Team Canada Basketball Thread V3.0

[mojo13]

Losing Spanoulis is the biggest blow for Greece yet, along with Giannis not being able to play. If Greece qualifies now by eliminating Canada, with like 8 of their 10 best players missing, including probably their 4 best players overall missing (Papapetrou, Printezis, Spanoulis, Giannis), then in all honesty, Canada's national team should be ashamed and embarrassed.

Almost thought you were describing Canada there for a second.

[Mattd97]

Losing Spanoulis is the biggest blow for Greece yet, along with Giannis not being able to play. If Greece qualifies now by eliminating Canada, with like 8 of their 10 best players missing, including probably their 4 best players overall missing (Papapetrou, Printezis, Spanoulis, Giannis), then in all honesty, Canada's national team should be ashamed and embarrassed.

Almost thought you were describing Canada there for a second.

Nice

[OntZags]

Losing Spanoulis is the biggest blow for Greece yet, along with Giannis not being able to play. If Greece qualifies now by eliminating Canada, with like 8 of their 10 best players missing, including probably their 4 best players overall missing (Papapetrou, Printezis, Spanoulis, Giannis), then in all honesty, Canada's national team should be ashamed and embarrassed.

Not to beat a dead horse but you are describing Canada's roster situation to a 'tee', as well. You do a good job updating us on Greece's roster but apparently less so following on with all of Canada's absences.

Turkey probably has to be considered the favorite here based on rosters' but it wouldn't be shocking to see any of Canada/Greece/Czech pull this off.

Barring some cray piss poor play though, it will be far from an embarrassment if Canada fails to beat Greece. Canada is missing just as many guys (& better quality on the whole) & will be going into this tourney with basically no preparation whatsoever. I'd argue the prep games alone should have Greece better positioned against this particular iteration of Canada.

[Mirotic12]

Not to beat a dead horse but you are describing Canada's roster situation to a 'tee', as well. You do a good job updating us on Greece's roster but apparently less so following on with all of Canada's absences.

Turkey probably has to be considered the favorite here based on rosters' but it wouldn't be shocking to see any of Canada/Greece/Czech pull this off.

Barring some cray piss poor play though, it will be far from an embarrassment if Canada fails to beat Greece. Canada is missing just as many guys (& better quality on the whole) & will be going into this tourney with basically no preparation whatsoever. I'd argue the prep games alone should have Greece better positioned against this particular iteration of Canada.

Well, it's the issue of the team being led by Calathes and/or Sloukas. Calathes is a career long huge choker in club league playoffs and in national team elimination games. He was mainly responsible for Greece losing elimination games numerous times. Sloukas had an epically horrendous season with Olympiacos in terms of choking.

His team probably lost about 6 games right at the end of the game, specifically because of bat crazy BS stuff he did at the end of games. One of his choke jobs last season is already legendary in EuroLeague lore. It was almost mind boggling some of the choke he did last season.

Those two guys over and over and over have shriveled up immensely in their careers under pressure. On the other hand, Greece has some guys on the roster with a lot of moxy and guts and that are clutch. Larentzakis comes to mind right away, but none of those players will have the ball in their hands at the end of games.

With Spanoulis out, Greece went from having the clutchest EuroLeague player of all time having the ball in his hands at the end of close games, to having it in the hands os either Calathes, who can't shoot, or Sloukas, who choked over and over with Olympiacos in that role. If Sloukas plays at this tournament like he did this past season with Olympiacos......Greece will be perfectly capable of getting up by 15-20 points on anyone, and then losing the game through crazy bad decision making from the lead ball handler, even if they are up big in the 4th quarter.

It's not how good the players are, it's the issue of what kind of brain does the lead guard have, and based on this past season, Sloukas' point guard instincts, decision making, and ability to run a team are extremely low. So Greece has to have him on a very hot shooting day, where he's making most of his shot attempts, so that he doesn't have to use his brain.

When they lost Spanoulis, they lost the best closer in Europe. Hell, even at age 39, he's still the best closer. While Sloukas is one of the worst. It doesn't mean Greece couldn't qualify, because they have the ability. But it means that in order to do so Sloukas probably needs to have a good shooting game. Something like Sloukas had against Lithuania in 2019. In order to nullify Calathes making the team play 4 on 5 on offense and/or Sloukas being put in a situation where he as to think, instead of just react.

So Greece needs some good offensive efficiency now. In contrast, if they had Spanoulis and Printezis in the team, they could figure out how to win a game, even if they shot like 2-25 from 3 point range.

[Kenter16]

Losing Spanoulis is the biggest blow for Greece yet, along with Giannis not being able to play. If Greece qualifies now by eliminating Canada, with like 8 of their 10 best players missing, including probably their 4 best players overall missing (Papapetrou, Printezis, Spanoulis, Giannis), then in all honesty, Canada's national team should be ashamed and embarrassed.

Not to beat a dead horse but you are describing Canada's roster situation to a 'tee', as well. You do a good job updating us on Greece's roster but apparently less so following on with all of Canada's absences.

Turkey probably has to be considered the favorite here based on rosters' but it wouldn't be shocking to see any of Canada/Greece/Czech pull this off.

Barring some cray piss poor play though, it will be far from an embarrassment if Canada fails to beat Greece. Canada is missing just as many guys (& better quality on the whole) & will be going into this tourney with basically no preparation whatsoever. I'd argue the prep games alone should have Greece better positioned against this particular iteration of Canada.

While I tend to agree with you, the betting odds are heavily in Canada's favour. We opened at -200 favourites and now are up to -250. Greece is second favourite at +500 and Turkey at +600. That's a huge gap. Vegas giving Canada a big home court advantage.

[OntZags]

While I tend to agree with you, the betting odds are heavily in Canada's favour. We opened at -200 favourites and now are up to -250. Greece is second favourite at +500 and Turkey at +600. That's a huge gap. Vegas giving Canada a big home court advantage.

I hate to argue against Vegas as the people driving the odds are unquestionably pros. I wonder if there is a slight time-delay between roster developments and the latest posted odds?

Because I'm not seeing this particular Canadian squad warranting that large betting odds.

[frumble]

While I sympathize with the Greek absences, we are missing our two best NBA scorers (Murray and SGA), four other double digit NBA scorers (Brooks, Olynyk, Brissett, and Clarke), our top non-NBA scorer and overall player (Pangos), and our two best interior defenders and rebounders (Birch and Thompson).

And, as with Greece, it is not just injuries keeping our guys out, but also contract status, team pressure, and other, undisclosed reasons.

[Kenter16]

I still expect Wiggins and Dort to show up. Cojo was always a question mark for me. I have been reading the Pistons back pages and his contract option is likely to be decided on draft night. If they draft a Suggs or Cunningham the thought is that they will have too many guards and Cojo is the easiest to just let go of. If they don't draft a guard, it's likely they keep him. So, it will basically come down to the lottery on Tuesday night.

Well, the Pistons won the lottery. They will take Cunningham and Cojo will be cut. That's at least what the Detriot beat writers were saying before the lottery. Not good. They don't have to make a move until mid to late July, so his status for the OQT is probably not in question. This likely means he is out of the Olympics if we qualify.

Obviously not for sure. They may still keep him to mentor Cunningham, but from what I saw cutting him is now the most likely scenario.

[mojo13]

I still expect Wiggins and Dort to show up. Cojo was always a question mark for me. I have been reading the Pistons back pages and his contract option is likely to be decided on draft night. If they draft a Suggs or Cunningham the thought is that they will have too many guards and Cojo is the easiest to just let go of. If they don't draft a guard, it's likely they keep him. So, it will basically come down to the lottery on Tuesday night.

Well, the Pistons won the lottery. They will take Cunningham and Cojo will be cut. That's at least what the Detriot beat writers were saying before the lottery. Not good. They don't have to make a move until mid to late July, so his status for the OQT is probably not in question. This likely means he is out of the Olympics if we qualify.

Obviously not for sure. They may still keep him to mentor Cunningham, but from what I saw cutting him is now the most likely scenario.

I don’t understand. Why would him getting cut by the Pistons equate to him pulling out from Team Canada?

He is still guaranteed 2.3M. That’s not changing. You thinking he’d want to scramble and focus on finding another team? He can still play Team Canada while his agent does that.

[Kenter16]

I still expect Wiggins and Dort to show up. Cojo was always a question mark for me. I have been reading the Pistons back pages and his contract option is likely to be decided on draft night. If they draft a Suggs or Cunningham the thought is that they will have too many guards and Cojo is the easiest to just let go of. If they don't draft a guard, it's likely they keep him. So, it will basically come down to the lottery on Tuesday night.

Well, the Pistons won the lottery. They will take Cunningham and Cojo will be cut. That's at least what the Detriot beat writers were saying before the lottery. Not good. They don't have to make a move until mid to late July, so his status for the OQT is probably not in question. This likely means he is out of the Olympics if we qualify.

Obviously not for sure. They may still keep him to mentor Cunningham, but from what I saw cutting him is now the most likely scenario.

I don’t understand. Why would him getting cut by the Pistons equate to him pulling out from Team Canada?

He is still guaranteed 2.3M. That’s not changing. You thinking he’d want to scramble and focus on finding another team? He can still play Team Canada while his agent does that.

It would be the same as any other free agent, an injury risks future contracts. He may play because he has that 2.3 million in the bank, but an injury could cost him a contract this summer. At 29 that would be killer. He’s getting cut from the worst team in the league. So, in theory his options are limited. Even if it is strictly a financial play. This contract coming up may be his last NBA deal.

I think he has more to risk that Olynyk. KO played so well in Houston he won’t have any problem finding a team, even if an injury delayed the start of his season. CoJo has value, but not a ton. An injury that costs him the first month of the season may severely limit his suitors and thus his potential earnings.

Obviously that’s just my opinion. I may be off on his value. And this all hinges on the beat writers being correct about them cutting him. There is a world that they keep him to mentor Cade. They have the cap space so that’s not an issue. They would have to move out a young guard to do it though, which is the the main reason he would be cut. They would need to move Killian Hayes, Dennis Smith Jr, Frank Jackson or Josh Jackson. Not sure they would do that. Maybe it’s DSJ, his qualifying offer is 7 million. CoJo is better than him. But it’s much easier for Detroit to move on from a 29 year old than a 23 year old.

[BilboBanginz]

Interesting! Wish we could get a stream.

Read on Twitter

[Kenter16]

Read on Twitter

?s=20


Interesting. Warning - Tin foil hat conspiracy theory coming.

In last years preparation plan for this tournament, the SMNT was slated to play a couple exhibition games against a CEBL all star team. Nurse didn't say specifically where they are going in BC. Maybe it's to Abbortsford where the Fraser Valley team plays. There could be a scrimmage upcoming. The Niagara River Lions play tomorrow and have the weekend off, not playing again until Tuesday in Abbotsford. This happens to be the team that TBH will suit up for this summer, or at least is on the roster as of today. Maybe they get a warm up game in on the weekend. Maybe against the River Lions or the Bandits.
Canada Basketball has been pretty secretive so far. Maybe they decided not to announce this game as the don't plan on televising it... You just have to think that they have some kind of full speed/effort exhibition lined up. The national team and the CEBL have worked together in the past.
Probable, no. Possible, yes.

[mojo13]

I wouldn't call that a Tin foil hat conspiracy theory. That seems fairly logical as they will have the time to fill.
It also seems logical that they set something up with Uruguay, who has had no friendlies as well and is not a team we likely play in the tournament anyways. But that seems less easier to co-ordinate than something more informal with the Bandits.

[Pooh_Jeter]

Any word on the U19 roster?

[arbsn]

has anyone even confirmed that wiggins is at camp?

also who's our biggest player @ camp? trey lyles or nicholson? aren't they 6'8

seems ironic that we have a size issue

[frumble]

has anyone even confirmed that wiggins is at camp?

also who's our biggest player @ camp? trey lyles or nicholson? aren't they 6'8

seems ironic that we have a size issue

Klassen is listed as 6'10" by Basketball Canada and Powell at 6'10" by NBA.com.
A couple of the juniors (Edey and Bediako) are taller.

[TrueNorth31]

Read on Twitter

?s=20


Interesting. Warning - Tin foil hat conspiracy theory coming.

In last years preparation plan for this tournament, the SMNT was slated to play a couple exhibition games against a CEBL all star team. Nurse didn't say specifically where they are going in BC. Maybe it's to Abbortsford where the Fraser Valley team plays. There could be a scrimmage upcoming. The Niagara River Lions play tomorrow and have the weekend off, not playing again until Tuesday in Abbotsford. This happens to be the team that TBH will suit up for this summer, or at least is on the roster as of today. Maybe they get a warm up game in on the weekend. Maybe against the River Lions or the Bandits.
Canada Basketball has been pretty secretive so far. Maybe they decided not to announce this game as the don't plan on televising it... You just have to think that they have some kind of full speed/effort exhibition lined up. The national team and the CEBL have worked together in the past.
Probable, no. Possible, yes.

I think this is a reach. Remember they are for all intents in a bubble in Tampa , flying into Canada tomorrow - having to stay a night at a federal quarantine hotel overnight then moving into a bubble in Victoria some time Friday.

"Athletes and staff will still need to stay at a government-authorized hotel when they return to Canada, but once they receive a negative result, they’ll be able to join one of the training bubbles in Victoria, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal.

In the bubbles, they will be limited to their accommodation and training facilities, and will not be able to interact with the public. Each bubble will have a “compliance officer” and COVID-19 testing will take place regulary.

Anyone who breaches the conditions will be removed from their training or team to complete a regular 14-day quarantine. They could also face fines or prosecution."

https://www.timescolonist.com/beta/sports/victoria-among-four-canadian-cities-to-host-quarantine-bubbles-for-olympic-athletes-1.24333225


As Mojo suggested it's much more likely they have a controlled scrimmage once in the bubble against Uruguay ( who is on the other side of the draw and unlikely to be in the semis ). I suppose you might also consider China ,but do you want to play teams you have to play later in the tournament ?

[TrueNorth31]

Wiggins presser - states his mom influenced him the most about joining team.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/andrew-wiggins-why-joined-team-173729873.html

[TrueNorth31]

Nurse presser :

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/video/weve-learned-lot-nick-nurse-173802214.html

Talks about David Blatt being on coaching staff ( Blatt coached Russia to Bronze in the 2012 Olympics ) . We don't say enough about it, but this is a very strong coaching group for Canada.

[TrueNorth31]

Grange's latest on Wiggins. I'm sure glad he's there , sounds like he and Barrett are the starting wings per the Nurse presser.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/article/revitalized-wiggins-returns-canada-squad-shot-redemption/