Team Canada Basketball Thread V2.0

Hair Canada · Post #321 » by **Hair Canada** » Mon Oct 1, 2018 3:24 pm

The German league opened yesterday. A good first game for Trae Bell-Haynes, with 14 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes. Aaron Best was decent, with 10 points and 7 rebounds in 34 minutes, but didn't shoot the ball that well. Kassius Robertson with a weak start to his pro career, with 4 points in 21 minutes (on 1-7 shooting) and not much of a contribution in other aspects of the game.

mojo13 · Post #322 » by **mojo13** » Mon Oct 1, 2018 5:26 pm

Hair Canada wrote:The German league opened yesterday. A good first game for Trae Bell-Haynes, with 14 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes. Aaron Best was decent, with 10 points and 7 rebounds in 34 minutes, but didn't shoot the ball that well. Kassius Robertson with a weak start to his pro career, with 4 points in 21 minutes (on 1-7 shooting) and not much of a contribution in other aspects of the game.

Note that Fraport (Bell-Haynes & Helip) played against Ludwigsburg (Best and Klassen) in the opener.
Heslip had a very disapointing zero points on 0-4 in 30 minutes. And Owen Klassen didnt seem to play (hurt?)

Wiltjer had a pretty cool first ACB game scoring the first 13 points of the game for Unicaja from all over the place.

casoldi · Post #323 » by **casoldi** » Mon Oct 1, 2018 9:00 pm

What do you guys think about the NPH top 25 players for 2019? Seems a lot weaker than last years to me.

http://northpolehoops.com/2018/09/27/2019-boys-canadian-national-rankings-top-25/

Sent from my SM-G955W using Tapatalk

Hair Canada · Post #324 » by **Hair Canada** » Tue Oct 2, 2018 2:27 am

casoldi wrote:What do you guys think about the NPH top 25 players for 2019? Seems a lot weaker than last years to me.

http://northpolehoops.com/2018/09/27/2019-boys-canadian-national-rankings-top-25/

Sent from my SM-G955W using Tapatalk

Yes, definitely significantly weaker. But it's mainly because the top-3 2019 players (Barrett, Nembhard, and AJ Lawson) reclassified to 2018. I suspect this 2019 class might eventually get Addison Patterson, which would make it a bit stronger. But as it stands now, there's not a single player that I can say with confidence will eventually get to the NBA. Guerrier (in particular), Miller, and Samuel all have the physical profile and some of the skills necessary to make it. But all three will need to make a significant jump for that to happen and if they continue in the same trajectory I don't think they make it.

frumble · Post #325 » by **frumble** » Tue Oct 2, 2018 5:34 pm

Speaking of the class of 19, Joel Brown committed to Cal this morning. Will be nice to have another Canadian in the Pac-12, and one on the Bears for the first time since Emerson Murray.

Hair Canada · Post #326 » by **Hair Canada** » Thu Oct 4, 2018 5:23 am

Pre-season and all. But it's quite plausible that by the end of this year we'll already be talking about SGA as a better player than Wiggins (perhaps that's already the case?) Wiggins will of course still score more points, but quite possibly with a lower true shooting %. And he will likely contribute less in most other aspects of the game (assists, steals, defense, leadership).

In their head to head yesterday, both got about the same number of minutes:

Wiggins: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 blocks, and a +/- of -23.
Shai: 12 points (2/3 from 3), 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and a +/- of +24.

By the way, my call is that Murray (easily), Lyles and Olynyk are already more complete and contributing players than Wiggins is. Perhaps Dillon Brooks as well, but he still needs to show some consistency going into his second year.

Mojo, last year you did a nice Canadian power ranking. The beginning of the season seems like a good time for an update.

Post #327 » by **Double Helix** » Thu Oct 4, 2018 12:16 pm

We suddenly are reaching a point where even if Wiggins does continue to come up with excuses to not be involved it may not have the kind of massive impact on team Canada we previously thought it might.

[youtube]

Watch on YouTube

[youtube]

Pooh_Jeter · Post #328 » by **Pooh_Jeter** » Thu Oct 4, 2018 6:19 pm

I've watched a couple TWolves pre-season games and I think Wiggins defensive play has looked improved, but I haven't seen any indication he has changed his offensive game. The Wolves as a whole do not look good. I guess it's not surprising given they were not very good without Butler last year.

BilboBanginz · Post #329 » by **BilboBanginz** » Sat Oct 6, 2018 2:55 pm

Read on Twitter

mojo13 · Post #330 » by **mojo13** » Sat Oct 6, 2018 3:20 pm

Solid move to park a guy like Notice at the 905 to keep him available to the SMNT like Best and Keane last year. Maybe Boucher too. But I think he needs to be waived to go to the 905 and someone else could snag him.

Seems like their is some sort of ongoing relationship between Basketball Canada and the Raps/905 as this seems to be the norm for the last few years.

Hair Canada · Post #331 » by **Hair Canada** » Tue Oct 9, 2018 2:49 am

NPH just came out with their top-10 ranking for the Canadian class of 2020:

http://northpolehoops.com/2018/10/07/2020-canadian-national-player-rankings-top-10/

1. Addison Patterson (SG; Bella Vista; 6'7; 205)
2. Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (SF; Orangeville Prep; 6'6; 188)
3. Cashius McNeilly (PG; Thornlea; 6'5; 185)
4. Keon Ambrose (SF; International Sports Academy; 6'8; 193)
5. Okay Djamgouz (PG; London Basketball Academy; 6'4; 170)
6. Joshua Hemmings (SG; Lawrenceville School; 6'9; 205)
7. Keeshawn Barthélémy (PG; Thornlea; 6'2; 165)
8. Coleman Stucke (SG; King's Christian Collegiate; 6'7; 208)
9. Karim Mane (PG; Vanier; 6'5; 190)
10. Kellen Tynes (PG; Rothesay Netherwood School; 6'0; 158)

A few thoughts:

Patterson, as I wrote here before, is indeed the best talent out of this class, and right now it's not even close. I've been very critical of some aspects of his game and attitude in the past, but he's improved quite a bit and seems like he's headed in the right way. In my view, he's nowhere near a Murray or Barrett level of talent, as suggested in the article, but still an NBA talent.

Moncrieffe is also a guy I've liked quite a lot for the last couple of years now, and I'm glad to see NPH are finally on board after they've been ranking him at the end of the first 10 (at best) until now. Unless things change, I think he's the only other guy with good NBA potential right now.

McNeilly has been a big disappointment, but the talent and shot are there, so in terms of potential I get why he's third (he's not a PG though).

Djamgouz' #5 ranking is just ridiculous. For me, he has no place in the top-10, not to mention the top-5. A trigger-happy shooter, and that's about it (certainly not a PG as they say here, even if he says that's what he wants to be), with a skinny body, who's not a good athlete or ballhandler. There's a good reason he wasn't on the U17 national team, and watching him again in the provincial nationals this summer, he was not even one of the better performers for a team Ontario that was missing its 10 best players, although he was one of the older players on that very mediocre team, who lost many of its games... This insistence by NPH (for the second year in a raw) is really strange and hurts their credibility, especially given that he's one of only two players who play in their NPA league. Smells of favoritism. Anything but "game speaks".

Notable omissions from this list: Luka Sakota (a PG I quite like, ranked 16 by NPH) and Shemar Rathan-Mayes (who I like less; ranked 18), both clearly better players than Djamgouz.

mojo13 · Post #332 » by **mojo13** » Tue Oct 9, 2018 8:10 pm

Weekly round-up of guys playing abroad:

https://www.usbasket.com/Canada/news/550576/Andrew-Rautins-selected-the-top-Canadian-playing-abroad-in-last-week's-games

Crazy how many good young Canadian talent is out there in good leagues.

Here is a current ranking of European domestic leagues if anyone is interested (per EuroHoops):
https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/750782/domestic-leagues-rankings-turkish-and-german-downfall/

ACB (Spain), VTB (Russia), TBL (Turkey) the top tier. France, Italy, Germany, Greece after that.

mojo13 · Post #333 » by **mojo13** » Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:11 am

Anthony Bennett signs a G league contract for this season. His rights are held by the Maine Red Claws.
Should keep him available to Team Canada.

Edit: his G league rights were quickly traded to the Ontario Clippers for James Michael Macadoo’s rights.

Post #334 » by **Double Helix** » Fri Oct 12, 2018 12:09 am

Andrew Wiggins and the woman’s high school basketball player he began dating at Huntington Prep (she later played at Notre Dame) are expecting their first child (a baby girl) any day now. They are engaged.

BilboBanginz · Post #335 » by **BilboBanginz** » Fri Oct 12, 2018 12:57 pm

ESPN released their 2020 Mock (Paywall):

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/24957797/2020-nba-mock-draft-james-wiseman-cole-anthony-more-top-prospects

Luguentz Dort @ 18

Simi Shittu @ 25

Hair Canada · Post #336 » by **Hair Canada** » Fri Oct 12, 2018 1:54 pm

BilboBanginz wrote:ESPN released their 2020 Mock (Paywall):

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/24957797/2020-nba-mock-draft-james-wiseman-cole-anthony-more-top-prospects

Luguentz Dort @ 18

Simi **** @ 25

Also: AJ Lawson at 44. So much is going to change though.

frumble · Post #337 » by **frumble** » Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:17 pm

I haven't followed training camps at all. Any notable news re Canadians? How many made opening day rosters?

Boucher and Long are on two-way contracts and will start in G league?

Did SGA look good?

Is Stauskas expected to be in Portland's rotation?

Thanks.

aminiaturebuddha · Post #338 » by **aminiaturebuddha** » Tue Oct 16, 2018 8:09 pm

frumble wrote:I haven't followed training camps at all. Any notable news re Canadians? How many made opening day rosters?

Boucher and Long are on two-way contracts and will start in G league?

Did SGA look good?

Is Stauskas expected to be in Portland's rotation?

Thanks.

SGA looked very good, better than almost all expectations, and may end up being the Clippers starting PG sooner rather than later, especially with Patrick Beverley's injury history.

Stauskas got consistent minutes in pre-season, but it's certainly not a lock that he'll continue to get that in the regular season. Lillard and McCollum are obviously their starters, and so Stauskas is going to have to battle for backup minutes in the backcourt with Evan Turner and Seth Curry. Neither are world beaters, so the opportunity is definitely there for him to seize a role, but we've all heard that story with Stauskas before.

One interesting note from pre-season is that Dillon Brooks didn't start much for Memphis, as they seemed to be experimenting with different wing players in the starting lineup, including Chandler Parsons, Garrett Temple, Wayne Seldon, and Kyle Anderson. It could have just been random pre-season experimenting, and either way I'm not sure it'll affect his minutes, but Brooks may end up off the bench this year if the coaches think he fits better in that role.

mojo13 · Post #339 » by **mojo13** » Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:53 pm

aminiaturebuddha wrote:
frumble wrote:I haven't followed training camps at all. Any notable news re Canadians? How many made opening day rosters?

Boucher and Long are on two-way contracts and will start in G league?

Did SGA look good?

Is Stauskas expected to be in Portland's rotation?

Thanks.

SGA looked very good, better than almost all expectations, and may end up being the Clippers starting PG sooner rather than later, especially with Patrick Beverley's injury history.

Stauskas got consistent minutes in pre-season, but it's certainly not a lock that he'll continue to get that in the regular season. Lillard and McCollum are obviously their starters, and so Stauskas is going to have to battle for backup minutes in the backcourt with Evan Turner and Seth Curry. Neither are world beaters, so the opportunity is definitely there for him to seize a role, but we've all heard that story with Stauskas before.

One interesting note from pre-season is that Dillon Brooks didn't start much for Memphis, as they seemed to be experimenting with different wing players in the starting lineup, including Chandler Parsons, Garrett Temple, Wayne Seldon, and Kyle Anderson. It could have just been random pre-season experimenting, and either way I'm not sure it'll affect his minutes, but Brooks may end up off the bench this year if the coaches think he fits better in that role.

I have nothing more to add on SGA - he looked like a possible ROY candidate.

Wiggins was just hideous - just as inefficient as ever, terrible defense, awful shot selection, adding no other vaklue. He has allot going on with all the Butler drama and missed the last two games with the birth of his first child. Understandable that he was awful, but still not a hopeful preseason.

Lyles was fantastic - ultra efficient and looking like a primary big of the bench for the Nugs. He looks very improved and should have a good season. Murray looked vert solid as well.

KO was iffy to start and then settled in for some good games. The Heat still trying to play him next to Whiteside which I am not sure works.

Stauskas had a good couple games and is very much needed in Portland. He could carve out a solid bench role (the opportunity is there), but I am not sure I believe in him.

Brooks had a very bad preseaon - the worst next to Wiggins. Very inefficient. Sort of looked too arrogant out there thinking he was a lead iso scorer for the Grizz rather than a role player. He looks primed for a sophmore slump - especially with the slew of Grizz wings all healthy.

Didn't see much of Powell as he has a minor knee injury and didnt play much. The games he did play he looked his usual uber efficient self. He looked really good with Doncic, but I worry greatly about his minutes this year behind DeAndre Jordan as I cant really see them on the floor together. Powell has not yet proven he has any range.

Didnt see much Khem Birch - he is buried again with all those centers with the Magic. They really need to trade Vuc for him to get decent back up minutes.

Didnt watch CoJo or TT - they are what they are.

Boucher played well enough to get a 2-way which will likely keep him out of Team Canada.

aminiaturebuddha · Post #340 » by **aminiaturebuddha** » Tue Oct 16, 2018 11:18 pm

mojo13 wrote:

Lyles was fantastic - ultra efficient and looking like a primary big of the bench for the Nugs. He looks very improved and should have a good season. Murray looked vert solid as well.

KO was iffy to start and then settled in for some good games. The Heat still trying to play him next to Whiteside which I am not sure works.

Boucher played well enough to get a 2-way which will likely keep him out of Team Canada.

I agree that Lyles looks great. The Nuggets are going to have an interesting decision to make fairly soon about how they view Lyles going forward. Millsap has a $30 million team option for next year. If they think that Lyles could be a consistent starter, that cap space could be huge for them to try to get another big piece. The problem is that Millsap is the best defender on what is already a bad defensive team. As brilliant as Lyles can be on offence, there's no way the Nuggets can entrust him with Millsap's minutes and role if he doesn't significantly improve his defence.

In limited sample size, lineups with KO and Bam Adebayo have been way better than the KO-Whiteside combination. I wouldn't be surprised if we see Whiteside's minutes decrease this year and Adebayo picking up the slack, which would be good for keeping KO on the floor.

Is the NBA rule that 2-way contracts cannot play for national programs during the season, or has that just been the practice? Seeing as Boucher is likely to spend the majority of the year on the Raptors 905 team, and the Raps and Team Canada seem to have a good working relationship, I could see an exception being made for Boucher unless the NBA strictly outlaws it.