Team Canada Basketball Thread V2.0

[frumble]

SMNT exhibition games vs. Nigeria announced for Toronto (Aug 7) and Winnipeg (Aug 9).

http://www.basketball.ca/en/news-article/team-canada-to-open-the-road-to-the-world-cup-against-nigeria-in

So looks like the rumored game in Hamilton on Aug 11 was replaced by the one in Toronto on the 7th.

The article doesn't mention when training camp will open.

[mojo13]

Another crap fest from RJ Barrett. Not going to draw conclusions after two summer league games, but it doesn’t look good.

Contrast that to watching Ignas today, Kabengele yesterday and today, and Clarke looking absolutely terrific and I am standing by the call that RJ will not be the best of this draft class. The field is too deep that a couple of these guys will turn out to be real gems.

Here is a nice breakdown of the awful b-ball IQ Barrett is showing.

This is all hopefully fixable as he learns, but not sure the Knicks organization is the best for that.

Ye, awesome showings for many Canadians in summer league yesterday:

* Iggy with 30, 8 rebounds, and the three that sent the game to overtime.
* Clarke with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks and a +23 in 17 minutes. He's going to be so good!
* Kabengele with 19 points (20 a game in summer league so far).
* Naz Long with 21 points and 8 assists (looks great in summer league; Cleaveland's best player by far)
* Michael Mulder with 18 points.
* Shayok didn't play yesterday, but in two games so far scored 17 points a game.

And RJ... In two games so far he has 9 points a game (many minutes), shooting 7/33 (21%!), 2 assists, and 12 TOs, while getting beat on defense multiple times. No doubt he'll get better (already looked a bit better today I thought), but wow, that's some bad playing. Will say one thing -- he's significantly younger than all of the guys above

And a very beautiful game by NAW in his debut last night: 23 pts, 3 threes, 8 Ast, 3 Stl and 2 Blks. Lu Dort had a solid outing too.
Impressive stuff from many Canadians so far until we look at Wigginton, Shittu, Brissett and of course Barrett. Barrett should turn things around - but the other three seem destined to a few years in the G League at least. Maybe Wigginton or Brissett could pick up a low level Euro contract this year - but I even think they need a year in the G before that.

The beauty of having so much talent coming through is the probability that a at least a few of these guys being really good NBA players. Even if RJ crumbles under the toxic Knicks organization - there seems an army of less hyped and very promising Canadians behind him. I think we will get an NBA Allstar from this group....but just not sure who yet.

I noticed Brandon Clarke has 300/1 odds to win rookie of the year. That may be worth a smallish bet considering Zion's risk for perpetually being injured.

[mojo13]

SMNT exhibition games vs. Nigeria announced for Toronto (Aug 7) and Winnipeg (Aug 9).

http://www.basketball.ca/en/news-article/team-canada-to-open-the-road-to-the-world-cup-against-nigeria-in

So looks like the rumored game in Hamilton on Aug 11 was replaced by the one in Toronto on the 7th.

The article doesn't mention when training camp will open.

Canada Basketball wasting an golden opportunity once again. We are a month away from the opening exhibition game and not a peep on training camp, roster etc. Camp needs to start in three weeks or less and they should be building exposure by now.

They have two huge free marketing opportunities to help sell tickets. Announce a 20-30 man player pool a month or two before and get some media attention hype from it. Cut it down to an 18 odd man camp list a couple weeks before camp and get more marketing exposure. But yet again it looks like they are limping into camp not knowing what they are doing. I wont be surprised if the T.O. game which should be a sell out if properly marketed, ends up near empty.

[frumble]

And a very beautiful game by NAW in his debut last night: 23 pts, 3 threes, 8 Ast, 3 Stl and 2 Blks. Lu Dort had a solid outing too.
Impressive stuff from many Canadians so far until we look at Wigginton, Shittu, Brissett and of course Barrett. Barrett should turn things around - but the other three seem destined to a few years in the G League at least. Maybe Wigginton or Brissett could pick up a low level Euro contract this year - but I even think they need a year in the G before that.

The beauty of having so much talent coming through is the probability that a at least a few of these guys being really good NBA players. Even if RJ crumbles under the toxic Knicks organization - there seems an army of less hyped and very promising Canadians behind him. I think we will get an NBA Allstar from this group....but just not sure who yet.

I noticed Brandon Clarke has 300/1 odds to win rookie of the year. That may be worth a smallish bet considering Zion's risk for perpetually being injured.

Has anyone's stock fallen more in the past 12 months than Shittu's?
Yes, good point re the depth.
I'd take those odds on Clarke. Unlike most of the new draftees, he is ready to make significant contributions immediately.

[gundysmullet]

SMNT exhibition games vs. Nigeria announced for Toronto (Aug 7) and Winnipeg (Aug 9).

http://www.basketball.ca/en/news-article/team-canada-to-open-the-road-to-the-world-cup-against-nigeria-in

So looks like the rumored game in Hamilton on Aug 11 was replaced by the one in Toronto on the 7th.

The article doesn't mention when training camp will open.

Canada Basketball wasting an golden opportunity once again. We are a month away from the opening exhibition game and not a peep on training camp, roster etc. Camp needs to start in three weeks or less and they should be building exposure by now.

They have two huge free marketing opportunities to help sell tickets. Announce a 20-30 man player pool a month or two before and get some media attention hype from it. Cut it down to an 18 odd man camp list a couple weeks before camp and get more marketing exposure. But yet again it looks like they are limping into camp not knowing what they are doing. I wont be surprised if the T.O. game which should be a sell out if properly marketed, ends up near empty.

It’s amazing how inept and poor they are at marketing. It’s like they just don’t care

[TrueNorth31]

SMNT exhibition games vs. Nigeria announced for Toronto (Aug 7) and Winnipeg (Aug 9).

http://www.basketball.ca/en/news-article/team-canada-to-open-the-road-to-the-world-cup-against-nigeria-in

So looks like the rumored game in Hamilton on Aug 11 was replaced by the one in Toronto on the 7th.

The article doesn't mention when training camp will open.

Canada Basketball wasting an golden opportunity once again. We are a month away from the opening exhibition game and not a peep on training camp, roster etc. Camp needs to start in three weeks or less and they should be building exposure by now.

They have two huge free marketing opportunities to help sell tickets. Announce a 20-30 man player pool a month or two before and get some media attention hype from it. Cut it down to an 18 odd man camp list a couple weeks before camp and get more marketing exposure. But yet again it looks like they are limping into camp not knowing what they are doing. I wont be surprised if the T.O. game which should be a sell out if properly marketed, ends up near empty.

I think we'll see some information coming out soon. To a degree this is the price you pay by having an NBA coach involved. Nurse will have quite a bit of input into the roster and once he's finished his duties at Summer League in Vegas I imagine he'll have more time to devote to the National Program. As well, the contract status of several players is still in flux - we're still well within the time frame in which players are still being signed.

I think it'll be a near sell out ( in fact I'd get my tickets sooner than later - sadly for me I'm in the Big Smoke the week before ). They appear to be playing in the ice arena at the Mattamy Centre which has a relatively small capacity of 3100. This is in the bowels of the old Maple Leaf Gardens and has a fantastic location right on the subway. I think there's still plenty of time to market this event and given the limited seats hopefully it won't turn into a Nigerian home game.

[MEDIC]

Watch on YouTube

Doesn't look overly quick, but super crafty with a smooth jumper.

Anyone know what his defense was like?

[Stromile12]

Watch on YouTube

[young11a]

Watch on YouTube

Wow I cant believe how good this kid looks great passing and finishing with both hands looks like he can do everything out there

[aminiaturebuddha]

Sounds like Orlando re-signed Khem Birch to a 2-year $6 million dollar deal (according to a Realgm headline anyway). I'm surprised he didn't get more, considering his impact on the defensive end, and the fact that a lot of teams could use a back up big that understands his role like that and doesn't try to do too much.

Anyway, good news for the National Team, as that's now another guy whose contract status is no longer uncertain and should be available. Let's hope he commits.

[MEDIC]

Watch on YouTube

Wow I cant believe how good this kid looks great passing and finishing with both hands looks like he can do everything out there

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this kid ended up being the best Canadian from this draft & a top 5 player from his draft class.

[Hair Canada]

Doesn't look overly quick, but super crafty with a smooth jumper.

Anyone know what his defense was like?

Unfortunately, his defense wasn't that good in college. He has some tools with great length, but was usually slow and not so instinctive (especially considering that he's an older prospect). He did have a big offensive role at Iowa State though, so maybe with more limited minutes (if he gets any) he can be more focused and at least not be a defensive liability.

[BilboBanginz]

Gonna be a bloodbath.

Read on Twitter

[frumble]

And the odds also show what a complete joke Groups A and B are (as we already knew).

Group A's teams are considered 15th (Poland), 19th (China), 24th (Venezuela), and 27th (Ivory Coast) best favorites, despite having such an easy path to the quarters.

For Group B its 9th (Argentina), 11th (Russia), 18th (Nigeria), and 32nd (Korea).

Its criminal that two of those eight teams will be in the quarters.

[Stromile12]

Watch on YouTube

[Syd-TK3]

He honestly looks better than shai he has a much better shot already

[mojo13]

I don't understand how he could look better than Shai when we have a whole season of real games on Shai but two Summer League games for NAW. I'd put that back in the holster until was see a month or too of NAW in the NBA.

But I do honestly think NAW has been the standout performance of all the summer league so far (not just among Canadians). Super small sample size with two games though. Brandon Clarke is a razor blade's width behind.

Very interested in seeing NAW compete versus Ball. Lonzo is a good facilitator, excellent rebounder and defender but that shot is really ugly - and he is injury prone too. Lonzo probably gets some undue flak due to his Dad and starting out in LA - despite his obvious warts the Lakers were a much better team when he was playing. But NAW could make this an interesting competition.

[mojo13]

Twitter rumors rumbling about the camp roster being released within the next 24 to 48 hours.


Friday late afternoon seems a move Canada Basketball would make.

Read on Twitter

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[frumble]

Twitter rumors rumbling about the camp roster being released within the next 24 to 48 hours.


Friday late afternoon seems a move Canada Basketball would make.

How reliable is this guy re Canadian hoops info?
Any other twitter rumors corroborating or speculating re personnel?

Any last guesses on which NBA guys will be on the list (and will show)? E.g., out of Murray, SGA, Wiggins, Barrett, and Brooks, how many do you think will participate?

[mojo13]

Twitter rumors rumbling about the camp roster being released within the next 24 to 48 hours.


Friday late afternoon seems a move Canada Basketball would make.

How reliable is this guy re Canadian hoops info?
Any other twitter rumors corroborating or speculating re personnel?

Any last guesses on which NBA guys will be on the list (and will show)? E.g., out of Murray, SGA, Wiggins, Barrett, and Brooks, how many do you think will participate?

He is a credible Aussie NBA reporter for Fox Sports - but I doubt he has much inside Team Canada knowledge. He does have inside Team Australia knowledge and has been involved in the promotion of the exhibition games in Australia. Obviously there is heavy interest there in which Canadian players may be playing. Anything he knows is coming via the Aussie basketball sports federation, which certainly is in contact with Canada Basketball as they co-ordinate and promote these games.

As for the team I am sure CoJo, KO and TT are locks as they are being used all over the place in the marketing.

SGA, Murray, Stauskas, Birch, Powell, Boucher have all stated publicly they want to play. I really have no insight on Murray and SGA. But feel good about Birch and Powell.
Pangos, Ejim, both Scrubbs, Wiltjer have all stated publicly they want to play as well.
Stauskas is still the only NBA guy without a contract, but I am not sure how much that matters as this may be an audition for a EuroLeague club if he is out of the NBA. Pangos is back with Barca and under contract (some rumor of a buyout and move to Valencia) so that seems settled and he should be available. Ejim and both Scrubbs I believe are without contracts but I'd guess they all would be available. Sounded like Wiltjer wants to play as well (saw a recent interview) but that is digging deep at the forward spot. We shouldn't forget about Andrew Nicholson either - he has been killing it in China (finally found a three ball - hitting ~45% on 2.5 made threes a game). I wouldn't be too upset to see him there over Ejim/Wiltjer/Boucher etc.

Lyles has showed no interest publicly - I'd be surprised if he shows (i'm almost sure he wont).
Wiggins is still quite the enigma - your guess is as good as mine (50/50 at best)

Brooks isn't playing summer league and I heavily question if he is going to be ready to play (injured foot). There has been no injury news on him since March - I cant find anything out there on him except that he clearly has the Thirst and was mentored by TT. Tyler Ennis still seems out as well - but I don't know for sure and hopefully it doesn't matter. There was some question about him playing the EL playoffs but he was quickly ruled out. Even if health Tyler Ennis and Brooks are probably way out of game shape.

I don't think any of the just drafted rookies play, including Barrett. He said he was "unsure" if he was going to play just a few days ago. That s not a good sign. But maybe a good thing for Canada considering his Summer League display.

If I had to guess a good but realistic case might be something like this:
Joseph
Murray
Gilgeous-Alexander
Kelly O
Thompson

Stauskas
Pangos
P. Scrubb
T. Scrubb
Powell
Birch
Ejim

I'd be happy with this.



Oh and Naz Long is not on the 18 man Greek camp roster if that matters and Dylan Ennis said he is free from Jamaica and available to Canada if they want him. Anybody else worth talking about? Anthony Bennett was supposedly hurt at the end of the GLeague season (shoulder) but I know nothing more about it. Justin Jackson (remember him?) tore his Achilles in Jan/Feb (poor kid).

Edit: and just like that Anthony Bennett signed a non guaranteed deal with the Rockets.

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