Team Canada Basketball Thread

[TheDoctor]

Old one:

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1381208&start=4020

[Raps Maniac]

First

EDIT: Spot sold to Bank of Montreal

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkQKPGwGYuk[/youtube]

[Ell Curry]

At this moment in time, our rotation going forward looks something like this:

Joseph-Murray-Wiggins-Lyles-Thompson
Ennis-Stauskas-Powell-Nicholson-Olynyk

We really need those backup guards to start playing better to have a decent rotation of NBA players. Team still probably too young to get to RIo, but the talent is definitely there. That frontcourt is really quite decent.

[mojo13]

At this moment in time, our rotation going forward looks something like this:

Joseph-Murray-Wiggins-Lyles-Thompson
Ennis-Stauskas-Powell-Nicholson-Olynyk

We really need those backup guards to start playing better to have a decent rotation of NBA players. Team still probably too young to get to RIo, but the talent is definitely there. That frontcourt is really quite decent.

Why is the "State of the Union" thread locked (with over 200 pages of good content and analysis) and this new thread is open?

And to the above poster - it is easy to name our NBA player players, but they all may not be available and they may not even be our best suited players. And it is doubtful this is how our rotation will look.

Murray and Nicholson likely wont be playing (won't have contracts). Lyles is uncertain as well. And in my opinion Kevin Pangos or Olivier Hanlan may be better suited to FIBA than Tyler Ennis. Brady Heslip will likely be on the team too. Melvin Ejim, Anthony Bennett, Aaron Doornekamp, Robert Sacre and Phil Scrubb may all be in the mix as well.

I do think Wiggins, Cojo, Thompson, Olynyk, Stuaskas and Powell will be the core of the team though. I'd be surprised if the staters are not: Cojo / Stauskas / Wiggins / TT / Olynyk

[MessiahUjiri]

Sarah Palin does not approve.

We need more right wingin', bitter clingin' gun lovin' lovers of God.

Balieve me, when Trump is president, America is gonna be so great, so great that you're gonna be BORED.

What we need to do is build a wall to make America Great Again.

[Ell Curry]

At this moment in time, our rotation going forward looks something like this:

Joseph-Murray-Wiggins-Lyles-Thompson
Ennis-Stauskas-Powell-Nicholson-Olynyk

We really need those backup guards to start playing better to have a decent rotation of NBA players. Team still probably too young to get to RIo, but the talent is definitely there. That frontcourt is really quite decent.

Why is the "State of the Union" thread locked (with over 200 pages of good content and analysis) and this new thread is open?

And to the above poster - it is easy to name our NBA player players, but they all may not be available and they may not even be our best suited players. And it is doubtful this is how our rotation will look.

Murray and Nicholson likely wont be playing (won't have contracts). Lyles is uncertain as well. And in my opinion Kevin Pangos or Olivier Hanlan may be better suited to FIBA than Tyler Ennis. Brady Heslip will likely be on the team too. Melvin Ejim, Anthony Bennett, Aaron Doornekamp, Robert Sacre and Phil Scrubb may all be in the mix as well.

I do think Wiggins, Cojo, Thompson, Olynyk, Stuaskas and Powell will be the core of the team though. I'd be surprised if the staters are not: Cojo / Stauskas / Wiggins / TT / Olynyk

I didn't mean this summer, which is why I wrote going forward. I like Stauskas, but it seems unlikely he'll be an NBA starter considering his awful numbers so far and Murray looks an NBA starter level talent, right? Lyles was a high recruit, lotto pick and has been promising now that he's getting playing time, and the NBA game, at last, is now prioritizing players of his style at both forward positions.

I think by the summer of 17, it will clearly be a core of Cojo-Murray-Wiggins-Olynyk-Lyles-TT getting most of the minutes and then a 2nd tier of the players we've both mentioned fighting for playing time. But those 6 all look like average or above-average NBA players and with no huge recruits from 15-17, I don't see anyone else at even 30% likely to get to that level.

FIBA is a different game and fit matters of course, but those above 6 names are actually nicely spread out and the frontcourt players are quite versatile and with TT being able to switch decently, I think getting the best players out there makes the most sense.

I'd say add a shooter, but Lyles and Olynyk playing the 4 should make up for CoJo being average from outside and Wiggins just not being a guy who can take them. So, really it looks like there's that 6 and then there's a big opportunity for some guard (or 2) to step up and join the rotation. Ennis and Stauskas could certainly be beaten out for a spot by a player in Europe, though, I agree there.

[mojo13]

At this moment in time, our rotation going forward looks something like this:

Joseph-Murray-Wiggins-Lyles-Thompson
Ennis-Stauskas-Powell-Nicholson-Olynyk

We really need those backup guards to start playing better to have a decent rotation of NBA players. Team still probably too young to get to RIo, but the talent is definitely there. That frontcourt is really quite decent.

Why is the "State of the Union" thread locked (with over 200 pages of good content and analysis) and this new thread is open?

And to the above poster - it is easy to name our NBA player players, but they all may not be available and they may not even be our best suited players. And it is doubtful this is how our rotation will look.

Murray and Nicholson likely wont be playing (won't have contracts). Lyles is uncertain as well. And in my opinion Kevin Pangos or Olivier Hanlan may be better suited to FIBA than Tyler Ennis. Brady Heslip will likely be on the team too. Melvin Ejim, Anthony Bennett, Aaron Doornekamp, Robert Sacre and Phil Scrubb may all be in the mix as well.

I do think Wiggins, Cojo, Thompson, Olynyk, Stuaskas and Powell will be the core of the team though. I'd be surprised if the staters are not: Cojo / Stauskas / Wiggins / TT / Olynyk

I didn't mean this summer, which is why I wrote going forward. I like Stauskas, but it seems unlikely he'll be an NBA starter considering his awful numbers so far and Murray looks an NBA starter level talent, right? Lyles was a high recruit, lotto pick and has been promising now that he's getting playing time, and the NBA game, at last, is now prioritizing players of his style at both forward positions.

I think by the summer of 17, it will clearly be a core of Cojo-Murray-Wiggins-Olynyk-Lyles-TT getting most of the minutes and then a 2nd tier of the players we've both mentioned fighting for playing time. But those 6 all look like average or above-average NBA players and with no huge recruits from 15-17, I don't see anyone else at even 30% likely to get to that level.

FIBA is a different game and fit matters of course, but those above 6 names are actually nicely spread out and the frontcourt players are quite versatile and with TT being able to switch decently, I think getting the best players out there makes the most sense.

I'd say add a shooter, but Lyles and Olynyk playing the 4 should make up for CoJo being average from outside and Wiggins just not being a guy who can take them. So, really it looks like there's that 6 and then there's a big opportunity for some guard (or 2) to step up and join the rotation. Ennis and Stauskas could certainly be beaten out for a spot by a player in Europe, though, I agree there.

Fair enough....I am more focused on this Olympic cycle though.

Per Jamal Murray nothing yet has me convinced he will be a better player than Stauskas. He is a little over-hyped in my opinion (as most young guys are - see Kabongo, Myck; Cadougan, Junior; Bennett, Anthony). I think Murray is a certain NBA player, but it is too early to tell if he is even starter caliber - let alone a star in the making. He is merely looking good in the NCAAs (not great) and is struggling a bit with the better NCAA athletes. The NBA is a giant step up from the NCAA. He has some major concerns with his game and we don't yet know if he is more of a SG or PG. I think he has a better chance to be a higher level contributor in the NBA as a PG, but he has Tyler Ulis in his way at UK. I am not saying Jamal is trash...but people who pencil him in as the next big thing after Wiggins, may be getting ahead of themselves. Regardless, if he can get to Cojo's level he will be a boon for the national team.
But don't count on Jamal being with the SMNT this summer....I can't think of the last time an NBA team allowed a NBA lottery pick to go play FIBA the summer he gets drafted.

Stauskas was actually one of our better all-around players this past summer in FIBA Americas. He seems to still be struggling with the size and speed of the NBA but this is not a problem in FIBA ball. He is just as athletic as most guards he will face and he may be much taller than most. That coupled with the experience he gained last summer - I think he'd be a superior option over Murray for this summer (likely a moot point).

[frumble]

Dillon Brooks is having a very good season for Oregon. Most likely he is not a future NBA player, but should be a solid Euro pro, and could help the National team, given the weakness at SF. Boucher is also looking very good (top ten in the Pac in rebounds and first in blocks).

Good discussion re the core going forward. I would only add that as much as Lyles has improved the last few weeks, I am not quite ready to place him significantly ahead of Powell.

[UcanUwill]

Olympic qualifying tournament Draw LIVE now

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwTPVKT1dfQ[/youtube]

[frumble]

thanks for posting the draw.

Given that each tournament is divided into two groups of three teams each, looks like you play everyone in your group once, then have a cross over semifinal?

So Canada will have round robin games against Senegal and Turkey. If we go through we have to play France in semi and if manage to win that it would likely be Turkey in final?

I guess it is about what we expected - will need to beat two tough European teams in sudden death games to go through.

[kilpin]

thanks for posting the draw.

Given that each tournament is divided into two groups of three teams each, looks like you play everyone in your group once, then have a cross over semifinal?

So Canada will have round robin games against Senegal and Turkey. If we go through we have to play France in semi and if manage to win that it would likely be Turkey in final?

I guess it is about what we expected - will need to beat two tough European teams in sudden death games to go through.

Winner of each group --> directly to The Final.

[frumble]

ok thanks. So only 3 games over a 7-day tournament?

[kilpin]

ok thanks. So only 3 games over a 7-day tournament?

I guess so!

[Mattd97]

tough draw, but france wont necessarily have full participation. can always hope. we were looking like worldbeaters until lthat last stupid game

[Undefeated]

Either France or Gilas will qualify for the Olympics. Gilas is playing in Manila so you know for sure they're going to get some home cooking. Serbia, France/Gilas and Greece for the last 3 spots.

[frumble]

Any draw would have been tough. Maybe getting by Turkey and then France is a little harder than Serbia and then Lithuania (what PR will have to do), or Greece and then Croatia (what Mexico will have to do), but they are all tough and I would be surprised if any of the Americas teams make it.

As you note, participation could play a big role in what draw ends up being tougher.

FWIW, France and Turkey currently ranked 5th and 8th (compared with 26th for Canada) (Senegal is 31st).

[kilpin]

tough draw, but france wont necessarily have full participation. can always hope. we were looking like worldbeaters until lthat last stupid game

Turkey is a tough team too, well built system, but with Canada full team they might be beatable! Good luck from Italy!

[UcanUwill]

Serbia got the easiest draw, meanwhile Turin groups are the most interesting. Gilas dream sunk right after it was announced France is in their draw. Canada needs to go big or go hope, because France is arguably the best team in the whole thing.

[kilpin]

Any draw would have been tough. Maybe getting by Turkey and then France is a little harder than Serbia and then Lithuania (what PR will have to do), or Greece and then Croatia (what Mexico will have to do), but they are all tough and I would be surprised if any of the Americas teams make it.

As you note, participation could play a big role in what draw ends up being tougher.

FWIW, France and Turkey currently ranked 5th and 8th (compared with 26th for Canada) (Senegal is 31st).

You mean Latvia!
By the way, don't take for granted that Croatia will beat Italy.

[Undefeated]

Serbia got the easiest draw, meanwhile Turin groups are the most interesting. Gilas dream sailed right after it was announced France is in their draw. Canada needs to go big or go hope, because France is arguably the best team in the whole thing.

Is it even guaranteed France will have all their NBA guys? TP/Diaw might not be there if Spurs go on a deep run in the playoffs and will need time to recover, and Batum will be a FA and I'm not sure if he wants to risk any injuries before signing a new deal.