Team Canada Basketball Thread V3.0

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

goat

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

[AbC?]

Read on Twitter

I was so disappointed when SGA signed his 5 year deal without a player option. That extra year is such a big deal.

[frumble]

CB posted a list of 22 players who will be in the training camp going into the new U23 Global Jam event in Toronto:

https://www.basketball.ca/news/twenty-two-nextgen-u23-mens-athletes-to-attend-globl-jam-training-camp-in-toronto

Before looking at the list, let's have some fun. Here are some players who COULD HAVE been on this list age-wise:

Barrett, Dort, Banton, Andrew Nembhard, Primo, Sharpe, Mathurin, Lawson, Houstan, and Edey.

Besides the NBA guys, there are also a couple of (literally) big college names who are missing (besides Edey, who's already part of the senior team). These include Fardaws Aimaq, Tyrese Samuel, Maurice Calloo, Nick Ongenda, and Ben Krikke. Could have also been nice to see the Ivy League graduates Noah Kirkwood and Jaelin Llewellyn on the list.


But back to the actual list, a couple of former Canada junior teams players stand out to me as "sure things", including Marcus Carr, Charles Bediako, Quincy Guerrier, Emanuel Miller, Keeshawn Barthelemy, Prosper, and Ryan Nembhard (if he's healthy; I was a bit surprised to see him on the list so soon after his wrist injury late in the season).

The list includes some really young guys who are not yet in college (Mahi, Miller), and a few seasoned Team Canada veterans like Djuricic, Smith, and Shephard.

Some players I'd be especially curious to see if they make it into the final 12:

Obviously, Leonard Miller, fresh off the decision to withdraw from this year's NBA draft, who could play next to his older brother (wouldn't that be fun!).

Addison Patterson and Cashius McNeilly. The two big names from the Canadian class of 2020 disappeared from sight in recent years. Patterson hasn't played competitive basketball in more than 2 years and McNeilly in more than 3 years (recently reemerged with a commitment to his 4th (!) college team, Pittsburgh; but he hasn't played a minute with the first 3).

Liam McChesney is a lengthy big PF from BC who was pretty quiet so far in his college career but I think can break out soon.

From the Usport guys, it would be interesting to see if Aaron Rhooms can make it to the team. Had a really good rookie year and looks like an interesting prospect.

The U23 roster is out.

https://www.basketball.ca/team-canada-en/u23-mens-national-team-2022

Both Millers are there, along with Patterson, Barthelemey, Bediako, Carr, Guerrier, McChesney, Nembhard, Stephan Smith, Kur Jongjuck and Thomas Kennedy.

No McNeilly, Prosper or Rhooms.

[MonkBatter42]

What's with the stilted commentary by Eric and Jonesy??

[WuTang_CMB]

up 20 good job

sGA next level

[WaltFrazier]

What's with the stilted commentary by Eric and Jonesy??

That's what they do, boring, dull, full of corny expressions from about the 1950s.

It doesn't help in this case that cheap ass Rogers has them broadcasting from a Toronto studio instead of flying them down.

Speaking of the US VI, the gym looks like a high school gym

[niQ]

I really want to see SGA in a Raps jersey. Hopefully in a couple years or sooner...

[MonkBatter42]

Man, where would this particular squad be without SGA?

[HumbleRen]

SGA's ability to get to the rim is insane lol. Dude plays at a difference pace then everyone else.

[WaltFrazier]

SGA so great and now NAW with the great handle and dimes. Both cousins seem like good guys, authentic, not big egos. Very refreshing. And Canadian

[Los_29]

SGA so great and now NAW with the great handle and dimes. Both cousins seem like good guys, authentic, not big egos. Very refreshing. And Canadian

I'm really pulling for NAW. Hope he can carve out a career in the NBA.

[MonkBatter42]

Eric and Jonesy are unbearable

[mojo13]

Low level competion with the USVI and a medicore DR....but this should make people realize any medal hopes rely on SGA playing.

I honestly think three minimum are needed among SGA, Olynyk, Murray & Wiggins if Canada has any chance in medaling (maybe Barrett squeeks into that group). I think Olynyk is just as important as the others due to positional needx and the type of FIBA friendly big that he is (outisde shooter, who can drive and pass). He really opens the game up for the others and we have no one else like him. SGAs deadliness is heightened by Olynyk drawing bigs out of the paint.

The rest of the guys are somewhat interchangle role players. Some are more important than others, but they are generally interchangable. Barrett or Brooks or Dort or NAW. Birch or Powell or Alexander (or Boucher if he gets a chance). Tommy, Pangos, Wiltjer, Ejim, Phil, Robertson, TBH filling in holes.

Robertson was fun to watch to today. Its like having an vastly upgraded Brady Heslip out there. Someone who's defense isnt great but it is not cripplingly bad. Again USVI was pretty bad - but Robertson can get his shot off again higher level competition. Brady would light up teams like the USVI but never really could contribute at higher levels.

[WaltFrazier]

We should hopefully have more NBA players play in August in BC, right?

NBA camps start late September, that won't be an issue I hope?

[Kevin Willis]

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=FIBA-TheBasketballChannel

[Kenter16]

My thoughts on this qualification window

SGA is as good as advertised. He is also fits Nick Nurse's system to a T. Easy to say because I think SGA fits just about any system to a T. He ended the window with 1.66 points per drive. Ridiculous. He can get into the paint against anybody and can breakdown defenses.

Olynyk is not as good, but just as key. If you know what I am saying. His ability to play on the perimeter opens up the lanes SGA can take advantage of. Another guy who fits Nurse's system to a T. We don't have another big like him. Wiltjer would be the other player that could play that role, but there is a big gap in between the two.

Edey is intriguing. He is a unicorn. He needs to improve, but there is something there that can be very useful.

KRob can shoot. Most of us knew that, but he proved it to anyone who didn't. He just may be the best shooter in the system.

Melvin Ejim... was not impressed. It may have just been a bad week, I'll give him a pass.


Next window
Well, we will get to see how strong these commitments are. The next window of qualification will bleed into the Americup.

August 25 home to Argentina
August 29 in Panama
September 2 in Recife against Brazil
September 3 in Recife against Uraguay
September 5 in Recife against Columbia
September 8 is the QF
September 10 is the SF
September 11 is the Gold/Bronze games

That's 8 games in 18 days. Not a crazy commitment, but it's a 'meaningless' tournament. I wonder if we will get the NBA guys against Argentina and then they split. We really need to improve our world ranking, winning this tourney will help.
As far as the other NBA guys go, we should see RJ available. He was diagnosed with a sprained Knee in early April. Will be recovered and should have a nice extension in place by then. Oshae has a contract now (only one year). Cojo should be back. Hopefully Pangos has his contract situation sorted out.
Not sure either Lu or Jamal will be available. Birch underwent surgery at the end of May, we won't see him. Brooks? Who knows.
But, like we have all said, the commitment is nice to say... here's the real test! Will these guys show up for 2.5 weeks.

[aminiaturebuddha]

SGA so great and now NAW with the great handle and dimes. Both cousins seem like good guys, authentic, not big egos. Very refreshing. And Canadian

I'm really pulling for NAW. Hope he can carve out a career in the NBA.

He always had playmaking ability, but it seems like he's really improved in that area as well. I was impressed in these games with his ability to see the floor, make quick decisions, and make passes to manipulate the defence, rather than just take what was given.

I think he needs to try to stick somewhere as a backup point guard, rather than a SG or wing player. It seems that might be his best shot at staying in the league, especially because there are always teams looking for larger point guards.

[Hair Canada]

This approach that the Americup is a "meaningless" tournament really rubs me the wrong way.

No one treats the equivalent tournament in Europe this way. In fact, it's a very competitive and high-stakes tournament, which most European NBA guys, even stars, happily participate in and are proud to win. The last Euro Basket final, in 2017, was between Slovenia with Luka and Dragic and Serbia with Bogdanovic and Majanovic. Spain, which finished third, had the Gasol brothers, the Hernangomez brothers, and Rubio. Porzingis played for Latvia, and the list goes on. Nowitzki, Gasol, Parker, and other NBA stars didn't miss a beat when they were at the heights of their careers and almost always came. And the Europeans continue to care about it even now that it doesn't lead to a spot in the WC or the Olympics

Why should the Americup be so different? Just because the US decided they don't care? All of the other American teams do care. And for Canada, this would be a great opportunity to establish continental dominance and win the whole thing for the first time ever. Even the timeline works quite well for the NBA guys: commit for three weeks, practice a week together, play the qualifiers as preparation, and then continue to the Americup where they can truly build up chemistry and FIBA experience in a tournament environment, rather than just a sporadic game here and there against often weaker competition. There's a reason why everyone else looks more ready than us when they come to the WC. Because this is exactly what they do over the years -- play these continental tournaments together and build some chemistry.

I know this is the less likely scenario. But I don't think we as Canadian basketball fans should continue cooperating with this faulty narrative, stating that this is a tournament that doesn't matter just because the US decided that this is the case for them. I know we like to compare ourselves to the US, but we're not. They play in every Olympics and WC and often win these. We don't.

So the Americup matters for Fiba ranking. And it matters for really building cohesion in a competitive tournament environment. But most of all, it matters because it's the freaking continental championship, taking place every 4 years now (used to be bi-annual), and the winner gets to say that they are the champions of the Americas. Which, by the way, we've never done. The US, Brazil, Argentina, Perto Rico, Venezuela, and even Mexico have all won the gold at least once. Not us. If Canadian fans and the Canadian media don't care, then why should the players? This is how you build a real basketball tradition. You start caring!

Anyway, that's my rant on this...

[Kenter16]

This approach that the Americup is a "meaningless" tournament really rubs me the wrong way.

No one treats the equivalent tournament in Europe this way. In fact, it's a very competitive and high-stakes tournament, which most European NBA guys, even stars, happily participate in and are proud to win. The last Euro Basket final, in 2017, was between Slovenia with Luka and Dragic and Serbia with Bogdanovic and Majanovic. Spain, which finished third, had the Gasol brothers, the Hernangomez brothers, and Rubio. Porzingis played for Latvia, and the list goes on. Nowitzki, Gasol, Parker, and other NBA stars didn't miss a beat when they were at the heights of their careers and almost always came. And the Europeans continue to care about it even now that it doesn't lead to a spot in the WC or the Olympics

Why should the Americup be so different? Just because the US decided they don't care? All of the other American teams do care. And for Canada, this would be a great opportunity to establish continental dominance and win the whole thing for the first time ever. Even the timeline works quite well for the NBA guys: commit for three weeks, practice a week together, play the qualifiers as preparation, and then continue to the Americup where they can truly build up chemistry and FIBA experience in a tournament environment, rather than just a sporadic game here and there against often weaker competition. There's a reason why everyone else looks more ready than us when they come to the WC. Because this is exactly what they do over the years -- play these continental tournaments together and build some chemistry.

I know this is the less likely scenario. But I don't think we as Canadian basketball fans should continue cooperating with this faulty narrative, stating that this is a tournament that doesn't matter just because the US decided that this is the case for them. I know we like to compare ourselves to the US, but we're not. They play in every Olympics and WC and often win these. We don't.

So the Americup matters for Fiba ranking. And it matters for really building cohesion in a competitive tournament environment. But most of all, it matters because it's the freaking continental championship, taking place every 4 years now (used to be bi-annual), and the winner gets to say that they are the champions of the Americas. Which, by the way, we've never done. The US, Brazil, Argentina, Perto Rico, Venezuela, and even Mexico have all won the gold at least once. Not us. If Canadian fans and the Canadian media don't care, then why should the players? This is how you build a real basketball tradition. You start caring!

Anyway, that's my rant on this...

This is bang on! I couldn't agree more. I will watch and I definitely care. My main reason for it being important is to improve our FIBA ranking, which gets us into a better pot, which gets us a better draw when the world cup comes around. We are always going to be in the 'group of death' because we are much better than our ranking. So we always end up in a group with 3 good/great teams.

Honestly is there any better way to prepare yourself for an NBA season? Playing 3 weeks against high caliber competition.