Team Canada Basketball Thread

[mojo13]

Nets v Magic tonight was a tale of two Canadians going in different directions. Khem birch with 6 points, 7 rebs (5 offensive!) in 10 minutes. Really impacting the game and was a +16 when most on the team were negative.

Bismack Biyombo in 12 minutes:
- 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks. -13

Khem Birch in 9 minutes:
- 6 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist. +16

Lots of rumbling in the Magic fan base that Birch should have Biyombos minutes.

Nik Stuaskas with his 7th straight DNP (11 of last 13). Anyone here still think he will be on an NBA roster next year?

[IbakasD]

Nets v Magic tonight was a tale of two Canadians going in different directions. Khem birch with 6 points, 7 rebs (5 offensive!) in 10 minutes. Really impacting the game and was a +16 when most on the team were negative.

Bismack Biyombo in 12 minutes:
- 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks. -13

Khem Birch in 9 minutes:
- 6 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist. +16

Nik Stuaskas with his 7th straight DNP (11 of last 13). Anyone here still think he will be on an NBA roster next year?

Zero chance. What did you think of RJ tonight btw?

[TheFutureMM]

Justin Jackson to declare for the draft. Interesting move considering the injury. I think he's a mid-second rounder at this stage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/03/28/maryland-forward-justin-jackson-declares-for-nba-draft-will-hire-agent/?utm_term=.00debfea132c

[SharoneWright]

McDonald's game: Barrett 26 pts.
https://www.tsn.ca/barrett-little-shine-in-mcdonald-s-all-american-game-1.1041330

[UcanUwill]

I love RJ Barrett, dude will be one of my favorite players for years to come I can already tell.

[Hair Canada]

Justin Jackson to declare for the draft. Interesting move considering the injury. I think he's a mid-second rounder at this stage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/03/28/maryland-forward-justin-jackson-declares-for-nba-draft-will-hire-agent/?utm_term=.00debfea132c

That's quite an interesting decision. His stock is definitely not at its pick right now. Gotta wonder why he decided on this move at this timing. One reason I could think of is that Maryland is going to have one of the better frontcourts in the NCAA next year, with 3-4 legit NBA prospects. This means that if he doesn't bounce back right away, he could be pushed to the bench (as was the case over the last couple of games before he finished last season with the injury). So maybe he's trying to go while the promise of his freshman season is still relatively fresh in the minds of NBA scouts. In any case, I think he'll have a hard time contributing right now in an NBA team and would have preferred to see him go back to at least one more year in Maryland. Maybe he still will?

[mojo13]

Justin Jackson to declare for the draft. Interesting move considering the injury. I think he's a mid-second rounder at this stage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/03/28/maryland-forward-justin-jackson-declares-for-nba-draft-will-hire-agent/?utm_term=.00debfea132c

That's quite an interesting decision. His stock is definitely not at its pick right now. Gotta wonder why he decided on this move at this timing. One reason I could think of is that Maryland is going to have one of the better frontcourts in the NCAA next year, with 3-4 legit NBA prospects. This means that if he doesn't bounce back right away, he could be pushed to the bench (as was the case over the last couple of games before he finished last season with the injury). So maybe he's trying to go while the promise of his freshman season is still relatively fresh in the minds of NBA scouts. In any case, I think he'll have a hard time contributing right now in an NBA team and would have preferred to see him go back to at least one more year in Maryland. Maybe he still will?

You gotta believe the G is a growing option for development for young guys. Unlimited access to coaching, practicing, learning the pro game, better players/competition, just as much attention (or more) from NBA management/scouts and a pay-rate of at least 75K and maybe much more if they snag a two-way or a call up. More and more guys are moving up and down from the G to the NBA every year. What's not to like as young college eligible a player? Why stay in school ? In what way is it a better option for these guys?

[Hair Canada]

Justin Jackson to declare for the draft. Interesting move considering the injury. I think he's a mid-second rounder at this stage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/03/28/maryland-forward-justin-jackson-declares-for-nba-draft-will-hire-agent/?utm_term=.00debfea132c

That's quite an interesting decision. His stock is definitely not at its pick right now. Gotta wonder why he decided on this move at this timing. One reason I could think of is that Maryland is going to have one of the better frontcourts in the NCAA next year, with 3-4 legit NBA prospects. This means that if he doesn't bounce back right away, he could be pushed to the bench (as was the case over the last couple of games before he finished last season with the injury). So maybe he's trying to go while the promise of his freshman season is still relatively fresh in the minds of NBA scouts. In any case, I think he'll have a hard time contributing right now in an NBA team and would have preferred to see him go back to at least one more year in Maryland. Maybe he still will?

You gotta believe the G is a growing option for development for young guys. Unlimited access to coaching, practicing, learning the pro game, better players/competition, just as much attention (or more) from NBA management/scouts and a pay-rate of at least 75K and maybe much more if they snag a two-way or a call up. More and more guys are moving up and down from the G to the NBA every year. What's not to like as young college eligible a player? Why stay in school ? In what way is it a better option for these guys?

Ye, that's a valid point. Darius Bazley, one of the top-10 players in the class of 2008, just de-committed from Syracuse and became the first player to make the jump directly to the G-league. Some have gone overseas in the past (Jennings; Mudiay), but he'll be the first to go to the G without playing any college game. With all the advantages you've just names, might be something we'll be seeing more of in the future.

[frumble]

You gotta believe the G is a growing option for development for young guys. Unlimited access to coaching, practicing, learning the pro game, better players/competition, just as much attention (or more) from NBA management/scouts and a pay-rate of at least 75K and maybe much more if they snag a two-way or a call up. More and more guys are moving up and down from the G to the NBA every year. What's not to like as young college eligible a player? Why stay in school ? In what way is it a better option for these guys?

Yes, valid points. And were equally valid last year. He should have struck while the iron was hot and come out last year, and that's not just in hindsight.


Anyone know if Boucher is likely to see any more minutes this season?

[HangTime]

OT:

Do you think there would be any consideration of:

McDonald's All American VS. BioSteel All Canadian

How do you think a game like that would turn out?

Maybe have 2 games, each one with the different set of rules.

[mojo13]

I’m a little doubtful with Boucher. He has been out with a sprained ankle lately but I don’t know the extent of it. Allot of the semi injured Warriors are starting to return like Durant and Green.
With not many games left You’d think Boucher would need to be getting meaningful minutes now if the Warriors expected him to contribute in the playoffs.

[TheFutureMM]

OT:

Do you think there would be any consideration of:

McDonald's All American VS. BioSteel All Canadian

How do you think a game like that would turn out?

Maybe have 2 games, each one with the different set of rules.

Interesting idea but tbh Canada would get slaughtered. Hoops Summit alone is essentially the same thing but with every countries best player (Canada usually fields at least 1 kid) but even then it's tight.

[TheFutureMM]

Justin Jackson to declare for the draft. Interesting move considering the injury. I think he's a mid-second rounder at this stage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/03/28/maryland-forward-justin-jackson-declares-for-nba-draft-will-hire-agent/?utm_term=.00debfea132c

That's quite an interesting decision. His stock is definitely not at its pick right now. Gotta wonder why he decided on this move at this timing. One reason I could think of is that Maryland is going to have one of the better frontcourts in the NCAA next year, with 3-4 legit NBA prospects. This means that if he doesn't bounce back right away, he could be pushed to the bench (as was the case over the last couple of games before he finished last season with the injury). So maybe he's trying to go while the promise of his freshman season is still relatively fresh in the minds of NBA scouts. In any case, I think he'll have a hard time contributing right now in an NBA team and would have preferred to see him go back to at least one more year in Maryland. Maybe he still will?

You gotta believe the G is a growing option for development for young guys. Unlimited access to coaching, practicing, learning the pro game, better players/competition, just as much attention (or more) from NBA management/scouts and a pay-rate of at least 75K and maybe much more if they snag a two-way or a call up. More and more guys are moving up and down from the G to the NBA every year. What's not to like as young college eligible a player? Why stay in school ? In what way is it a better option for these guys?

Word? 75K is entry level G-League salary? I thought it was like 30-45K and the two-way was 75K?

[mojo13]

That's quite an interesting decision. His stock is definitely not at its pick right now. Gotta wonder why he decided on this move at this timing. One reason I could think of is that Maryland is going to have one of the better frontcourts in the NCAA next year, with 3-4 legit NBA prospects. This means that if he doesn't bounce back right away, he could be pushed to the bench (as was the case over the last couple of games before he finished last season with the injury). So maybe he's trying to go while the promise of his freshman season is still relatively fresh in the minds of NBA scouts. In any case, I think he'll have a hard time contributing right now in an NBA team and would have preferred to see him go back to at least one more year in Maryland. Maybe he still will?

You gotta believe the G is a growing option for development for young guys. Unlimited access to coaching, practicing, learning the pro game, better players/competition, just as much attention (or more) from NBA management/scouts and a pay-rate of at least 75K and maybe much more if they snag a two-way or a call up. More and more guys are moving up and down from the G to the NBA every year. What's not to like as young college eligible a player? Why stay in school ? In what way is it a better option for these guys?

Word? 75K is entry level G-League salary? I thought it was like 30-45K and the two-way was 75K?

Two ways are a minimum 75K with a max. 275K. You prorate at which league you are in G or NBA. I think the 45 days max allowed with the NBA team gets you to 275K. That is a whole 60 players. They also have the chance to be converted to a standard NBA min. contract. Same with 10 day call ups - guys can make 46K to 90K on just one 10 day call up.

They are still working the kinks out of the two ways. Some of the names signed to two-way deals were a little surprising this year too - not the best players. This reflects the rumor that agents don’t like the two-way contract. This isn’t an across-the-board opinion, and there are certain players and situations where they make a lot of sense. For some agents, though, the floor offered by a two-way deal doesn’t measure up to the potential ceiling of a 10-day contract or a rest-of-season deal.

Other players you are right though. I thought they bumped everyone up to 50-75K but so far that hasn't been done (but I think is still the plan). Right now, even with salaries that were just increased last year, the maximum salary in the G League is $26,000 (outside of two-way players), which pales in comparison to overseas leagues. If NCAA teams can pay 100K to a player like Ayton, they draw is still likely to the NCAA.

Regardless there is now more players making more than the $26,000 G League maximum. If nothing else, the quality of play in the G League is higher this year, which probably helps players develop with greater competition and gives NBA decision-makers a more accurate look at how players will perform against top competition.

I poached (near plagiarized) allot of this from this great Blake Murphy article by the way. Excellent read on the G and its salary structure if anyone is interested.
https://uproxx.com/dimemag/two-way-contracts-nba-g-league-showcase-amile-jefferson-jarrel-eddie/

[TheFutureMM]

Watch on YouTube

Interesting highlights for Barrett. I feel like he doesn't shoot jumpers because it's just that easy for him to get to the rim.

[Hair Canada]

Watch on YouTube

Interesting highlights for Barrett. I feel like he doesn't shoot jumpers because it's just that easy for him to get to the rim.

That's definitely part of it. Especially against an undersized team like Lone Peak (their tallest player was 6'7, Barrett's height). But having watched the full game, he also had a couple of completely open three's that he missed. On the one hand, when he gets the opportunity he shoots without hesitation, which is good, and his stroke seems just fine -- nothing is broken, although the release is still a bit too low and left-hand dominated for my taste. On the other hand, he's still not at all a reliable shooter. His career 3-point percentage is I think around 30%. And that's with the high school 3-point line. Considering this and the fact he is often unstoppable when driving to the basket, it's certainly a wise decision, for now, to give up on the outside shots. The problem is going to come when he meets some walls inside, as he will already in college. He will just have to improve his outside shooting. Which I think he will, because his free throws accuracy has certainly come along over the last year and is already quite decent (he used to shoot around 50-60% from the line).

Speaking of walls inside, today Montverde meets Findlay Prep with Bol Bol. Last time they met, three months ago in Montverde, it almost ended with Montverde's only loss of the season (they were saved by a buzzer beater 3 from Michael Devoe). Should be an interesting game. The Dick Nationals is the only thing missing for Barrett to top what has been a near-perfect high school career.

On a side note, Andrew Nembhard also looked very good yesterday. Was more assertive than usual, shot the ball well, and showed his usual excellent feel for the game and passing ability. Let's see how he does in the rest of the tournament and hope he can show more of that next year in Florida.

[UcanUwill]

Kevin Pangos carried his team in a home win against Euroleague's number 1 seed - CSKA.
15 points (6/7 FG : 3/3 3PT) and 11 assists.

[mojo13]

Kevin Pangos carried his team in a home win against Euroleague's number 1 seed - CSKA.
15 points (6/7 FG : 3/3 3PT) and 11 assists.

Wow. Zalgiris needed that one as one game was separating like 5 to 8th seed. Is CSKA resting players with the 1 seed locked up?

[TheFutureMM]

RJ and Montverde just beat up on Bol Bol and Findley Prep. Great game from start to finish - I managed to watch the second half and RJ is just on another level compared to these guys.

[Hair Canada]

RJ and Montverde just beat up on Bol Bol and Findley Prep. Great game from start to finish - I managed to watch the second half and RJ is just on another level compared to these guys.

Yes. Had a bad first half by his standards. Forced things too much. The second was much better. Nembhard was again very good as well. Oh, and RJ also passed Ben Simmons this game and is now the leading all-time scorer in the national high school championship tournament.