State of the Union. Team Canada Basketball. (FIBA Americas Aug.31-Sep.15)

[Yeezus_]

Powell with only 6 minutes against Cuba... And Kelly sucking again...

Powell seems like he has the instincts to be a solid NBA player tbh

[Patman]

I hope Murray shows up for the Olympics next year. He would look great at the 2 for us and give us another creator in the starting lineup. Stauskas can backup the 2 withHeslip as the 5th guard specialist. Joseph, Stauskas and Wiggins just don't have enough ability to create off the dribble as a group.

Weird thing to say in a 30 point blowout, but something I can see will be a problem against tougher competition.

We should also have Ennis next year.

[orbesnet]

Disappointed in Kelly so far... was expecting a bit more from him but maybe it's just a rough start?!

[jonny three time]

I hope Murray shows up for the Olympics next year. He would look great at the 2 for us and give us another creator in the starting lineup. Stauskas can backup the 2 withHeslip as the 5th guard specialist. Joseph, Stauskas and Wiggins just don't have enough ability to create off the dribble as a group.

Weird thing to say in a 30 point blowout, but something I can see will be a problem against tougher competition.

We should also have Ennis next year.

For sure, there's room for all of them though

Joseph - Ennis
Murray - Stauskas - Heslip

Murray is 6'5 and will have another year of filling out before then, so if he can hang at the 2 with FIBA players (might be tough against the U.S.) it gives our guard rotation great balance. This particular team shows a lack of creating offense from the guards, which won't be alleviated by the same group of perimeter players starting next year.

[TankNation123]

wuda been cool for vasquez to play tmr ... he wuda been on a mission to torch joseph for taking his spot on the raptors roster lmaooo

[WeTheNorth123]

Man!! Scrubb is a better offensive player then Cojo

[frumble]

Venezuela just beat Puerto Rico by 11 in what I think is at least a mild upset.

Given that results against Cuba will be dropped, Puerto Rico now 0-2. (Argentina 2-0, Venezuela 1-0, and Canada 0-1).

The other group has been very competitive, and its too early to tell which team will get dropped. Dominican beat Panama earlier today to stave off elimination.

[PoundTown]

I hope Murray shows up for the Olympics next year. He would look great at the 2 for us and give us another creator in the starting lineup. Stauskas can backup the 2 withHeslip as the 5th guard specialist. Joseph, Stauskas and Wiggins just don't have enough ability to create off the dribble as a group.

Weird thing to say in a 30 point blowout, but something I can see will be a problem against tougher competition.

We should also have Ennis next year.

For sure, there's room for all of them though

Joseph - Ennis
Murray - Stauskas - Heslip

Murray is 6'5 and will have another year of filling out before then, so if he can hang at the 2 with FIBA players (might be tough against the U.S.) it gives our guard rotation great balance. This particular team shows a lack of creating offense from the guards, which won't be alleviated by the same group of perimeter players starting next year.

Murray is definitely key. If he becomes a player that can be a ball dominant player eithetr in a starting role or 6th man role in the NBA then Canada has the 1-2 punch with Wiggins and Murray with enough defense, rebounding and versatility to fill out the roster. Those two in their prime in 2020 could be fun to watch. Also, on a team where he is the last perimeter option, Cojo does the little things really well, like rebounding, defending, protecting the ball and taking high percentage shots. With a limited offensive role, can really focus on hounding the oppositions primary ball handler and giving it his all on that end, while playing smart offensively and picking his spots.

[HOOOMAN]

joseph has looked very unremarkable so far.

but scola has looked like the second coming out there.

i guess we should temper our expectations on how either guy is going to be for us this season

[slothrop8]

Joseph is the point guard on a team where there are 6 or 7 guys who are better scorers than he should be. He really shouldn't be trying to force up shots - he should be running the offense. Through two games he's averaging 11.2 ppg 10.4 apg 6.4 rpg 1.6 steals per 36 while shooting 46% and sporting a 13:1 turnover to assist ratio.

Cory Joseph isn't Kyrie Irving - he's not going to light up the scoreboard with a barrage of points - but he's playing really good efficient basketball while running the team. He showed in 2013 if he's needed for points he can deliver them - and maybe at some point in this tourney that will be called for - but for now he's doing what I think he ought to be doing with this roster.

[northernpuppy]

Man!! Scrubb is a better offensive player then Cojo

He was the primary option on the best university team in the country. He definitely knows how to find the bucket. Moreover, I'd say the CIS is resembles international ball (in terms of style of play and potentially ability) as compared to the NCAA which is more like the NBA (relatively speaking lol)

[Crazy-Canuck]

Cojo getting too much flack.

He isnt lighting it up, but he is defending which someing you cant say about the rest of the guards on the team.

Our offence would be so much better if we just started every possession by giving Wiggs a touch in the post.

[LLJ]

Disappointed in Kelly so far... was expecting a bit more from him but maybe it's just a rough start?!

I don't know that his game translates that well to FIBA. There's always a few NBA guys who just don't play well in international comp.

[LLJ]

Cojo getting too much flack.

He isnt lighting it up, but he is defending which someing you cant say about the rest of the guards on the team.

Our offence would be so much better if we just started every possession by giving Wiggs a touch in the post.

Cojo is playing all right, but people are more thinking about how he'll look as a Raptor, rather than his actual contributions to Team Canada.

That contract will look even worse if Delon supplants him down the line.

[cammac]

Cojo getting too much flack.

He isnt lighting it up, but he is defending which someing you cant say about the rest of the guards on the team.

Our offence would be so much better if we just started every possession by giving Wiggs a touch in the post.

Cojo is playing all right, but people are more thinking about how he'll look as a Raptor, rather than his actual contributions to Team Canada.

That contract will look even worse if Delon supplants him down the line.

I think Delon was a good pick and "HOPEFULLY" can contribute but realize the differences Cojo 4 years NBA experience and Delon 4 years NCAA. Like any true Raptors fan I hope he excels but that may be a tad optimistic.

[JPHolling]

Disappointed in Kelly so far... was expecting a bit more from him but maybe it's just a rough start?!

I don't know that his game translates that well to FIBA. There's always a few NBA guys who just don't play well in international comp.

Kelly typically does well for team Canada. He's a big man that can shoot pass and dribble. His shot has been inconsistent. I'm mostly disappointed in his defensive effort. Perhaps his injury is still lingering.

Nicolsons role has been decreased significantly, Im not sure thats a good thing, he scored at will during the pan ams and previous fiba tournaments.

[LLJ]

Cojo getting too much flack.

He isnt lighting it up, but he is defending which someing you cant say about the rest of the guards on the team.

Our offence would be so much better if we just started every possession by giving Wiggs a touch in the post.

Cojo is playing all right, but people are more thinking about how he'll look as a Raptor, rather than his actual contributions to Team Canada.

That contract will look even worse if Delon supplants him down the line.

I think Delon was a good pick and "HOPEFULLY" can contribute but realize the differences Cojo 4 years NBA experience and Delon 4 years NCAA. Like any true Raptors fan I hope he excels but that may be a tad optimistic.

I'm not so much optimistic about the pick but moreso that I'm laying out the pessimistic scenario that Cojo ends up not being good enough to live up to his contract, or even as a consistent 2nd PG. This is a talent-driven league, and all the experience won't help if you just aren't good enough.

[Patman]

Disappointed in Kelly so far... was expecting a bit more from him but maybe it's just a rough start?!

I don't know that his game translates that well to FIBA. There's always a few NBA guys who just don't play well in international comp.

Kelly typically does well for team Canada. He's a big man that can shoot pass and dribble. His shot has been inconsistent. I'm mostly disappointed in his defensive effort. Perhaps his injury is still lingering.

Nicolsons role has been decreased significantly, Im not sure thats a good thing, he scored at will during the pan ams and previous fiba tournaments.

Nicholson is one of those guys that need to find other ways to help a team other than score. IIRC he was scoring well in the World Cup qualifiers two years ago. But when his shot would stop falling, he was borderline useless.

[cammac]

Cojo is playing all right, but people are more thinking about how he'll look as a Raptor, rather than his actual contributions to Team Canada.

That contract will look even worse if Delon supplants him down the line.

I think Delon was a good pick and "HOPEFULLY" can contribute but realize the differences Cojo 4 years NBA experience and Delon 4 years NCAA. Like any true Raptors fan I hope he excels but that may be a tad optimistic.

I'm not so much optimistic about the pick but moreso that I'm laying out the pessimistic scenario that Cojo ends up not being good enough to live up to his contract, or even as a consistent 2nd PG. This is a talent-driven league, and all the experience won't help if you just aren't good enough.

His contract is fine yes maybe he could have signed for less but next year it equates to 5.6 million and year after 5 million plus he did well starting for SAS when needed. I hope Delon thrives but you also must realize he was the 4th PG selected in this years draft. But if he does see him traded to a team like Utah for Trey Lyles.

[JPHolling]

I don't know that his game translates that well to FIBA. There's always a few NBA guys who just don't play well in international comp.

Kelly typically does well for team Canada. He's a big man that can shoot pass and dribble. His shot has been inconsistent. I'm mostly disappointed in his defensive effort. Perhaps his injury is still lingering.

Nicolsons role has been decreased significantly, Im not sure thats a good thing, he scored at will during the pan ams and previous fiba tournaments.

Nicholson is one of those guys that need to find other ways to help a team other than score. IIRC he was scoring well in the World Cup qualifiers two years ago. But when his shot would stop falling, he was borderline useless.

Agreed, but his scoring abilities are much better than bennetts and Powells and I wouldnt say his defensive abilities are noticeably worse

I like Powells game, and think he can be a rotation player in the NBA, but I dont find a need for him on the current Canadian roster. Powells abilities seem to be duplicated amongst the other bigs. I prefer a rotation of OK, Bennett, Nicoleson, Sacre and Ejim. Sacre is the only big that affects the game without the ball in his hands.

Assuming Canada makes the olympics next summer, theres going to be some interesting cuts when TT returns, and possibly Trey Lyles.