Canada National Team

[usagre]

How much of a chance do you fellows think Nik Stauskas has of cracking the twelve man Canadian roster for the FIBA Americas Championship?

I really like his chances to make the team. Although minutes will be hard to come by once the tournament gets underway, I think he clearly factors in the future of the national team so integrating him early is the way to go.

[mojo13]

I really like his chances to make the team. Although minutes will be hard to come by once the tournament gets underway, I think he clearly factors in the future of the national team so integrating him early is the way to go.

Nik will clearly be on the team and a likely starter at the SG position. His shooting and size will be very valuable.
there is a chance Carl English starts over him, but no one is sure about that yet.

Regardless Nik will get allot of minutes either way. Canada may play 10 games in 10 days so the minutes will be spread deep. Likely everyone on this team will play meaningful minutes at the very least go 10 men deep.

Jamal Murray will not be on this team (announced today) so the possible guard cuts will likely come down to one of Phil Scrubb, Olivier Hanlan.
With Cory Joseph, Nik Stauskas and Brady Heslip as locks. And Carl English very likely.

[Federoy]

Other than the Tuto Marchand Cup in Puerto Rico, I'm surprised Canada has not scheduled more friendly matches leading up to the FIBA Americas Championship. They could've sent a split squad or B-team to Europe for preparation like they've done in years past. Even though on paper Canada looks formidable, most of them are young and still unfamiliar with FIBA basketball. More reps to iron out the kinks and develop chemistry couldn't have hurt.

[mojo13]

Other than the Tuto Marchand Cup in Puerto Rico, I'm surprised Canada has not scheduled more friendly matches leading up to the FIBA Americas Championship. They could've sent a split squad or B-team to Europe for preparation like they've done in years past. Even though on paper Canada looks formidable, most of them are young and still unfamiliar with FIBA basketball. More reps to iron out the kinks and develop chemistry couldn't have hurt.

Well...there was the PanAm games. It included about 5 or 6 guys that will be on the main team. Essentially a "B" team. Plus the main core of the team is NBA players who have a 35 day window to play with the national team.


EDIT: Looks like 6 guys have carried over from the PanAms roster to the final 13.

[mojo13]

Nik will clearly be on the team and a likely starter at the SG position. His shooting and size will be very valuable.
there is a chance Carl English starts over him, but no one is sure about that yet.

Regardless Nik will get allot of minutes either way. Canada may play 10 games in 10 days so the minutes will be spread deep. Likely everyone on this team will play meaningful minutes at the very least go 10 men deep.

Jamal Murray will not be on this team (announced today) so the possible guard cuts will likely come down to one of Phil Scrubb, Olivier Hanlan.
With Cory Joseph, Nik Stauskas and Brady Heslip as locks. And Carl English very likely.

Whelp...I was wrong about Carl English. He along with Sim Bhullar and Jamal Murray were cut today to take the roster to 13 for the Tuto Marchand Cup.

Probably Ejim, Doornekamp, Hanlan and Scrubb all fighting for the last three spots. My guess is it now comes down to Ejim or Doornekamp.

Bennett, Anthony
F
6'8
Brampton, ON
Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA)

Doornekamp, Aaron
F
6'7
Odessa, ON
Braunschweig (Germany)

Ejim, Melvin
F
6'6
Toronto, ON
Orlando Magic (NBA)

Hanlan, Olivier
G
6'4
Aylmer, QC
BC Zalgiris (Lithuania)

Heslip, Brady
G
6'2
Burlington, ON
Pallacanestro Cantu (Italy)

Joseph, Cory
PG
6'3
Pickering, ON
Toronto Raptors (NBA)

Nicholson, Andrew
F
6'9
Mississauga, ON
Orlando Magic (NBA)

Olynyk, Kelly
C
7'0
Kamloops, BC
Boston Celtics (NBA)

Powell, Dwight
F
6'9
Toronto, ON
Dallas Mavericks (NBA)

Sacre, Robert
C
7'0
Vancouver, BC
Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

Scrubb, Phil
G
6'3
Richmond, BC
AEK Athens (Greece)

Stauskas, Nik
SG
6'6
Mississauga, ON
Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)

Wiggins, Andrew
F
6'8
Vaughan, ON
Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA)

[Mindozas]

So these 3 were cut for good or only for this cup? Also wondering what kind of role Hanlan will have, PG or SG

[usagre]

So these 3 were cut for good or only for this cup? Also wondering what kind of role Hanlan will have, PG or SG

Murray wasn't cut it was an academic situation with Kentucky. If Canada qualifies I would guess by next year he could even be starting over Joseph.

[mojo13]

So these 3 were cut for good or only for this cup? Also wondering what kind of role Hanlan will have, PG or SG

For good. With one more cut to go.

I don't know about Hanlan yet. He may be the back up PG (Cory Joseph will be the main PG) or even the third PG behind Scrubb. Hanlan could easily be seen as more of a back up SG or even him and Scrubb on the floor at the same time in duo PG/SG roles.

He is a combo guard - a ball dominate guard with a scorer mentality (at least in the NCAA). He is a very explosive scorer, but a little unproven as a distributing PG. It seems his role will depend on team needs.

The Tuto Marchand games starting Sunday will start to give us a clearer idea.

[Mindozas]

For good. With one more cut to go.

I don't know about Hanlan yet. He may be the back up PG (Cory Joseph will be the main PG) or even the third PG behind Scrubb. Hanlan could easily be seen as more of a back up SG or even him and Scrubb on the floor at the same time in duo PG/SG roles.

He is a combo guard - a ball dominate guard with a scorer mentality (at least in the NCAA). He is a very explosive scorer, but a little unproven as a distributing PG. It seems his role will depend on team needs.

The Tuto Marchand games starting Sunday will start to give us a clearer idea.

Thnx for info. Will try to catch the games if it'll be broadcasted. Not expecting to see a lot of Hanlan, but would be curious to see how he will do in team of such caliber, it might give a better look on how he might contribute in Zalgiris next season

[mojo13]

Murray wasn't cut it was an academic situation with Kentucky. If Canada qualifies I would guess by next year he could even be starting over Joseph.

Correct, call it what you want. He had to get to Kentucky.
I doubt he will start over Cojo next year. I dont see it. Maybe in a few years down the road, or even in a couple years as a SG, but Cojo is very good at FIBA (more experienced too).

He is 18 and played relatively well in the PanAms (or at least he scored somewhat well) and this got everyone all fired up over him. However his defense was tremendously naive and he didn't distribute very well (both strong points for CoJo) . I think he will be a good player, but give it some time. If we qualify, I can see him deserving of making the Olympic team, but have a tough time seeing him starting.

Most NBA teams don't let their rookies play FIBA ball anyways, so assuming he is drafted next year it probably a moot point.

[Hepcat]

Tuto Marchand Cup

Canada 85 Argentina 80
Canada 80 Brazil 64
Canada 86 Dominican Republic 74

Led by veteran Anthony Bennet, Team Canada is off to a great start in the Tuto Marchand Cup currently taking place in Puerto Rico!

[Mindozas]

Tuto Marchand Cup

Canada 85 Argentina 80
Canada 80 Brazil 64
Canada 86 Dominican Republic 74

Led by veteran Anthony Bennet, Team Canada is off to a great start in the Tuto Marchand Cup currently taking place in Puerto Rico!

Man, Bennett is 22yo, far from bein' veteran

[Hepcat]

Canada 78 Puerto Rico 72

Canada wins the Tuto Marchand Cup!

[CKR13]

Canada NT for FIBA Americas 2015: http://www.tsn.ca/canada-sets-roster...ament-1.352691

Team is loaded and has depth that will be tested soon. Looking forward to seeing the team play.

[Hepcat]

To my knowledge Nik Stauskas played SG at both the University of Michigan and with the Sacramento Kings in addition to a little bit of court time at PG. Yet I see that Stauskas was listed as a SF in Canada's two big wins over Cuba and Venezuela in the Americas Tournament, games in which he lit up the score sheet. Were the Kings trying Stauskas at SF on occasion this past season?