Team Canada Basketball Thread

[mojo13]

The perimeter looking ugly is a bit of an overstatement. Not to long ago we were trotting out Carl English, Jevhon Sheppard, Jermaine Anderson etc (if we were lucky).

Stuaskas and Ennis may be struggling in the NBA but they are (or will soon be) heads and tails better players than what we had 3-4 years ago. Pangos, Hanlan, Scrubb, Heslip are all better players as well. Let alone Cojo/Murray/Wiggins are (will be) light years better.

Pangos in his rookie season at Gran Carnia is near the level English was at his peak. English was probably our best regularly participating player for a decade (not including Nash).

With the bigs we have tremendous depth. And even a couple that seem perfect for the FIBA game (KO).

The angst (at least with me) is that we seem to have had a chance to be one of the elite intentional teams up there with Spain/France/Serbia. But to do that we'd need to be trotting out a full NBA line up with a many starters calibre players and an allstar or two. It doesn't look like we are going to have that -especially when you see Ennis/Stauskas/Nicholson/Bennett all not living up to expectations (we have one NBA regular starter right now and some decent role players). We still dont know how Murray/Lyles will pan out either. But it doesn't mean we'll have a crappy team. I just think it will be that next tier down. One that, if we are lucky can knock off a Spain/Serbia/France and grab a bronze in a major tournament. We will compete at the highest levels, but we will be flawed and not be a favorite to ever medal.

And no - I dont think we have any obvious NBA talent coming down the pipeline after Jamal Murray for the next few years. Not until RJ Barratt and maybe Simi Shittu (but they are a few years from college). We can always be surprised as guys develop at different speeds - Nash, KO, Nicholson, Sacre, Joel Anthony, Dillon Brooks were not regarded as obvious NBA talents in high-school.

In summary - things are looking way, way up for the SMNT but I am a little disappointed with all the Canadian talent entering the NBA the last few years not really panning out yet. There is still time though! Bennett may be able to salvage a career somewhere....Ennis and Stauskas are still so very young.

[super_balls]

Best team in my opinion to put out there:

Joseph/Ennis/Rautins? (Euro Vet) or Pangos
Stauskas/Murray
Wiggins/Bennett/Brooks or Mullins (Liked him in Pan Ams)
Olynyk/Nicholson/Lyles
Thompson/Anthony (Vet Presence)

[frumble]

And there aren't anything close to Wiggins or Murray level prospects in the 16 or 17 recruting classes, right?

That is correct.

In each recruiting class from 2010 through 2015 we had at least one top 20 recruit (going by RSCI composite rankings).

For 2016 our most highly rated recruit is Justin Jackson, but he has completely fallen off the radar since leaving Findlay to come back to Canada.
Other 2016s who I thought had a chance at moving into the top 30 have fallen this year (e.g., Howard Washington Jr. and Koby McEwen). They are fringe top 100 guys.

For 2017, the top rated recruit is Lindell Wigginton (50th on ESPN, 46th on Rivals, and 78th on Scout).
There are a few other guys who appear b/w 50 and 150 on Scout and/or Rivals (Jasey, Brissett, David, Kigab, and Alexander-Walker)
Brissett and Jasey had been much higher a year ago.

I don't think we'll have another top 20 recruit, and true NBA prospect, until Simi Shi ttu (2018) and Rowan Barrett Jr (2019).

[frumble]

For the guys not currently in the NBA who do you think has the best shot at making it? Here is a guess off the top of my head in order of likeliest (not including high-schoolers).
1. Jamal Murray (the only lock)
2. Dillon Brooks (very poor man's Draymond Green?)
3. Khem Birch (elite D and athleticism and improving O gives him a decent shot)
4. Melvin Ejim (versatile small ball 4? he got the highest training camp guarantee of any D-leaguer last year with the Magic. Possible a Jay Crowder type?)
5. Kyle Witljer (elite offense? can his D be better than terrible and get to just bad?)
6. Jordan Bachynski (elite D, size, could fill a back up C role)
7. Kevin Pangos (too small, slow....interestingly he seems to be playing more SG in Spain)
8. Olivier Hanlan
9. Brady Heslip
10. XRM? (another year to become a better PG?)

Good list. I would put Boucher on the list (maybe ahead of Bachynski or even Wiltjer), but agree that it is pretty sketchy from 5 on.

Anyone know if Brooks is considering coming out this year? Both NBAdraft.net and draftexpress have him in their 2017 mock draft (early 2nd round).

[TooBad]

Do you guys think XRM is an NBA player? His highlight videos are amazing but it seems like he gets no recognition because he choose to go to an awful school. Anyway, is he a late second rounder or will he have to prove himself elsewhere first.

[DreamTeam09]

Do you guys think XRM is an NBA player? His highlight videos are amazing but it seems like he gets no recognition because he choose to go to an awful school. Anyway, is he a late second rounder or will he have to prove himself elsewhere first.

XRM will make the NBA. I think he has 2 years left to declare. He gets buckets but he's also becoming a pretty good pg. That big outburst last year put him on the map. He's legit

[DrCoach]

There are some very good Canadians playing in the National Basketball League of Canada that should get a look

[Yeezus_]

Best team in my opinion to put out there:

Joseph/Ennis/Rautins? (Euro Vet) or Pangos
Stauskas/Murray
Wiggins/Bennett/Brooks or Mullins (Liked him in Pan Ams)
Olynyk/Nicholson/Lyles
Thompson/Anthony (Vet Presence)

Dwight Powell will be on the team and should be getting starter minutes imo.

3 big rotation of TT, Olynyk and Powell should be sufficient.

[super_balls]

Best team in my opinion to put out there:

Joseph/Ennis/Rautins? (Euro Vet) or Pangos
Stauskas/Murray
Wiggins/Bennett/Brooks or Mullins (Liked him in Pan Ams)
Olynyk/Nicholson/Lyles
Thompson/Anthony (Vet Presence)

Dwight Powell will be on the team and should be getting starter minutes imo.

3 big rotation of TT, Olynyk and Powell should be sufficient.

Can't believe I forgot about Powell.

Joseph/Ennis/Rautins
Staukas/Murray
Wiggins/Bennett
Olynyk/Nicholson/Lyles
Thompson/Powell/Anthony

[super_balls]

Do you guys think XRM is an NBA player? His highlight videos are amazing but it seems like he gets no recognition because he choose to go to an awful school. Anyway, is he a late second rounder or will he have to prove himself elsewhere first.

XRM will make the NBA. I think he has 2 years left to declare. He gets buckets but he's also becoming a pretty good pg. That big outburst last year put him on the map. He's legit

A lot of people in the NCAA get "buckets". He's not athletic nor steady enough to be a PG in the NBA. Just too much talent at that position in the NBA right now. The one skill he has is that he can shoot. Maybe in the future he can develop as a Gary Neal but there is just too much players like him.

[mojo13]

Do you guys think XRM is an NBA player? His highlight videos are amazing but it seems like he gets no recognition because he choose to go to an awful school. Anyway, is he a late second rounder or will he have to prove himself elsewhere first.

XRM will make the NBA. I think he has 2 years left to declare. He gets buckets but he's also becoming a pretty good pg. That big outburst last year put him on the map. He's legit

A lot of people in the NCAA get "buckets". He's not athletic nor steady enough to be a PG in the NBA. Just too much talent at that position in the NBA right now. The one skill he has is that he can shoot. Maybe in the future he can develop as a Gary Neal but there is just too much players like him.

Agree. I don't see it with XRM yet. I get that he is transitioning to PG and it may take more time. But he can't even shoot as suggested. He is very inefficient (a chucker some would say) - his 3pt shooting % is about 29% and hasn't improved from last year (Jamal Murray is at about 42% 3pts percentage). He doesn't seem to have PG vision and turns the ball over too much. Of course he can still improve but as mentioned the PG position in the NBA is so competitive and you'd think a prospect needs to show elite talent and potential by this age. Could happen, but he is a long shot in my books.

[mojo13]

Best team in my opinion to put out there:

Joseph/Ennis/Rautins? (Euro Vet) or Pangos
Stauskas/Murray
Wiggins/Bennett/Brooks or Mullins (Liked him in Pan Ams)
Olynyk/Nicholson/Lyles
Thompson/Anthony (Vet Presence)

Dwight Powell will be on the team and should be getting starter minutes imo.

3 big rotation of TT, Olynyk and Powell should be sufficient.

Can't believe I forgot about Powell.

Joseph/Ennis/Rautins
Staukas/Murray
Wiggins/Bennett
Olynyk/Nicholson/Lyles
Thompson/Powell/Anthony

That is 13 players...and we already know Nicholson, Bennett, Powell, Sacre and Murray likely wont be available for the Olympic qualifier (but I am not sure if you guys are talking this summer, or a hypothetical scenario) . We are also probably better off with Pangos, Hanlan or Heslip over Rautins (no doubt) and likely over Ennis too (but at least that is debatable). I'd think hard about Ejim over Bennett too - or at least find a real SF, because it aint Bennett. You got 6 guards/wings above and 7 bigs...you are probably looking more at 7 guards/wings and 5 bigs. Maybe 6/6.
I don't think Joel Anthony brings much to this listed team either. Robert Sacre is bigger and younger and could fill that role.
If we are talking this summer we are likely looking at something like this:

Joseph/Ennis/Pangos
Staukas/Heslip
Wiggins/ Doornekamp (it pains me to write that)
Thompson /Lyles / Ejim
Olynyk/ (hopefully one other big gets their FA act together - Powell/Nicholson/Sacre/Bennett. Or maybe Khem Birch or Bachynski slides in).

[super_balls]

Dwight Powell will be on the team and should be getting starter minutes imo.

3 big rotation of TT, Olynyk and Powell should be sufficient.

Can't believe I forgot about Powell.

Joseph/Ennis/Rautins
Staukas/Murray
Wiggins/Bennett
Olynyk/Nicholson/Lyles
Thompson/Powell/Anthony

That is 13 players...and we already know Nicholson, Bennett, Powell, Sacre and Murray likely wont be available for the Olympic qualifier (but I am not sure if you guys are talking this summer, or a hypothetical scenario) . We are also probably better off with Pangos, Hanlan or Heslip over Rautins (no doubt) and likely over Ennis too (but at least that is debatable). I'd think hard about Ejim over Bennett too - or at least find a real SF, because it aint Bennett. You got 6 guards/wings above and 7 bigs...you are probably looking more at 7 guards/wings and 5 bigs. Maybe 6/6.
I don't think Joel Anthony brings much to this listed team either. Robert Sacre is bigger and younger and could fill that role.
If we are talking this summer we are likely looking at something like this:

Joseph/Ennis/Pangos
Staukas/Heslip
Wiggins/ Doornekamp (it pains me to write that)
Thompson /Lyles / Ejim
Olynyk/ (hopefully one other big gets their FA act together - Powell/Nicholson/Sacre/Bennett. Or maybe Khem Birch or Bachynski slides in).

It was a hypothetical. As for this summer, I really hated doornekamp. What do you think about Daniel Mullins instead? I know he is small but he really played that Tony Allen role well. I like Ejim at the 3 as well. Bennett's game flourishes in FIBA, it really showed during the pan-ams where he dominated (even though the competition was mediocre). I think he should play in Europe for a while and refine his game there.
Hopefully he gets a contract out there and plays this summer. Our SF depth is pretty bad.

Speaking of Powell, he is a guy I can see Masai jumping on. He has range out to 20 feet, atheltic, high motor, high IQ and learning as a defender.

[TheFutureMM]

Can't believe I forgot about Powell.

Joseph/Ennis/Rautins
Staukas/Murray
Wiggins/Bennett
Olynyk/Nicholson/Lyles
Thompson/Powell/Anthony

That is 13 players...and we already know Nicholson, Bennett, Powell, Sacre and Murray likely wont be available for the Olympic qualifier (but I am not sure if you guys are talking this summer, or a hypothetical scenario) . We are also probably better off with Pangos, Hanlan or Heslip over Rautins (no doubt) and likely over Ennis too (but at least that is debatable). I'd think hard about Ejim over Bennett too - or at least find a real SF, because it aint Bennett. You got 6 guards/wings above and 7 bigs...you are probably looking more at 7 guards/wings and 5 bigs. Maybe 6/6.
I don't think Joel Anthony brings much to this listed team either. Robert Sacre is bigger and younger and could fill that role.
If we are talking this summer we are likely looking at something like this:

Joseph/Ennis/Pangos
Staukas/Heslip
Wiggins/ Doornekamp (it pains me to write that)
Thompson /Lyles / Ejim
Olynyk/ (hopefully one other big gets their FA act together - Powell/Nicholson/Sacre/Bennett. Or maybe Khem Birch or Bachynski slides in).

It was a hypothetical. As for this summer, I really hated doornekamp. What do you think about Daniel Mullins instead? I know he is small but he really played that Tony Allen role well. I like Ejim at the 3 as well. Bennett's game flourishes in FIBA, it really showed during the pan-ams where he dominated (even though the competition was mediocre). I think he should play in Europe for a while and refine his game there.
Hopefully he gets a contract out there and plays this summer. Our SF depth is pretty bad.

Speaking of Powell, he is a guy I can see Masai jumping on. He has range out to 20 feet, atheltic, high motor, high IQ and learning as a defender.

The national team seems convinced that Ejim is a 4 - which is too bad considering it would be nice to move on from Doornekamp. At this stage it's still his spot to lose. Also, I would like to see a return of Mullins too but maybe not this summer...

As for the future of our SF depth I think it's pretty much a guarantee that Dillon Brooks will get the coveted back-up spot to Wiggins as soon as next summer regardless of whether or not he makes the NBA. He has all the tools and his size/speed on the defensive end won't be a disability at the International level.

[frumble]

The national team seems convinced that Ejim is a 4 - which is too bad considering it would be nice to move on from Doornekamp. At this stage it's still his spot to lose. Also, I would like to see a return of Mullins too but maybe not this summer...

As for the future of our SF depth I think it's pretty much a guarantee that Dillon Brooks will get the coveted back-up spot to Wiggins as soon as next summer regardless of whether or not he makes the NBA. He has all the tools and his size/speed on the defensive end won't be a disability at the International level.

Agreed. Having lineups with Bennett or Ejim or Powell at SF is wishful thinking. They are not seen as SFs by the program.
We are stuck with Doornekamp as the top backup SF candidate until Brooks is ready (or K. Joseph returns to the program - and at this point I am not even sure if Joseph would be better than Doornekamp).

If we are talking this summer we are likely looking at something like this:

Joseph/Ennis/Pangos
Staukas/Heslip
Wiggins/ Doornekamp (it pains me to write that)
Thompson /Lyles / Ejim
Olynyk/ (hopefully one other big gets their FA act together - Powell/Nicholson/Sacre/Bennett. Or maybe Khem Birch or Bachynski slides in).

I think this is probably a best case scenario, as it assumes full participation by everyone but the FAs. (and assumes they come to their senses by having 5 guards and 5 bigs, instead of 4/6 like last summer).

But assuming this list is what it ends up being (with Birch or Bachynski as the 5th big), we would be looking at 5 changes from last summer's FIBA Americas team:

Ennis and Pangos instead of Scrubb at backup guard.
I think this would be an improvement in terms of depth and personnel.

Thompson, Lyles and Bachynski or Birch instead of Bennett, Nicholson, Powell, and Sacre.
We would lose some scoring but improve defensively and on the boards.

[TooBad]

What about Kyler wiltjer, is he a future NBAer? He is averaging 20pts 6.5 rebounds but is a pretty weak defender.

[Mattd97]

Ennis and Pangos instead of Scrubb at backup guard.

[UcanUwill]

So, FIBA Olympic draw just happened. If Canada qualifies, they will be placed in group B with Lithuania, Nigeria, Spain, Brazil and Argentina.

[SharoneWright]

So, FIBA Olympic draw just happened. If Canada qualifies, they will be placed in group B with Lithuania, Nigeria, Spain, Brazil and Argentina.

At least we avoid Venezuela!!!

[DeKobe DeBryant]

Do you guys think we can pass France and qualify? I'm not sure, tbh.