Team Canada Basketball Thread V3.0

[mojo13]

I think they will defer to the NBA guys and have a starting five of:
Joseph
SGA
NAW
Powell
Olynyk

WIll be interesting to see who the first big off the bench is. Ejim, T. Scrubb, Young, or Edey. We will prob need at least 15 minutes from those guys (combined).

I'll counter with the same 5 that started the last window:
SGA
NAW
Ejim
Olynyk
Powell

CoJo was really bad last year in Victoria. Nurse already rolled with Pangos as PG over CoJo in the 2019 WC.
Hopefully CoJo comes off the bench and picks up Phil's minutes on the wing. Pangos picks up TBHs back up PG minutes.
And hopefully Robertson still has a role.

Ejim and T Scrubb are going to play some PF minutes with KO/Powell at center when the other is on the bench. We will get allot of three gaurds, plus Ejim/Scrubb and KO/Powell.
Edey just seems way too slow for this match up. Argentina is super undersized and may run 6'6/6'7 guys at center for streches. Edey got burned by that at the NCAAs. He still needs other slow bigs to go up against to be effective.
Kalif Young is just not good enough or experienced enough to help much here.


By the way the five above are what I'm seeing on social media for pics. I've noticed NAW/SGA/Powell/KO wearing red practice jerseys and CoJo, Pangos etc in gray. Have not seen a pic of Ejim yet.

[frumble]

I agree that Joseph did not very good at all in Victoria. Ejim hasn't looked great lately either, and I might be inclined to go small and have Pangos as the 5th starter.

I like T. Scrubb as the first off the bench to replace Powell/Olynyk.

[mojo13]

I agree that Joseph did not very good at all in Victoria. Ejim hasn't looked great lately either, and I might be inclined to go small and have Pangos as the 5th starter.

I like T. Scrubb as the first off the bench to replace Powell/Olynyk.

I wouldnt give Campazzo too much opportunity to go at Pangos. Campazzo is the key to this team and is a very good FIBA player, however he was (is?) a sucky NBA player because he is too small (5'10) and can't handle the length and speed of NBA guards. SGA/NAW/CoJo need to be all over him from the get go to disrupt him as much as possible. Key to the match....

[BilboBanginz]

Does anybody know how many wins and/or other teams losses we are from clinching a World Cup spot? Gotta be getting close.

[mojo13]

Does anybody know how many wins and/or other teams losses we are from clinching a World Cup spot? Gotta be getting close.

Not quite sure where we are at. Going into this the only way to clinich was 2 wins and then DR losing twice (they won last night v Panama). We need to seperate enough from 4th in our pool to clinch and with 5 games left it is:
CAN 7-0
VEN 6-1
ARG 5-2
DR 5-2

It is still too bunched up. In reality a win tonight probably assures it. 8 wins 4 losses was enough for 2019. DR qualfied as the best 4th place team at 7-5. We could still our pool rivals all at 8-4 and end up in fourth (unlikley with our point differential), but even then it is doubtful the best 4th place team in the other pool would be at 8-4.

[mojo13]

NAW, SGA and CoJo are excused from the Panama game - with a variety of weird reasons.

In come TBH, JV Makuna and Abu Kigab.

So now a mere 5 of the 14 "committed core" players will take the floor. Panama is not a gimmee, they played DR pretty tough last night, but there is plenty here for us to expect an easy win.

Canada Basketball really picking its battles with the SMNT. Or maybe just easing into the "committed core" concept. It makes me uneasy, but as long the wins keep coming the real judgement gets passed next summer.

Starting line-up versus Panama?

Pangos
P Scrubb
Ejim
Olynyk
Powell

Nice rotation of TBH, Robertson, T Scrubb as the main guys off the bench.

[mojo13]

Also worth noting Canada Basketball loses Marial Shayok to South Sudan.
Looks like Luol Deng was able to land him for this window of the Africa WC Qualfiers. Somewhat suprising...not sure if Canada ever gave him much interest.

[OakleyDokely]

The year is 2035. In their 15th season of tanking, Shai plays 22 games after being told to "rest". The Thunder hold 27 of the 30 1st rounds picks in the 2035 draft. Shai retires after 16 seasons in the NBA playing 500 NBA games.

[DreamTeam09]

Anywhere to watch a replay of this game?

[Mattd97]

Also worth noting Canada Basketball loses Marial Shayok to South Sudan.
Looks like Luol Deng was able to land him for this window of the Africa WC Qualfiers. Somewhat suprising...not sure if Canada ever gave him much interest.

That's disappointing. Guess if nba guys are playing more well have more of these. Esp if anericup is all cebl

[TrueNorth31]

Team Canada heading into practice down in Panama. You can see the 3 replacement players , Kigab , Mukama and Bell Haynes strolling in with the group. We'll probably start Olynyk, Powell, Ejim, Robertson and Pangos. The 2 Scrubb's , TBH and Kalif Young in the post will get lots of work. Panama is 2-4 in this cycle recently losing by 11 on the road to the D.R.

We should win, but nothing is easy when your on the road in Latin America.

Read on Twitter

[Stromile12]

Looking forward to see Pangos get some more run.

[mojo13]

Team Canada heading into practice down in Panama. You can see the 3 replacement players , Kigab , Mukama and Bell Haynes strolling in with the group. We'll probably start Olynyk, Powell, Ejim, Robertson and Pangos. The 2 Scrubb's , TBH and Kalif Young in the post will get lots of work. Panama is 2-4 in this cycle recently losing by 11 on the road to the D.R.

We should win, but nothing is easy when your on the road in Latin America.

Read on Twitter

I expect Phil Scrubb to start over Robertson. He is more of a two way player, with more experience and SMNT seniorty.
Robertson is a nice microwave shooter to come offf the bench as he is a bit of a definsive liabilty at the 2. he's listed as 6'3 but he seems more like 6'1 or less. Probably not the best fit next to Pangos, and I bet they opt for a little bigger, better defensive guard.

TBH and Robertson seemed to have a little chemistry in games past as well.

Panama is very small like the Argies, so if is a competitve game I still see allot of Olynyk and Powell trading off at C with Ejim or Tommy Scrubb at the 4. I don't think we can expect much from Kalif Young (or Edey) yet and they are still there more for foul trouble/garbage time. I would like to see more from both, to see what they have.


Panama roster for tonight:
Ricardo Lindo
Alejandro Grant
Isaac Hall
Trevor Gaskins
Edward López
Josimar Ayarza
Jesús Lombardo
Eric Romero
Jonathan Salazar
Gil Atencio
Akil Mitchell

Only 11 for some reason

Starters last Thurs vs DR:
G) Jackson 6'0 (not on this roster. The missing 12th?)
G) Gaskins 6'4
G)Romero 6'3
F) Lindo 6'5
C) Mitchel 6'8

Leading scorers:
Mitchell 13ppg
Gaskins 11ppg
Romero 9ppg

Seem to be missing a few of their better players from previous windows.

Some of these are ex-NCAA players, and most are playing in lower level professional leagues around the world. Not many are in top Euro leagues (maybe one?) Akil Mitchell (UVA '10-'14) likely has the best pedigree currently with AEK Athens. Nothing Olynyk and Powell can't easily handle.

[SharoneWright]

what time is the game? is there tv?

edit: 8:10 eastern, on Sportsnet

[TrueNorth31]

Maybe Scrubb over Robertson, but in the Argentina game they went with Kassius over Phil , 21 minutes to 13. It'll depend on the matchups , with no SGA having 2 little guards may as you point out be a problem.

If any of our bigs get into foul trouble , Young will get the call. I imagine Powell and Olynyk get 30 minutes + each if it's like the the last game.

Scrubb and Ejim are important - Gaskins their primary 3 is a big thick 6'4' 215 pound lefthander that needs attention. Panama went small at the 4 primarily in the last game.

We'll see who their point guard is, Jackson plays in Spain, and is originally from the PR. He seems pretty good , not sure what's up ?

[Hair Canada]

Would really love to see Edey get some minutes. Should be possible if the game isn't tight. Seems like a shame to have him on and not play him at all. Or maybe he'll join the AmeriCup team? (that would be nice)

[Cross-over]

Would really love to see Edey get some minutes. Should be possible if the game isn't tight. Seems like a shame to have him on and not play him at all. Or maybe he'll join the AmeriCup team? (that would be nice)

I agree, lets see if Panama can stop him or if he is more a liability than an asset

[Dino-Might]

Yikes, this game is a blood bath. After the first quarter, Canada is up 33 to 7.

[TheFutureMM]

90% sure Panama did not score until the 5 minute mark of the first quarter lol. The Olynyk/Powell/Pangos/Scrubb/Ejim line-up was a little too much for Panama defensively.

Olynyk has the greenest of lights tonight. Making 3s on command and some great passes as well. The perfect FIBA big.

[Dino-Might]

Edey looks like an adult playing against elementary school kids.