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

Raptors1991 · Post #2641 » by **Raptors1991** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 12:43 am

Won by 20 with 22 turnovers lol

TheFutureMM · Post #2642 » by **TheFutureMM** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 12:48 am

Harold_and_Kumar wrote:Also, I never thought I'd say this, but Doornekamp is a decent player. His game has really grown on me over the years. He's like a poorest man's kirilenko lol

Agreed - I hated him 2013 but learned to accept him during the Pan AMs.

You know what my thought on it is? Team Canada was so slim with talent the last couple years that we had to ask Doornekamp to really play outside his game. Aaron is great when you need him to be a backup small forward. He's unselfish, plays defense, passes the ball, and looks for easy opportunities on offense.

Until someone else steps up to the plate I'm okay with giving Doornekamp 10-12 minutes a night. Maybe Brooks can supplement him in a couple years.

JPHolling · Post #2643 » by **JPHolling** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 1:35 am

TheFutureMM wrote:
Harold_and_Kumar wrote:Also, I never thought I'd say this, but Doornekamp is a decent player. His game has really grown on me over the years. He's like a poorest man's kirilenko lol

Agreed - I hated him 2013 but learned to accept him during the Pan AMs.

You know what my thought on it is? Team Canada was so slim with talent the last couple years that we had to ask Doornekamp to really play outside his game. Aaron is great when you need him to be a backup small forward. He's unselfish, plays defense, passes the ball, and looks for easy opportunities on offense.

Until someone else steps up to the plate I'm okay with giving Doornekamp 10-12 minutes a night. Maybe Brooks can supplement him in a couple years.

Agreed. I also hated Doorney as a starter, but hes a solid passer ad good defender off the bench. This team has a use for him.

vi3t · Post #2644 » by **vi3t** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 2:07 am

Nice to see Stauskas having a good game, should be confidence booster for him

Samurai_Raps · Post #2645 » by **Samurai_Raps** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 2:10 am

the turnovers were atrocious.
Despite the 20 point win, I still think we can play much much better.

slothrop8 · Post #2646 » by **slothrop8** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 2:12 am

Great win. Continue to believe we''re the best team in this tournament. Young - but good. Just keep winning games to make top 4 and be ready for that semi game.

slothrop8 · Post #2647 » by **slothrop8** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 2:24 am

Anthony Bennett so far per 36: 19.8 ppg 12.4 rpg 70% FG Just turned 22 - if he stayed this would be his Sr year of college. People gave up on this guy way too soon.

frumble · Post #2648 » by **frumble** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 3:25 am

Plus/minus for the Venezuela game:

Stauskas +22
Wiggins +22
Joseph +21
Olynyk +19
Bennett +8
Ejim +8
Nicholson +2
Heslip +1
Powell 0
Scrubb -1
Doornekamp -2

With Cuba result dropped, Canada and Venezuela each 1-1 (Argentina 2-0 and Puerto Rico 0-2).

In the other group, Mexico beat Panama. So Mexico (3-0) and the Dominican (2-2) are through, and Brazil, Panama, and Uruguay are each 1-2. Tomorrow Brazil plays Panama and Mexico plays Uruguay.

Cicero · Post #2649 » by **Cicero** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 5:38 am

15Vinsanity15 wrote:How sad is it that today's NBA is so soft, that international play is too tough. Kobe was right saying that the NBA use to be the toughest basketball league in the world, sad to say that can't be said anymore. Today's players are all buddy buddy in the NBA, having fun and joking around with each other.

What happened to the assassins mentality on the court?, the gary paytons, Kobe Bryant's, Shaquille Oneals, Jordan etc etc. These dude's once the tip off happened, were looking to kill you.

I feel like it's way sadder there are actually basketball fans who eat up this hot take "BACK IN MY DAY" bull lol. I thought it was just bitter retired NBA players. Like, you're holding a basketball opinion that Shaq holds, that's pretty funny but also kind of sad? It's some Charles Barkley sh*t. You gonna start talking about "alpha males" and complaining about stats now lol? Nostalgia bias is such a bitch, it's "rap was way better/less commercial in the 90s maaan!!!!" tards all over again. It's such a dimestore cognitive bias, pretty pathetic but very commonplace, just your typical rosy retrospection.

"This is definitely not correlated, but you know what man? (INSERT HERE) was WAY better when I was aged 12-35."

Ever notice how that happens? :lol:

I will say one thing though, not being able to taunt or show off anymore after dunking on someone is not cool. I guess that is a little softer. You don't outlaw that Shawn Kemp sh*t. If I posterize someone I deserve to be able to at least fuggin point at him and go "Ha-ha".

ballislife · Post #2650 » by **ballislife** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 5:54 am

slothrop8 wrote:Anthony Bennett so far per 36: 19.8 ppg 12.4 rpg 70% FG Just turned 22 - if he stayed this would be his Sr year of college. People gave up on this guy way too soon.

I agree, that's why I hope the Raptors find a way to trade for him. He's a prototypical PF in today's NBA. The only problem is, he's not going to get minutes behind Garnett/Dieng/Pekovic/Payne... he's barely going to play. That might actually work in favour for us if we can give up the Clippers first and cap fillers. Minni might even be good to straight up dump him if his value continues to plummet.

I think this summer has done wonders for his ABs confidence with Canada, it would be a shame to see that confidence dwindle again once he's back on the bench. This summer is the most basketball he's played since college, and he's done a very good job. Hopefully Masai pounces on the opportunity to get a low risk - very high reward kind of guy in Bennett.

Pooh_Jeter · Post #2651 » by **Pooh_Jeter** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 7:21 am

All those turnovers hurt, but overall I liked what I saw. Main thing is that CoJo played really well and did a great job of making sure Canada was playing uptempo. With Cojo, Wiggins and Bennett on the floor together there is absolutely no reason not to run at every opportunity. There hasn't been a player so far that can keep up with them on the fast break. The half court offense is always going to be hit and miss so being able to rack up 30+ fast break points is huge.

I had high hopes for Stauskas and he is finally rounding into form. He can do a little bit of everything and seeing him drain those 3 pointers was great to see. He makes Heslip a 10 minute player on this team. The Olynyk/Bennett combination is really finding their groove offensively and while Olynyk is missing some cheapies inside his passing ability is such a boon for this team. I think the biggest issue with them besides rim protection is defensive rebounding. It seems like Bennett is leaking out quite a bit and while Olynyk has size he doesn't always do a good job boxing out. CoJo did a great job of helping out on the defensive glass today. Wiggins and Bennett have to do a better job of helping out Olynyk especially against better competition. Scola carved up Canada and I think tomorrow someone like Balkman could cause problems.

I think the Powell injury looms large, IMO he has single-handedly carried the bench with his energy and athleticism. Scrubb has generated some assists, but I think he has done a largely awful job running the offense. Nicholson has essentially been freezed out of the offense and he is by far the most talented offensive player on bench. If he isn't going to get touches offensively there is literally no reason for him to be on the team. I have no problem with Scrubb taking open 3 pointers, but it is essential he gets Nicholson involved in the offense. There is no reason why Powell could't be doing what Bennett is doing offensively either. Heslip should be spotting up in the corner, giving him the ball and asking him to do anything with it is a mistake. I've gone over my thoughts on Doornekamp numerous times, no need to revisit them again.

The lack of rim protection on defense was well known going in, but I've been really disappointed with the lack of steals generated by the defense. There have been a bunch of blocks on perimeter shots thanks to the extreme athleticism edge guys like Wiggins and Joseph have on their counterparts. If you're going to foul/give up some easy shots inside at least force the perimeter guys to make a tough pass. You can live with giving up some easy baskets if you are causing turnovers. When you don't force turnovers, give up offensive rebounds and some easy baskets inside you have what happened in the Argentina game.

UcanUwill · Post #2652 » by **UcanUwill** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 8:10 am

slothrop8 wrote:Anthony Bennett so far per 36: 19.8 ppg 12.4 rpg 70% FG Just turned 22 - if he stayed this would be his Sr year of college. People gave up on this guy way too soon.

Worst case scenario, he busts in the NBA, becomes star overseas. No worries here, he should be a force for Canada for years.

orbesnet · Post #2653 » by **orbesnet** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 11:51 am

ballislife wrote:
slothrop8 wrote:Anthony Bennett so far per 36: 19.8 ppg 12.4 rpg 70% FG Just turned 22 - if he stayed this would be his Sr year of college. People gave up on this guy way too soon.

I agree, that's why I hope the Raptors find a way to trade for him. He's a prototypical PF in today's NBA. The only problem is, he's not going to get minutes behind Garnett/Dieng/Pekovic/Payne... he's barely going to play. That might actually work in favour for us if we can give up the Clippers first and cap fillers. Minni might even be good to straight up dump him if his value continues to plummet.

I think this summer has done wonders for his ABs confidence with Canada, it would be a shame to see that confidence dwindle again once he's back on the bench. This summer is the most basketball he's played since college, and he's done a very good job. Hopefully Masai pounces on the opportunity to get a low risk - very high reward kind of guy in Bennett.

While I've also been thinking along these lines I wonder how serious we are about getting him. If you were to compare getting him to TT I think it's obvious who has the bigger upside/contract demand. AB could be had for cheap and I bet being home and having a clear role like he would on the Raps would do wonders for him.

He doesn't have the cheapest contract (1st overall) but the wolves have a team option for next hear and he's free to leave if he wants after that (as long as the wolves still undervalue him). As you pointed out it doesn't look like he's going to get minutes on the current wolves roster but we'll see.

I think there's a lot of room for him to grow and would probably take him over TT just based on salary demands. If we sign TT to a max next year my mind will be blown. Bringing AB in with low expectations could be amazing.

Raptorfan2012 · Post #2654 » by **Raptorfan2012** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 12:50 pm

ballislife wrote:
slothrop8 wrote:Anthony Bennett so far per 36: 19.8 ppg 12.4 rpg 70% FG Just turned 22 - if he stayed this would be his Sr year of college. People gave up on this guy way too soon.

I agree, that's why I hope the Raptors find a way to trade for him. He's a prototypical PF in today's NBA. The only problem is, he's not going to get minutes behind Garnett/Dieng/Pekovic/Payne... he's barely going to play. That might actually work in favour for us if we can give up the Clippers first and cap fillers. Minni might even be good to straight up dump him if his value continues to plummet.

I think this summer has done wonders for his ABs confidence with Canada, it would be a shame to see that confidence dwindle again once he's back on the bench. This summer is the most basketball he's played since college, and he's done a very good job. Hopefully Masai pounces on the opportunity to get a low risk - very high reward kind of guy in Bennett.

2 problems: Bennett doesn't really play defense and is owed 1st over all pick money. It will be hard for us to make a trade unless you want to give up Ross and Bebe or JJ. If Masai really likes Bennett, he can just pick him up next summer when he becomes (most likely) an FA.

ruckus · Post #2655 » by **ruckus** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 1:51 pm

Olynyk had a good game but, I really like what I'm seeing from Cojo, especially on the defensive end. The quality of Venezuela's guards are questionable but, Cojo had no problem staying in front of his man and/or recovering back to his man. He also ran the offense pretty well. He's not flashy but, he makes the right decisions. I'm excited to see what he'll do for the Raptors.

JWiLL02 · Post #2656 » by **JWiLL02** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 2:35 pm

slothrop8 wrote:Anthony Bennett so far per 36: 19.8 ppg 12.4 rpg 70% FG Just turned 22 - if he stayed this would be his Sr year of college. People gave up on this guy way too soon.

He fits perfectly into that "versatile forward" role that's becoming so desired in today's game too. I really think he'll end up being a solid starter in the NBA.

Not a superstar like you may expect from a number 1 pick, but all star/borderline all star level production isn't out of the question if his confidence and conditioning is there.

Double Bubble · Post #2657 » by **Double Bubble** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 3:33 pm

Good to see Bennet show some game. Happy for him.

Must have been tough having totally unfair expectations, with retards like Gary Payton trying to clown him in the media for absolutely no reason. I just have to revisit this though, what was Cleveland thinking when they drafted him? Were they squandering assets literally on purpose?

Post #2658 » by **Alfred** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 3:40 pm

Bennett came into the league in terrible shape and then sat most of the first season. Second season, there was the trade and he was in much better shape, but couldn't seem to put it together.

MEDIC · Post #2659 » by **MEDIC** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 4:15 pm

ruckus wrote:Cojo had no problem staying in front of his man and/or recovering back to his man. He also ran the offense pretty well. He's not flashy but, he makes the right decisions. I'm excited to see what he'll do for the Raptors.

Yeah, noticed that too.

He fights really hard to get through screens & does a great job anticipating where the screen is coming from.

Post #2660 » by **Patman** » Fri Sep 4, 2015 5:16 pm

Cicero wrote:I will say one thing though, not being able to taunt or show off anymore after dunking on someone is not cool. I guess that is a little softer. You don't outlaw that Shawn Kemp sh*t. If I posterize someone I deserve to be able to at least fuggin point at him and go "Ha-ha".

Hi Shawn. How are all the kids?