is beginning to trickle in.

Ouch! We might be going to these games with our C team.

[Hair Canada]

Watched the Tennessee game yesterday. Quite a painful experience with their style of play. But Kyle Alexander was excellent. He's really coming along this year, scoring 12 points a game, with 3 blocks. Doesn't look like very impressive numbers for a senior, but watching the game he's the centerpiece of the very good Tennessee defense (allowing only 50 points a game for oponents). Mobile, covers space and pick and rolls well, can hold his ground against big guys, and very good shot blocker.

He's also scoring more than twice what he did last year in a bit more minutes and maintains his great scoring efficiency. Doesn't have much of an offensive game beyond layups, but can also shoot the three when he's open (hit one yesterday with a nice stroke). Reminds me a bit of a Jaren Jackson Jr. type of player. If he continues playing like this, he's worth a second draft pick, or maybe even end of the first draft. Together with Brandon Clarke and Marial Shayok, these are three seniors who might be playing in the NBA next year.

[frumble]

Together with Brandon Clarke and Marial Shayok, these are three seniors who might be playing in the NBA next year.

Great to see those guys doing well. Isn't Clarke a (redshirt) junior?

[TheFutureMM]

Wiggins with the all around game tonight (although not very efficient) - 23/6/4/3/1 + one massive dunk.

https://streamable.com/y5m77

[Hair Canada]

Together with Brandon Clarke and Marial Shayok, these are three seniors who might be playing in the NBA next year.

Great to see those guys doing well. Isn't Clarke a (redshirt) junior?

Yes, you are right about Clarke. Though if he continues playing like this, it might not matter.

[mojo13]

FIBA Americas teams starting to release their preliminary rosters:

Puerto Rico
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/americas-qualifiers/news/huertas-clavell-and-rodriguez-highlight-puerto-rico-s-preliminary-list

Uruguay
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/americas-qualifiers/news/magnano-announces-uruguay-s-preliminary-list-for-home-games-against-puerto-rico-and-usa

http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/americas-qualifiers/news/quintero-s-return-scola-s-presence-and-argentina-s-roster-for-usa-and-mexico-match-ups
Scola is there once again which keeps me thinking Nicholson shouldn't be prevented from playing (if he had the desire).


European teams starting to release rosters as well. Seems the countries that have already qualified (Germany, Lithuania, France etc) are not trying to field their best team, leaving their EuroLeague guys alone. I'm noting that the only EuroLeague players named to their countries so far are playing for "in country clubs", meaning Turkey is able to pressure its three Turkish EuroLeague clubs to release just their Turkish players - Israel is getting Maccabbi to release their Israelis, but they are not releasing anyone else. Turkey is putting huge pressure on Maccabbi to release Scottie Wilbekin (Turkey's naturalized player) but so far they wont.

[mojo13]

Jamal Murray demoted to the bench and Monte Morris takes over as starting PG. Denver wins by 40 plus. Seems Denver has figured out he might not be a PG. will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[bozothepope]

Surprised to see no mention of Iggy Brazdeikis' nice night helping Michigan defeat Villanova 73-46. He had 18pts, 7rbs, 2stl.

[mojo13]

Surprised to see no mention of Iggy Brazdeikis' nice night helping Michigan defeat Villanova 73-46. He had 18pts, 7rbs, 2stl.

Honestly, there is just too much nightly success among the Canadians in the NCAA that’s we’d be posting non stop about everyone’s great games. Iggy Has been great so far but maybe overshadow by RJ last night? Iggy was featured prominently on ESPN.com today.
And then NAW and Brandon Clarke had great games tonight.

Here is a daily tracker tool for anyone who wants to follow closely.
http://northpolehoops.com/2018/11/08/canadian-ncaa-stat-tracker-2018-2019/

[InfraRedshaw]

Jamal Murray demoted to the bench and Monte Morris takes over as starting PG. Denver wins by 40 plus. Seems Denver has figured out he might not be a PG. will be interesting to see how this plays out.

wasn't it for violating team rules?

[Hair Canada]

Jamal Murray demoted to the bench and Monte Morris takes over as starting PG. Denver wins by 40 plus. Seems Denver has figured out he might not be a PG. will be interesting to see how this plays out.

wasn't it for violating team rules?

Ye, that's what I heard as well. I think he was late for practice. Should be back in the starting lineup next game.

[mojo13]

Jamal Murray demoted to the bench and Monte Morris takes over as starting PG. Denver wins by 40 plus. Seems Denver has figured out he might not be a PG. will be interesting to see how this plays out.

wasn't it for violating team rules?

Ye, that's what I heard as well. I think he was late for practice. Should be back in the starting lineup next game.

Ah. I did not know that.
I’ve heard allot of talk on the Nugs boards about their disatisfactuon with Murray as a PG and that Morris was running the team better. Talk of running three guards or having Murray lead the bench - so I thought that was it.

[frumble]

The Sporting News with a mock draft out this morning (first round only).

Barrett 2

Barrett hasn't exactly done anything wrong to justify not going No. 1. He’s averaging 28.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for the Blue Devils while showing off the collection of skills scouts already knew about alongside an improved jumper. He’d be a perfectly fine top pick.

In New York, the 18-year-old would bring a valuable level of playmaking to a franchise that hasn’t finished in the top half of the league in offensive efficiency in five seasons. In particular, Barrett’s ball dominance could help Kevin Knox unlock his potential as a secondary creator on the perimeter.

Dort 19

This section of the draft is heavily populated by big men, and the existence of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis might complicate selecting one for Indiana. Instead, we'll have the Pacers take a slight reach on Dort, a 6-4 bowling ball of a scorer.

The 19-year-old has already proved himself capable of putting up numbers at the college level, but he needs to improve as a shooter to make it at the NBA level.


Shi-ttu 21

The parade of bigs gets back on track with Shittu going to Portland here. Ideally, the Trail Blazers might land a two-way wing in this draft, but there aren’t many available in this range with most of them coming off the board in the teens.

Shittu’s a nice consolation prize. He’s a big man who can handle it in transition and pass it a little in the half-court. He's still recovering his athleticism after suffering a torn ACL in high school, but there’s upside.

http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2019-duke-zion-williamson-rj-barrett-battle-for-top-spot/iluuw7kwmy3y1eifqkaz7hya0

[Hair Canada]

Watched some Canadian NCAA content today. Some impressions:


NAW continues to look great. Much improved from last year. So far he has 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals a game in 3 games, and Virginia Tech look great. Even more impressive is the consistency. In all of last year, he didn't have three games with 20+ in points. He's also added some weight and muscle, and it's clear that this year he's less dependent on his 3-ball going in and attacks the rim more. Reminds me more of his cousin's mentality. He's also contributing much more in other categories (last year he had 1.5 assists and less than 1 steal per game). I expect the stats to go down a bit later, but it seems like he's making that breakthrough we were waiting for. If he continues to produce in this way, he can be a lottery pick.

Simi also looks very good. 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks today, shooting 9/11 from the field and coming out of the game in the last 10 minutes because Vandi were in complete control of the game. Great to see that he came back so well from his injury.

Brisset, on the other hand, looked quite awful in the two Syracuse losses to Connecticut yesterday and Oregon today. He started the season well enough, but in these two games, he had 10 points and 5 rebounds (well below his last year averages). Even worse, his shooting has been horrendous: 5/27 from the field (19%). Field goal percentage was his major weakness last year, and so far this year things only look worse. In the game today against Oregon he looked a bit lost. Wasn't really able to enter the paint with Bol Bol waiting there and was relegated to chucking (very) inaccurate 3-balls. He'll have to bounce back quickly, because although he's a good defender and energy player, he'll be an offensive liability without a reliable 3-points shot, given that he also misses a lot of his layups and lacks a degree of creativity around the basket, especially against length.


Finally, two former team-Canada players with career performances:

Danilo Djuricic with 20 points and 5 assists in a tight Harvard loss. This is he is a starter and is doing much better (highest mark last year was 12 points).

Stef Smith also with a breakout season at Vermont, stepping nicely into the shoes of Trae Bell-Haynes. Today he had a career-high of 24, after starting the season with 22. In 4 games so far he's scoring 18 a game with 3 makes per game from 3, shooting 50% from that range.

Both Djuricic and Smith are not NBA material. Both are too short for their position and not athletic enough. But both are personal favorites of mine and I'm very glad to see them do well. I think they can both have nice careers in Europe eventually.

[frumble]

Princeton with its second game yesterday, and again Llewellyn did not play.

Anyone know if he is injured? Redshirting?

[mojo13]

Princeton with its second game yesterday, and again Llewellyn did not play.

Anyone know if he is injured? Redshirting?

Nursing a minor foot injury. Day to day. Should be the starter when he returns.

Twitter is the place to be for obscure info like this.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Young_Buc]

The Sporting News with a mock draft out this morning (first round only).

Barrett 2

Barrett hasn't exactly done anything wrong to justify not going No. 1. He’s averaging 28.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for the Blue Devils while showing off the collection of skills scouts already knew about alongside an improved jumper. He’d be a perfectly fine top pick.

In New York, the 18-year-old would bring a valuable level of playmaking to a franchise that hasn’t finished in the top half of the league in offensive efficiency in five seasons. In particular, Barrett’s ball dominance could help Kevin Knox unlock his potential as a secondary creator on the perimeter.

Dort 19

This section of the draft is heavily populated by big men, and the existence of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis might complicate selecting one for Indiana. Instead, we'll have the Pacers take a slight reach on Dort, a 6-4 bowling ball of a scorer.

The 19-year-old has already proved himself capable of putting up numbers at the college level, but he needs to improve as a shooter to make it at the NBA level.


Shi-ttu 21

The parade of bigs gets back on track with **** going to Portland here. Ideally, the Trail Blazers might land a two-way wing in this draft, but there aren’t many available in this range with most of them coming off the board in the teens.

****’s a nice consolation prize. He’s a big man who can handle it in transition and pass it a little in the half-court. He's still recovering his athleticism after suffering a torn ACL in high school, but there’s upside.

http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2019-duke-zion-williamson-rj-barrett-battle-for-top-spot/iluuw7kwmy3y1eifqkaz7hya0

Would love for Masai to have a pick in this year's draft. Simi is lightning in a bottle for whoever drafts him because it takes a while to recover from an ACL.

Can also see Clarke, NAW as really good pros.

[Hair Canada]

Princeton with its second game yesterday, and again Llewellyn did not play.

Anyone know if he is injured? Redshirting?

Not redshirted. I read somewhere that he didn't play the first game because of injury. I assume he's still not well enough to play.