Team Canada Basketball Thread V2.0

[Mirotic12]

Good find. I've heard these minicamp/retreats organized by the players are becoming more and more a thing with a lot of squads just before training camp. So now if you want to play in the World Cup you have to run the gauntlet-first your NBA team will try to dissuade you ( and if you have the least little injury they have the power to pull the plug) , then your agent will probably be worried about maximizing your future revenue so he'll be negative about you participating and then, last but not least your teammates will be pressuring you to do the Banana Boat/ mini camp team bonding expedition thing.

You really have to want to participate in the World Cup to withstand all these pressures. I give a lot of credit to a guy like Okogie for showing up for Nigeria, but he's the exception , not the norm.

This sounds true until you realize that in many of the European countries the NBA guys do suit up. This includes superstars like Giannis in Greece and Jokic in Serbia. Or take the team in our group, Lithuania. They have two NBA players. Both are in China. We have like more than ten (not including rookies) and only two in China. Same goes for France, which we might meet if we somehow get through our group of death. Each and every one of their NBA veterans is suiting up. And the list goes on (Serbia, Greece, Italy, etc.). I imagine that these players face the same pressures as the Canadians (and Americans) do from teams and agents, but do not let this bother them. Eventually, as you say, it comes down to players' commitment to the team and wanting to be there. And I suspect that the main issue is that in all of these countries people and the media actually care about this tournament, and so players do too. We (Canadians; not people who are here obviously) just don't.

I'm not sure comparing European athletes to North American athletes is necessarily accurate though ( glad to see you posting again). My understanding that culturally sports in Europe is considerably different than here in North America. In Europe they follow a hybrid soccer model. If your a fan of the Bayern Munich basketball program ( or soccer for that matter) it's a lot different than being a Raptor fan. Instead of chasing the one penultimate goal of winning a league championship like we do here, a European athlete or fan has several other options. First of all the Bayern basketball team would be involved in competing in their own domestic German League, concurrently they would also be playing internationally against other teams in Euroleague. If it's soccer there's a whole myriad of international Fifa qualifying matches or international friendly exhibition matches that occur all year long. Players are strongly encouraged to join the national squad ( there's no such thing as a Mark Cuban whining to everyone about his own narrow business interests ) without consequence to their club teams. Playing for the National Program is paramount in soccer.

Here we put all our eggs in one basket as fans. The ultimate goal is to win a domestic league championship at all cost - nothing else matters ( e.g. the Larry OB ). Unfortunately in such a system international competition is secondary. I know it's hard to comprehend their system - I'm not a soccer guy and I barely understand it. As people we tend to be ethnocentric ( looking at other cultures through the lens of our own values) so it's hard for us to understand European sports, but I do know it's totally different. I can see if your Marc Gasol and you grew up in a sports environment that constantly promotes and focuses on international competition playing for your national program would be important. In North America we just don't have the same approach to sports.

It varies from country to country. For example, Slovenia, Croatia and Greece national basketball teams have been struggling with players refusing to play for years. With Slovenia it was players fighting among themselves. With Croatia it is a bad federation that didn't give the players proper conditions.

With Greece it is a crazy federation that is run by a EuroLeague club team (Panathinaikos) and bases its decisions on what looks good for that club and what that club's owner wants.......including some crazy ideas like forcing many players out because "all players are washed up by age 30"........

Some European teams have just as much, or even more problems getting players to play as Canada does.

[TrueNorth31]

Fran Fraschilla talks about the importance of continuity.

"The four teams Fraschilla says can beat the U.S are Australia, France, Serbia and Spain because of their continuity.

“That is important because (this is) a year where Team USA cannot overwhelm the competition purely on talent,” Fraschilla said. “Their lack of continuity based on the short training camps vs. the experience of coaches who have had these teams under their wing for a couple of different international cycles is going to cause Team USA more trouble than normal.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2019/08/31/fiba-world-cup-four-teams-can-beat-team-usa/2178268001/

[Jstock12]

Fran Fraschilla talks about the importance of continuity.

"The four teams Fraschilla says can beat the U.S are Australia, France, Serbia and Spain because of their continuity.

“That is important because (this is) a year where Team USA cannot overwhelm the competition purely on talent,” Fraschilla said. “Their lack of continuity based on the short training camps vs. the experience of coaches who have had these teams under their wing for a couple of different international cycles is going to cause Team USA more trouble than normal.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2019/08/31/fiba-world-cup-four-teams-can-beat-team-usa/2178268001/

Greece should be on that list.

[TrueNorth31]

Fran Fraschilla talks about the importance of continuity.

"The four teams Fraschilla says can beat the U.S are Australia, France, Serbia and Spain because of their continuity.

“That is important because (this is) a year where Team USA cannot overwhelm the competition purely on talent,” Fraschilla said. “Their lack of continuity based on the short training camps vs. the experience of coaches who have had these teams under their wing for a couple of different international cycles is going to cause Team USA more trouble than normal.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2019/08/31/fiba-world-cup-four-teams-can-beat-team-usa/2178268001/

Greece should be on that list.

Here's what he says in the article;

"He’s also not counting out Lithuania or Greece, which has NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo."

[Mirotic12]

Fran Fraschilla talks about the importance of continuity.

"The four teams Fraschilla says can beat the U.S are Australia, France, Serbia and Spain because of their continuity.

“That is important because (this is) a year where Team USA cannot overwhelm the competition purely on talent,” Fraschilla said. “Their lack of continuity based on the short training camps vs. the experience of coaches who have had these teams under their wing for a couple of different international cycles is going to cause Team USA more trouble than normal.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2019/08/31/fiba-world-cup-four-teams-can-beat-team-usa/2178268001/

That's true that continuity is very important in FIBA national team competitions. What's also ridiculous about it is that USA sports media always pretends USA has the least continuity of any national team. That's actually complete BS. As someone that follows FIBA a lot over the years, USA is actually way high up on the list in continuity. Great continuity for USA with its management, coaching staffs, its systems, its select rosters, and even with the main players (with many of them playing long years and multiple tournaments).

I've only seen Argentina, Spain, and Brazil have better continuity over the last 15 years than USA. USA has better continuity than any European national team sans Spain. Yet in every single game, the US announcers claim they have a disadvantage to every other team in that way............

Fraschilla is one of the worst about that...so he sees how important that is, yet perpetuates a myth that isn't true about it all the time.....

[TrueNorth31]

Fran Fraschilla talks about the importance of continuity.

"The four teams Fraschilla says can beat the U.S are Australia, France, Serbia and Spain because of their continuity.

“That is important because (this is) a year where Team USA cannot overwhelm the competition purely on talent,” Fraschilla said. “Their lack of continuity based on the short training camps vs. the experience of coaches who have had these teams under their wing for a couple of different international cycles is going to cause Team USA more trouble than normal.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2019/08/31/fiba-world-cup-four-teams-can-beat-team-usa/2178268001/

That's true that continuity is very important in FIBA national team competitions. What's also ridiculous about it is that USA sports media always pretends USA has the least continuity of any national team. That's actually complete BS. As someone that follows FIBA a lot over the years, USA is actually way high up on the list in continuity. Great continuity for USA with its management, coaching staffs, its systems, its select rosters, and even with the main players (with many of them playing long years and multiple tournaments).

I've only seen Argentina, Spain, and Brazil have better continuity over the last 15 years than USA. USA has better continuity than any European national team sans Spain. Yet in every single game, the US announcers claim they have a disadvantage to every other team in that way............

Fraschilla is one of the worst about that...so he sees how important that is, yet perpetuates a myth that isn't true about it all the time.....

Whenever anybody talks about the Americans you lose your mind ( bizarre accusations that they have a $ 200 million dollar budget etc... ) . They have exactly one guy from their 2016 Olympic Team - that's the very definition of lack of continuity.

[Too Late Crew]

I think the game also showed how devastating the loss of Kelly O to injury is. For all the good thing Birch does on the interior the lack of any big that can defend opposing bigs and step out and make perimeter jumpers is glaring. A number of times Birch would catch the ball at the free throw line and a slow big like Bogut or Baynes could simply sag back in the lane as Birch either bricked every jumper or wouldn’t even shoot it and turn a wide open shot into a dribble hand off that results in a guard driving into the lane only to find his way blocked.
Klassen cant hit the broad side of a barn either.
Kelly O would be able to drag Bogut or a guy like JV our to the 3 point line with his shooting greatly increasing spacing or with this skill strive by them and get them in foul trouble. Instead we are stuck playing effectively 4 on 5.
I don’t think we miss much by having Birch rather than Tristan Thompson. Heck even Bennett or Nicholson c@n at least make a jumper from time to time.

[And1Skip]

Dennis Shroder had a great game for Germany in a close game vs France in 37 mins. And this is the guy that has more to lose with OKC this season as everyone is touting SGA as the heir apparent and sure thing starting guard alongside Paul. Really think SGA could have gained more by playing for Canada just like Shroder

[mojo13]

Dennis Shroder had a great game for Germany in a close game vs France in 37 mins. And this is the guy that has more to lose with OKC this season as everyone is touting SGA as the heir apparent and sure thing starting guard alongside Paul. Really think SGA could have gained more by playing for Canada just like Shroder

Schroeder got his $70mil contract already. I wonder how many times he played for Germany’s senior team before that?
It sucks for us but most of the young guys skipping out have a semi-logical excuse. Even though they still have peers for other counties playing - and I still think they should be playing. Murray, KO, TT, Nicholson, Powell and of course Wiggins less so and deserve more scorn than say Barrett, Boucher or SGA.

[And1Skip]

Dennis Shroder had a great game for Germany in a close game vs France in 37 mins. And this is the guy that has more to lose with OKC this season as everyone is touting SGA as the heir apparent and sure thing starting guard alongside Paul. Really think SGA could have gained more by playing for Canada just like Shroder

Schroeder got his $70mil contract already. I wonder how many times he played for Germany’s senior team before that?
It sucks for us but most of the young guys skipping out have a logical excuse. Murray, KO, TT, Nicholson, Powell and of course Wiggins less so.

From what I recall, Schroeder has always played for Germany. This definitely isn’t his first time. Yeah he got paid but he’s labeled as their 6th man when he’s been saying he deserves to be a star PG since his ATL days. I understand SGA doesn’t want to risk injury but Okogie has more to lose and he’s playing for Nigeria. It sucks so much we have to put out guys like Kaza Keene in there at the guard spot

[mojo13]

Dennis Shroder had a great game for Germany in a close game vs France in 37 mins. And this is the guy that has more to lose with OKC this season as everyone is touting SGA as the heir apparent and sure thing starting guard alongside Paul. Really think SGA could have gained more by playing for Canada just like Shroder

Schroeder got his $70mil contract already. I wonder how many times he played for Germany’s senior team before that?
It sucks for us but most of the young guys skipping out have a logical excuse. Murray, KO, TT, Nicholson, Powell and of course Wiggins less so.

From what I recall, Schroeder has always played for Germany. This definitely isn’t his first time. Yeah he got paid but he’s labeled as their 6th man when he’s been saying he deserves to be a star PG since his ATL days. I understand SGA doesn’t want to risk injury but Okogie has more to lose and he’s playing for Nigeria. It sucks so much we have to put out guys like Kaza Keene in there at the guard spot

To my knowledge he played once for the senior team prior to the contract extension in the 2015 EuroBasket but it was held in Germany. Nothing else that I know of once he got to the NBA.

[notericjr]

hey fellas, yall put up a good fight in the end given how under strength your squad is.

i concur with the 'big difference between nba players and european players' add-age as well. you could see cojo and birch were a class above the rest in your squad, as were our nba players vs the rest. i feel like a guy like pangos is a very serviceable player but has some clear flaws in his game, likewise someone on our team in chris goulding. theres a reason why guys like them aren't playing in the nba

a squad made up of nba level role players always has a good chance of medal-ling in international comps. throw in 1 or two legitimate nba stars and you've got yourself serious contender. fortunately while less than half of our nba guys decided to show up for the world cup(a problem you guys obviously had as well), at least our guys have experience playing with each other in previous tournaments, something that you guys didn't get the benefit of.

best of luck though, i think you guys will handle lithuania, and obviously smash senegal.

[TrueNorth31]

I believe your right Mojo here's his international playing record. Schroeder is a difficult guy , but a pretty good player , maybe even quicker than Cory which is saying something. I imagine there's a little more press coverage in Germany and France for this event than here in We the North Country.

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Dennis-Schroder/Summary/26503

[Too Late Crew]

Dennis Shroder had a great game for Germany in a close game vs France in 37 mins. And this is the guy that has more to lose with OKC this season as everyone is touting SGA as the heir apparent and sure thing starting guard alongside Paul. Really think SGA could have gained more by playing for Canada just like Shroder

Schroeder got his $70mil contract already. I wonder how many times he played for Germany’s senior team before that?
It sucks for us but most of the young guys skipping out have a semi-logical excuse. Even though they still have peers for other counties playing - and I still think they should be playing. Murray, KO, TT, Nicholson, Powell and of course Wiggins less so and deserve more scorn than say Barrett, Boucher or SGA.

You really should get your facts straight before busting in certain guys who did not play. Murray is hurt and in a walking boot. Ko played and then hurt his knee playing for team Canada. Nicholson wasn’t that even invited.

Why would any of those guys deserve “scorn”.

[mojo13]

Dennis Shroder had a great game for Germany in a close game vs France in 37 mins. And this is the guy that has more to lose with OKC this season as everyone is touting SGA as the heir apparent and sure thing starting guard alongside Paul. Really think SGA could have gained more by playing for Canada just like Shroder

Schroeder got his $70mil contract already. I wonder how many times he played for Germany’s senior team before that?
It sucks for us but most of the young guys skipping out have a semi-logical excuse. Even though they still have peers for other counties playing - and I still think they should be playing. Murray, KO, TT, Nicholson, Powell and of course Wiggins less so and deserve more scorn than say Barrett, Boucher or SGA.

You really should get your facts straight before busting in certain guys who did not play. Murray is hurt and in a walking boot. Ko played and then hurt his knee playing for team Canada. Nicholson wasn’t that even invited.

Why would any of those guys deserve “scorn”.

Yeah. I need to get my facts straight. Murray and KO were not meaningfully hurt and could have easily played. Although their NBA clubs played a role, they could have both played if they wanted. At least KO gave it a go before the Heat intervenes and shouldn’t have busted on him. We know he’d really tired to play What makes you so sure Nicholson wasn’t invited? I honestly don’t know but it seems ridiculous he wasn’t invited. It seems much more likely that made it very clear over the last year he wasn’t interested in playing anymore. Otherwise we’d certainly have seen him in the qualifiers.

[UcanUwill]

Nigeria - Argentina starts now. Need Argentina to lose this.

[GreenGarlic]

Dennis Schroder even played for Germany in 2015 EC qualifiers. He played in final torunaments, too. EC 2015 and EC 2017. I remember him talking how Germany was the best team in the group before the game against Lithuania. Valanciunas scored 27 points, added 15 rebounds, Lithuania won by 17 and clinched the first place in the group. Dennis Schroder scored 26 in that game. http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/0609/Germany-Lithuania#|tab=boxscore

To my knowledge he played once for the senior team prior to the contract extension in the 2015 EuroBasket but it was held in Germany. Nothing else that I know of once he got to the NBA.

[Too Late Crew]

Schroeder got his $70mil contract already. I wonder how many times he played for Germany’s senior team before that?
It sucks for us but most of the young guys skipping out have a semi-logical excuse. Even though they still have peers for other counties playing - and I still think they should be playing. Murray, KO, TT, Nicholson, Powell and of course Wiggins less so and deserve more scorn than say Barrett, Boucher or SGA.

You really should get your facts straight before busting in certain guys who did not play. Murray is hurt and in a walking boot. Ko played and then hurt his knee playing for team Canada. Nicholson wasn’t that even invited.

Why would any of those guys deserve “scorn”.

Yeah. I need to get my facts straight. Murray and KO were not meaningfully hurt and could have easily played. Although their NBA clubs played a role, they could have both played if they wanted. At least KO gave it a go before the Heat intervenes and shouldn’t have busted on him. We know he’d really tired to play What makes you so sure Nicholson wasn’t invited? I honestly don’t know but it seems ridiculous he wasn’t invited. It seems much more likely that made it very clear over the last year he wasn’t interested in playing anymore. Otherwise we’d certainly have seen him in the qualifiers.

Your u still don’t have your “facts” straight, You are just going on conjecture to fit your own narrative.

Ko was diagnosed via MRI with a BONE BRUISE on his knee August 14. Check every medical site you want bone bruises take one to two month minimum to heal or risk future complications. He absolutely could not play 2 weeks latter even if he wanted to (unless you are proposing he should play hurt and risk his career)

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/canada-national-team-basketball-world-cup-1.5213850
I’m sure Nicholson was not invited but I took 30 seconds to look it up and confirm the FACT that he wasn’t. They released th invite list and he wasn’t on it. If you aren’t invited you can’t very well turn down playing. You have nothing but your one bias to suggest that he told them not to invite him

Murray re injured an ankle just before training camp that suffered a very serious injury the prior season.
https://milehighsports.com/jamal-murray-to-miss-fiba-world-cup-with-ankle-issue/ once again it’s fact. It’s only your own conjecture that it was something he easily could play through.

[Kenter16]

In the scenario that Canada wins tomorrow and then Australia beats Lithuania. Canada would finish in 2nd Australia would be 3-0.
These records carry over to the second round, making it almost IMPOSSIBLE for Canada to make the knock stage. France will go 3-0 as well. Germany 2-1. You only play 2 games in the second round. Australia would have the tie breakers against us. So we would have to beat France and Germany, while also hoping Australia beats them both or Australia loses both. Those are the only clear ways we get in. Every other scenario goes to tie breakers. Very confusing. Very unnecessary.

This world cup format is dumb. The second round should exist. Play each team in your pool twice and go to the knockout round.

[gundysmullet]

Dennis Shroder had a great game for Germany in a close game vs France in 37 mins. And this is the guy that has more to lose with OKC this season as everyone is touting SGA as the heir apparent and sure thing starting guard alongside Paul. Really think SGA could have gained more by playing for Canada just like Shroder

Schroeder got his $70mil contract already. I wonder how many times he played for Germany’s senior team before that?
It sucks for us but most of the young guys skipping out have a semi-logical excuse. Even though they still have peers for other counties playing - and I still think they should be playing. Murray, KO, TT, Nicholson, Powell and of course Wiggins less so and deserve more scorn than say Barrett, Boucher or SGA.

You really should get your facts straight before busting in certain guys who did not play. Murray is hurt and in a walking boot. Ko played and then hurt his knee playing for team Canada. Nicholson wasn’t that even invited.

Why would any of those guys deserve “scorn”.

Murray did a publicity event where he dedicated some outdoor basketball courts at some low income housing projects in Kitchener a few weeks ago and he was walking, running, jumping and playing basketball, so not sure what you’re talking about.