Team Canada Basketball Thread

[Hair Canada]

love this final roster. Wanted to see RJ and Nembhard in. Just fun to see them play with the grown-ups. And they were clearly better than Kean and Best in the scrimmage. Agree that this is the strongest lineup I can remember from a Canadian team. Next year should be even better (assuming we get there).

[Pooh_Jeter]

Yup, absolutely no complaints with the roster. I'd probably prefer Boucher over Bennett, but certainly not enough to be any level of angry/upset about it.

Seems like CoJo, RJ, Brooks and Olynyk are locks to start. Then it's a preference of Powell or Birch. I would assume Powell has the inside track given he was playing during the exhibition tourney and looked good doing so.

I'm really happy to see Nembhard make the team and I hope he isn't relegated to the 5th guard. I'd be more comfortable with him as the back-up PG than Scrubb if I'm being honest. Let Scrubb play off the ball and you can throw in Heslip here and there if needed. Given his size you could theoretically play 3 guards and have Thomas Scrubb as the odd man out/playing as a small ball 4.

[frumble]

Good roster. No real surprises.

Glad P. Scrubb able to play. Hope he is the third guard (behind Joseph and Barrett), and that Heslip is only used for spot situations and Nembhard for a few mpg backing up Joseph.

Some might question Bennett over Nicholson, but I am ok with it.

[Hair Canada]

"The uncomfortable truth of Canada basketball: Lack of player commitment threatens country’s ‘golden age of basketball’"

Mainstream media, as usual, missing the bigger picture. For them, Wiggins is still "our best player" and there's not even a mention of others like Murray and Lyles in the video, nor of the fact that many of our top guys did come to these qualifying gamest (just look at the games going on in Europe and see how few NBA players actually bothered with this one; or ask the Bahamas and the DR about their NBA players).

I did like the little jab to Nash though ("the team manager who didn't even bother showing up to last week's game in his home city").

https://www.cheknews.ca/the-uncomfortable-truth-of-canada-basketball-lack-of-player-commitment-threatens-countrys-golden-age-of-basketball-465018/

[Pooh_Jeter]

"The uncomfortable truth of Canada basketball: Lack of player commitment threatens country’s ‘golden age of basketball’"

Mainstream media, as usual, missing the bigger picture. For them, Wiggins is still "our best player" and there's not even a mention of others like Murray and Lyles in the video, nor of the fact that many of our top guys did come to these qualifying gamest (just look at the games going on in Europe and see how few NBA players actually bothered with this one; or ask the Bahamas and the DR about their NBA players).

I did like the little jab to Nash though ("the team manager who didn't even bother showing up to last week's game in his home city").

https://www.cheknews.ca/the-uncomfortable-truth-of-canada-basketball-lack-of-player-commitment-threatens-countrys-golden-age-of-basketball-465018/

Yup, obviously you want 100% turnout and there is some smoke there particularly with Wiggins, but there is 0 doubt the program at every level is in a MUCH better place than it has ever been.

Outstanding that the 5 second clips they chose to show with multiple NBA players were just "What about Wiggins?"

Imagine if the media and broadcast partners in this country actually gave a damn about basketball in this country.

[Hair Canada]

Cute preview for the game from DAZN. Loved the RJ scratching his head bit in the middle.

Read on Twitter

[frumble]

Agree that this is the strongest lineup I can remember from a Canadian team. Next year should be even better (assuming we get there).

Interesting to compare this roster to 2015.

Seven players in common:
Olynyk
Ejim
Bennett
Powell
P. Scrubb
C. Joseph
Heslip

The five changes:
Brooks for Wiggins
Barrett for Stauskas
T. Scrubb for Doornekamp
Birch for Sacre
Nembhard for Nicholson (doesn't match position-wise because in 2015 Canada went with only 4 guards and 6 bigs).

As much flak as Stauskas and Wiggins get for their NBA performance, they were quite good for Canada in 2015. Brooks and Barrett may not yet be as good as they were that summer.

T. Scrubb vs. Doornekamp is probably a wash.

Birch over Sacre is an upgrade.

Nembhard vs. Nicholson hard to guage. Nicholson played a lot in 2015 (3rd among big minutes, behind only Olynyk and Bennett, and ahead of Ejim, Powell, and Sacre).

[TheFutureMM]

Some might question Bennett over Nicholson, but I am ok with it.

Honestly, I would/do feel bad if either guy didn't make the team. Nicholson hasn't always been the best player for us but he has at least been there and answered the call whenever he's been available. I have a lot of respect for him and hope this doesn't deter him from showing up in the future.

T. Scrubb for Doornekamp

Speaking of Doornekamp... Where is he? Was he even on the initial training camp roster?

[WellYouKnow]

Any of have DAZN and watch any of the other games? Cuba and PR has been a great game. Cuba is close to an upset up 3 on the road late in the 4th.

USA and Mexico is about to start.

Bahamas blew a lead and buddy hield was terrible down the stretch in a loss to the virgin islands

[WellYouKnow]

Mexico up 16-0 on the US

I dont know why they stuck with this Gleague team. They look awful.

Would be funny if they failed to qualify.

[TooBad]

Good roster. No real surprises.

Glad P. Scrubb able to play. Hope he is the third guard (behind Joseph and Barrett), and that Heslip is only used for spot situations and Nembhard for a few mpg backing up Joseph.

Some might question Bennett over Nicholson, but I am ok with it.

Bennett shot over 40% in the G league and tries on d. He not the best player ever but he's improved his game a lot while Nicholson appears to be deteriorating. I also like that Bennett always shows up for Canada.

[TooBad]

I would have gone with Boucher over Birch. He has a very unique game that isn't replicated on this team.

[Mattd97]

nicholson has been good for us in the past, but i guess its a good thing that competition has evolved.
nembhard is a cool story -- but we have a lot of great college guards as well and the fact that he plays with the GMs son is hard to overlook with the programs history.

[mojo13]

I would have gone with Boucher over Birch. He has a very unique game that isn't replicated on this team.

Really?
Boucher has one shiney game and you think he is better than a proven EuroLeague pro who has been a mini relvation for the Magic this year?

You seem easily distracted.

Boucher was tossed around inside by the Chinese center and although he had some monster blocks he was pushed around and out of position constantly. He was impressive in a flashy way (blocks and threes!) but doesn’t know our systems or sets yet.

Birch is a monster, mobile defender and rim protector who knows the system and likely our most important defender for these two games. I like Boucher’s unique game, but I’d be nuts to take him over Birch. I’d even take Birch over Tristan Thompson but at least that would be a meaningful debate.

[mojo13]

Good roster. No real surprises.

Glad P. Scrubb able to play. Hope he is the third guard (behind Joseph and Barrett), and that Heslip is only used for spot situations and Nembhard for a few mpg backing up Joseph.

Some might question Bennett over Nicholson, but I am ok with it.

Bennett shot over 40% in the G league and tries on d. He not the best player ever but he's improved his game a lot while Nicholson appears to be deteriorating. I also like that Bennett always shows up for Canada.

I still think Nicholson is better. He is not deteriorating but actually improved in China and played quite well. He really found his three ball in the CBA this year (43 percent on over 2 makes a game) this was his primary weakness in the NBA. He was the best player along with Yi Jianlian on a semi finals caliber team.

The CBA is a fairly wide open style league where imports tend to get crazy stats, but it is still way better than the G league.

I think Triano has a soft spot for Bennett and is rewarding him for past loyalty and future likely availability. Keep in mind Bennett was just utter trash for us in November.

[WellYouKnow]

Mexico beat the US

[mojo13]

Mexico beat the US

Stuff like that is no beuno if it comes down to a the best 4th place team.

Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.

[TooBad]

I would have gone with Boucher over Birch. He has a very unique game that isn't replicated on this team.

Really?
Boucher has one shiney game and you think he is better than a proven EuroLeague pro who has been a mini relvation for the Magic this year?

You seem easily distracted.

Boucher was tossed around inside by the Chinese center and although he had some monster blocks he was pushed around and out of position constantly. He was impressive in a flashy way (blocks and threes!) but doesn’t know our systems or sets yet.

Birch is a monster, mobile defender and rim protector who knows the system and likely our most important defender for these two games. I like Boucher’s unique game, but I’d be nuts to take him over Birch. I’d even take Birch over Tristan Thompson but at least that would be a meaningful debate.

Nicholson's D was awful. I'm not saying Bennett is a great defender or anything but Nicholson can hardly move due to his shaq feet. That's the reason Nichoson isn't in the NBA anymore he can't guard anyone. Bennett got kicked out because he couldn't do anything but dunk and rebound ,however, Bennett's defense and shooting has improved a ton in the g-league and he's probably closer to returning to the NBA than Nicholson. Another thing with both these guys is that they have a history of committed dumb fouls. Nicholson has actually cost Canada in the past for this whereas I can't remember Bennett doing this in a crucial game. Honestly, I see Nicholson as a poor man's patterson and even Patterson is hanging on by a thread in the NBA.

[TooBad]

I would have gone with Boucher over Birch. He has a very unique game that isn't replicated on this team.

Really?
Boucher has one shiney game and you think he is better than a proven EuroLeague pro who has been a mini relvation for the Magic this year?

You seem easily distracted.

Boucher was tossed around inside by the Chinese center and although he had some monster blocks he was pushed around and out of position constantly. He was impressive in a flashy way (blocks and threes!) but doesn’t know our systems or sets yet.

Birch is a monster, mobile defender and rim protector who knows the system and likely our most important defender for these two games. I like Boucher’s unique game, but I’d be nuts to take him over Birch. I’d even take Birch over Tristan Thompson but at least that would be a meaningful debate.

Yeah, and i'd take Boucher over Thomson too. Having a big man who can dribble up the floor/block/play d/rebound/ and shoot 3's is rare even if he's not the best shooter. Boucher gives Canada speed and quickness that no other centre can on that team.

[WellYouKnow]

Birch is probably more athletic and a much better defender than Boucher. Boucher is a better 3pt and ft shooter (i dont even know this for sure, im just assuming on the fts) .