Team Canada Basketball Thread V3.0

TrueNorth31 · Post #521 » by **TrueNorth31** » Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:45 pm

Good job by the Athletic guys in the latest podcast ( even a shout out to Mojo ).

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1193467868

Post #522 » by **niQ** » Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:50 pm

Slight OT but it looks like OG got an invitation from Nigeria.

Read on Twitter

?s=19

TrueNorth31 · Post #523 » by **TrueNorth31** » Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:52 pm

USA Olympic team according to Shams.

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Small ball/ 3's and switches here we come.

TrueNorth31 · Post #524 » by **TrueNorth31** » Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:57 pm

niQ wrote:Slight OT but it looks like OG got an invitation from Nigeria.

Read on Twitter
?s=19

Your going to trigger Mirotic. This really changes the power balance in International Basketball. Lots of people are going to be angry , particularly in Europe. Essentially anybody with a Nigerian father/mother or grandparent ( ? ) appears to be considered Nigerian now in the eyes of FIBA. I know they really want to grow the game in Africa , but this is going to cause lots of consternation.

I mean we did the same thing with Kyle Wiltjer , so who am I to complain. This really stretches though , the traditional Fiba idea of what constitutes citizenship ( at least Lyles and Brandon Clarke were born here and lived in Canada as kids ).

BilboBanginz · Post #525 » by **BilboBanginz** » Wed Jun 23, 2021 8:05 pm

Huge

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TrueNorth31 · Post #526 » by **TrueNorth31** » Wed Jun 23, 2021 8:24 pm

Two Canadians also on the " Nigerian " try out list ( Agada and Omoerah ).

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frumble · Post #527 » by **frumble** » Wed Jun 23, 2021 9:33 pm

So with the indications noted above that Wiggins and Barrett will likely both start and play a lot together, do you think it will primiarly be in a big lineup with 1 guard and 2 bigs? Or a smaller lineup with 2 guards and only 1 big?

Stromile12 · Post #528 » by **Stromile12** » Wed Jun 23, 2021 9:53 pm

I wish we had SGA/Murray/Olynyk .. oh well, still the best lineup we have put together on paper.

frumble · Post #529 » by **frumble** » Wed Jun 23, 2021 10:45 pm

Stromile12 wrote:I wish we had SGA/Murray/Olynyk .. oh well, still the best lineup we have put together on paper.

Is the current roster better than 2015's?

Not that the # of NBA players is determinative of the better roster, but in 2015 I believe we had nine, and this year we will likely have eight (assuming Mulder grabs a backup guard spot).

Common players
Wiggins
Joseph
Powell
Nicholson, Ejim, Bennett and/or Doornekamp

Are these guys any better than they were five years ago? Maybe Wiggins and Ejim? The others are past their primes and/or coming off injuries/long layoffs.

Changes
Bigs who are gone:
Olynyk and Sacre, along with one or two of Nicholson, Ejim, Bennett and Doornekamp

Replaced by:
Lyles and maybe Klassen.

I think we will really miss Olynyk, and that Nicholson, Ejim, Bennett and Doornekamp are likely (on aggregate) no better than they were five years ago.

Guards and wings who are out:
Stauskas, Heslip, and Scrubb

Replaced by:
Dort, NAW, Barrett and one or two of TBH and Mulder.

Stuaskas was very good that tournament and filled a need. Heslip was also pretty good.
Barrett, NAW, and Dort add different things. Better D, rebounding, and ability to create.
Joseph is probably worse than he was 5 years ago.

I can see a decent argument for both teams.

In any event, even though the teams are of comparable quality, the compeition is stronger now, and there is only spot available instead of two.

aminiaturebuddha · Post #530 » by **aminiaturebuddha** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 12:16 am

Good breakdown, frumble. The big thing you're missing, however, is coaching. I think it's pretty safe to say that Nurse, Blatt, and Bjorkgren are better than Jay Triano and Dave Smart (no disrespect to those guys).

Olynyk is the biggest loss, but I think overall the team will be a fair bit better defensively. Of course, the 2015 team probably should have won that tournament too, but we all know how things went down. Hopefully this team will handle the pressure of being favourites a bit better.

TrueNorth31 · Post #531 » by **TrueNorth31** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:08 pm

frumble wrote:
Stromile12 wrote:I wish we had SGA/Murray/Olynyk .. oh well, still the best lineup we have put together on paper.

Is the current roster better than 2015's?

Not that the # of NBA players is determinative of the better roster, but in 2015 I believe we had nine, and this year we will likely have eight (assuming Mulder grabs a backup guard spot).

Common players
Wiggins
Joseph
Powell
Nicholson, Ejim, Bennett and/or Doornekamp

Are these guys any better than they were five years ago? Maybe Wiggins and Ejim? The others are past their primes and/or coming off injuries/long layoffs.

Changes
Bigs who are gone:
Olynyk and Sacre, along with one or two of Nicholson, Ejim, Bennett and Doornekamp

Replaced by:
Lyles and maybe Klassen.

I think we will really miss Olynyk, and that Nicholson, Ejim, Bennett and Doornekamp are likely (on aggregate) no better than they were five years ago.

Guards and wings who are out:
Stauskas, Heslip, and Scrubb

Replaced by:
Dort, NAW, Barrett and one or two of TBH and Mulder.

Stuaskas was very good that tournament and filled a need. Heslip was also pretty good.
Barrett, NAW, and Dort add different things. Better D, rebounding, and ability to create.
Joseph is probably worse than he was 5 years ago.

I can see a decent argument for both teams.

In any event, even though the teams are of comparable quality, the compeition is stronger now, and there is only spot available instead of two.

I'm afraid I don't agree. I think this group is a little stronger and deeper. Both teams have 8 current NBA players, the difference is the 2021 group has 7 proven guys who've been NBA starters or in the rotation ( have played more than 20 minutes/game ). The 2015 team had two, Olynyk and Wiggins. Powell ( 9 min/game ) and Joseph ( 15 ) were young, raw and unpolished. Players like Bennett (12 min/ career ), Sacre ( 12 ), Stauskas ( 19.9 ) and Nicholson ( 14 ) really never broke into a legitimate NBA rotation.

The 2021 group has a much higher base level of talent and experience. Far from being done , Cory Joseph played 26 min/game when traded to Detroit. While never great players, Nicholson , Ejim, Bennett and Doornekamp are still around and are as good or better than they were 6 years ago. Most people have Mulder as good as Stauskas. Now it's fair to say is this enough? That remains to be seen, but this group has much more depth and maturity.

It's interesting , Rowan Barrett really is trying to get the band back together from 2015. It's almost like he told them after the loss to Venezuela , look boys we'll run it back next time and I'll give you guys another shot at redemption. The only guys not invited have retired , Sacre, Heslip and Stauskas ( ? ). Scrubb was invited , but was still playing in France up until a few days ago. I don't really mind this, as this group has plenty of Fiba experience and chemistry together to form a very solid core group. Add in the talented new guys and a thirst for some revenge and this might be a good recipe for success.

BilboBanginz · Post #532 » by **BilboBanginz** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:20 pm

Lawson and Primo scrimmaging today at 3:15 ET

Read on Twitter

mojo13 · Post #533 » by **mojo13** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:08 pm

TrueNorth31 wrote:
frumble wrote:
Stromile12 wrote:I wish we had SGA/Murray/Olynyk .. oh well, still the best lineup we have put together on paper.

Is the current roster better than 2015's?

Not that the # of NBA players is determinative of the better roster, but in 2015 I believe we had nine, and this year we will likely have eight (assuming Mulder grabs a backup guard spot).

Common players
Wiggins
Joseph
Powell
Nicholson, Ejim, Bennett and/or Doornekamp

Are these guys any better than they were five years ago? Maybe Wiggins and Ejim? The others are past their primes and/or coming off injuries/long layoffs.

Changes
Bigs who are gone:
Olynyk and Sacre, along with one or two of Nicholson, Ejim, Bennett and Doornekamp

Replaced by:
Lyles and maybe Klassen.

I think we will really miss Olynyk, and that Nicholson, Ejim, Bennett and Doornekamp are likely (on aggregate) no better than they were five years ago.

Guards and wings who are out:
Stauskas, Heslip, and Scrubb

Replaced by:
Dort, NAW, Barrett and one or two of TBH and Mulder.

Stuaskas was very good that tournament and filled a need. Heslip was also pretty good.
Barrett, NAW, and Dort add different things. Better D, rebounding, and ability to create.
Joseph is probably worse than he was 5 years ago.

I can see a decent argument for both teams.

In any event, even though the teams are of comparable quality, the compeition is stronger now, and there is only spot available instead of two.

I'm afraid I don't agree. I think this group is a little stronger and deeper. Both teams have 8 current NBA players, the difference is the 2021 group has 7 proven guys who've been NBA starters or in the rotation ( have played more than 20 minutes/game ). The 2015 team had two, Olynyk and Wiggins. Powell ( 9 min/game ) and Joseph ( 15 ) were young, raw and unpolished. Players like Bennett (12 min/ career ), Sacre ( 12 ), Stauskas ( 19.9 ) and Nicholson ( 14 ) really never broke into a legitimate NBA rotation.

The 2021 group has a much higher base level of talent and experience. Far from being done , Cory Joseph played 26 min/game when traded to Detroit. While never great players, Nicholson , Ejim, Bennett and Doornekamp are still around and are as good or better than they were 6 years ago. Most people have Mulder as good as Stauskas. Now it's fair to say is this enough? That remains to be seen, but this group has much more depth and maturity.

It's interesting , Rowan Barrett really is trying to get the band back together from 2015. It's almost like he told them after the loss to Venezuela , look boys we'll run it back next time and I'll give you guys another shot at redemption. The only guys not invited have retired , Sacre, Heslip and Stauskas ( ? ). Scrubb was invited , but was still playing in France up until a few days ago. I don't really mind this, as this group has plenty of Fiba experience and chemistry together to form a very solid core group. Add in the talented new guys and a thirst for some revenge and this might be a good recipe for success.

I'm with TrueNorth on this one. This teams looks far, far better than 2015 (and 2016).

I think you need to look at the 2018 WC Qualifying summer window team if you want a real threat to this team .
Started:
CoJo
Barrett
Brooks
Olynyk
Powell

Birch, Ejim, Bennett, Scrubb the main guys off the bench. Mulder was was 13th man I think - didnt see any minutes.
Barrett, Brooks, Birch are much different players today than three years ago. But that was a nice looking team.

mojo13 · Post #534 » by **mojo13** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:09 pm

Primo draft hype is building.
Good to see him show off, as he was buried at Alabama and didnt get his proper exposure.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

aminiaturebuddha · Post #535 » by **aminiaturebuddha** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:21 pm

mojo13 wrote:Primo draft hype is building.
Good to see him show off, as he was buried at Alabama and didnt get his proper exposure.

Read on Twitter
?s=20

I've been hearing some draft analysts say that there's talk he could even sneak into the end of the first round at this point. I'd still be surprised by that, but it seems like he's really helped his cause lately. Seems like it's pretty much a sure thing he gets drafted somewhere.

TrueNorth31 · Post #536 » by **TrueNorth31** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:39 pm

BilboBanginz wrote:Lawson and Primo scrimmaging today at 3:15 ET

Read on Twitter

An interesting side note of Canadiana - Quentin Grimes ( Houston ) a teammate of Lawson and Primo in today's scrimmage is the younger half brother of Vancouver Canuck defenseman, Tyler Myers. Unlike his older brother, Grimes is not a Canadian. Both share the same mom who is American, but she remarried and had Tyler with a fellow American ( both parents played College Basketball ).

Here's their story;

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/brothers-tyler-myers-quentin-grimes-ready-make-nhl-nba-history/

aminiaturebuddha · Post #537 » by **aminiaturebuddha** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 7:00 pm

BilboBanginz wrote:Lawson and Primo scrimmaging today at 3:15 ET

Read on Twitter

Anyone know if there's a way to watch this in Canada?

Kenter16 · Post #538 » by **Kenter16** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 9:47 pm

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Haven’t heard who made the flight to BC today. Saw this though. TBH apparently did. Not a surprise.

TheFutureMM · Post #539 » by **TheFutureMM** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:52 pm

TrueNorth31 wrote:Good job by the Athletic guys in the latest podcast ( even a shout out to Mojo ).

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1193467868

Mojo are you Witt on Twitter? That's awesome - read your tweets all the time.

frumble · Post #540 » by **frumble** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:59 pm

mojo13 wrote:
I'm with TrueNorth on this one. This teams looks far, far better than 2015 (and 2016).

You guys are probably right re the 2015 to 2021 comparison - I had forgotten how young most of our NBA guys were then.

And aminiaturebuddha raises a good point re coaching.

That being said, I still think this will be a bigger challenge than 2015 should have been, given the higher level of competition (even with the other contenders also missing many key players).