Hardly a brilliant debut, was it?

Drubbing?

Yeah, that’s what it was over in Athens today.

Now we find out what kind of mental makeup the national men’s basketball team has because if it wants any shot at qualifying for Beijing, they have to beat Korea on Wednesday morning.

But you have to wonder how shaken their confidence is and if all the talk about being a team will hold up under adversity.

I still see ‘em beating Korea and getting to the quarter-finals but if they don’t play better than they did this morning, it doesn’t matter who they get in that game on Friday.

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A key moment:

If they had a chance, it was to build a lead and when Jermaine Anderson got two fouls in the first quarter, any flow to the offence was lost. Backup point guard was always a problem with this team, we saw today why.

No disrespect to Andy Rautins and Carl English and whoever else had to initiate the offence but that’s not a role any of them play well.

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THANASSIS STAVRAKIS/AP

Canada got burned in the paint.

A key problem:

Halfcourt offence. Non-existent, really.

Another issue that’s been burning for a while, they need to do something more than dump the ball into the post and have four guys standing around waiting for it to come out, or not.

That may work against teams with no inside presence – like Korea, I presume – but not against the, you know, good teams.

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How’d you like the start of the game with no play-by-play? No offence to whoever that guy was that ended up doing it, but just watching the game devoid of commentary was all right.

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Pretty cool to see those little Rasho floaters and up-and-unders again, wasn’t it?

And Slokey looks way more polished than he did when he was here, didn’t he?

And, no, I don’t think they should bring Uros back, as much as we’d like that ‘cause he’s a good guy and all.

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Jaka Lakovic and Sani Becirovic are two prime examples of guys you’ve never heard of who are excellent basketball players.

I would surmise that the overwhelming majority of early-morning viewers were a bit taken aback by the Slovenian guards, who scorched Canada for the first half of the game.

But the world is littered with good players you haven’t heard much about. That’s why the game internationally is so cool, you get solid performances from guys you don’t know and then next year, when they do it again, you go, ‘damn, I forgot about him. He’s good.’

Becirovic’s 27, been with the national team for a decade and played for Panathinaikos last year.

Denver liked him enough to take him in the second round of the 2003 NBA draft but a knee injury really ruined any chance he had of coming over here.

Lakovic?

He’s 30 and might have been the best player on Barcelona last year.

These dudes are no slouches.

And now, when you watch Euroleague games next year, you’ve got two guys to look for.

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The one over is Athens is not the only Canadian men’s team in action this week.

Down in Argentina, the under-18 team is trying to qualify for next year’s world championships and there are a couple of kids you should keep your eye on.

Tristan Thompson had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Mangisto Arop had 17 and 12 on Monday when Canada beat Mexico 78-65 in its first game.

Had a chance to see Canada against some college kids in an exhibition game before the Canada-Lebanon tilt a couple of weeks ago at Ricoh and came away impressed with those two.

Canada gets Uruguay today and Argentina tomorrow. Four of the eight teams in the tournament qualify for the worlds next summer in New Zealand.

And besides the kids getting key international experience, head coach Greg Francis is building a resume that I imagine will some day land him the same gig with the senior national team.

Have been hearing for a couple of years how good a coach he is and watching him work his team that night at Ricoh, I saw why.

Just seems to have a calmness and a presence.

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Here’s one from the mail:

Q: Just wondering if those new uniforms that I heard about earlier in the season are finally going to be unveiled for the 08-09 season. If so, have you seen or heard about what they're going to look like?
Sam C, Kingston

A: Oh yeah, they’ll be out for the start of the season. It’s a third jersey, all black with red trim, and I think I heard that they’ll wear them somewhere around a dozen times in the regular season.

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Early report on Nathan Jawai at the summer league: Smooth, energetic.

Raw. Very raw.

But more promise than disappointment in his first game, according to people who saw it out in Vegas last night.

One thing to remember, though: Jawai is behind two all-stars, a former No. 1 overall draft pick and the Hump as the Raptors head into the summer. Expecting him to get more than garbage minutes is asking a lot.

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Joel Anthony got a nice little gift just before the qualification tournament began.

The Miami Heat picked up the option on his contract for next season, guaranteeing him $711,000 or so next season.

Miami had until July 25 to exercise the option.

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Notice that Roko Ukic was a DNP-CD in Croatia’s first game in Athens yesterday. All I can think of is that his contract status kept him out of the game because I haven’t heard that he’s banged up or all.

Was told the other day there’s no real glitch in the process, it’s just taking time to finalize the buyout, get the FIBA clearance letter (all players need one when they move from Europe over here) and get him signed to his Raptor deal.

That should get done this week, I’m sure his country wants it cleared up so he can play when the Olympic qualification tournament gets serious on the weekend.

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Here’s some more mail:

Q: Just a question for someone reasonably old enough to remember: You and ESPN's Stein seem to remember the Buffalo Braves years with fondness, based on where you guys grew up I suppose.
What was the deal that the team got moved? Was Toronto ever in consideration for picking up that team, or was the city deemed too empty of basketball fans at that time?

Tim F, Monterrey

A: I’m not sure about My Man Stein (who I know has a fondness for all things Canadian) but my age and Niagara Falls roots made the Braves the team to watch.

The team got moved because the owner saw greener pastures out west and Toronto was never in the running.

Comments

[Steve G]

looking at the box scores, Jawai's name isn't there for either of the Raps first 2 summer league games. So which games did the "people who saw out in Vegas" watch?

Blogger's note: Well, this was the note I got from someone who was in the gym watching the game: "Jawai had 2 pts and 3 rebs in 19. He's active and smooth so there may be hope one day"
Not sure about the boxscores but I know what I got from my guy during the game.

[Neil]

Any particular reason Rod Benson isn't getting into the games in Vegas? Is he on the bench, I understand rotation and all but isn't the point of adding a guy to the roster for SL to get them some minutes, exposure, etc.?

Blogger's note: Not sure, actually; I'll be talking to people in Vegas when they wake up and I'll check it out and get it in the blog tomorrow morning.

[Wilber]

Doug,
Watched most of the game, except when the TV got hijacked over to Treehouse and it was over by then anyway.

Did you ever watch pro wrestling, when you hear someone's "theme music" and then they appear in the tunnel and come in and clean house? A little part of me was waiting for Steve Nash's theme music, but it never happened (and yes, I know why and I respect his choice, but still...)

This team needs stronger point guard play to make it go. No disrespect to Jermaine Anderson, but he should be playing backup minutes on this team, but he's the best we have.

Hopefully we can shut down the Korean shooters tomorrow.

Blogger's note: Treehouse would have been better

[PK]

Doug, you said Korea doesn't have any inside presence but they do have a former Blazer, Ha Seung-Jin (similar physique to Yao). I personally don't know how he has been playing but I know he is on the squad. He might not be the best big men out there, but he is a big body.

Blogger's note: Yeah, but he played 14 scoreless minutes with one rebound yesterday so that doesn't seem like a huge impact for a 7-3 guy

[Peter Saad]

Doug, thanks for all your hard work!

I watched the game this morning and I felt that Leo was out-coached. It feels like he is uncomfortable in the lead chair. Frankly, the offensive sets and execution was ineffective. I am disappointed since I was looking forward to seeing Canada re-established on the world stage.

[Andrew Gregg]

I was just a kid, but what I remember about those great old Braves games on local Buffalo TV was how poorly the gym was lit and how bad the camera work was. You felt like you were watching a real small-town sporting event, like a late night ESPN college game from a rural college. And you could hear nothing but the shoes squeaking constantly. And every second game seemed like it was played against Paul Mokeski's Bucks.

Question: has anyone picked up Magloire for next season?

Blogger's note: No, and I don't expect anyone will.
And you did get Van Miller on the Braves games, as I recall.

[Zack]

Watched the first half of the game this morning and Joel Anthony looks like a great player. I caught the piece the Score did on him and he was all but ready to give up balling...good thing he didn't.

I can assure you that Nathan Jawai will be much better than Sean Marks, not only did he dominate the NBL, he did it consistantly. He is RAW, but he will improve with the word of Jay Triano.

[Mauro]

for Doug & Readers:
I don't know why, but Jawai is listed as J.Williams in all SL boxscore.But it's there!

[Ellie]

What do the Raps need a third uniform for besides more cash-grabbing from the fans?

Ho hum. I prefer a steady third option to those horrible St. Patrick's Day green things. That was lame.

[JS Siow]

Not surprised at all about Canada's half court offense. Leo has 1 play: Give it to the big fella.

[Jake]

The Braves used to play several games in Toronto before they moved west.
I saw the Celts play on the parquet floor – at MLG.
Randy Smith, Bob McAdoo, Gar Heard and Ernie D were some of the notable players.

[Jason]

All this talk of former Raps have got me thinking about the 2nd round draft picks. Can you tell me how long we keep the rights to an unsigned draft pick? I suspect its 3 year or longer as Roko was a 2005 pick I believe. I do however wonder about that Greek center we picked up in 2003.

Blogger's note: Teams hold rights to second-round draft picks forever. Or, until the bring the player over to training camp, then they have to sign them or release them. And training camp doesn't include summer league.

[Jimbo]

What happens if Carlos accepts the Raps qualifying offer? What is wrong with $2.744 mil. for one year? and then he may be able to get a bigger contract next year. Why havn't the Raps recinded the offer.

Blogger's note: There's nothing wrong with it, I guess; but it's not $11 million over three or something like that.

[Andrew Gregg]

Too bad about Jamaal. I was a producer at CBC TV back in '95 and Joe Schlesinger and I did a piece on the Eastern Commerce Saints. Jamaal was in grade 11, but he was already something special. That team won OFSSA that year--and the next, I believe, before Jamaal declared for Kentucky. The TV piece we did was about the idea of systemic racism and whether it existed within institutions--and we used the example of Basketball Canada. BC officials denied it vehemently, but all the black kids on the Saints knew exactly what I meant when I mentioned it to them. Six kids from that team got division one scholarships (tying Morgan Wooten's single year record at DeMatha) and not a one wanted anything to do with the Canadian National Team because of perceived discrimination. Jamaal was a real product of that time--I've always thought that he never joined the national program because of what he heard and saw when he was 16 years old. But 13 years later I think the best thing he could ever have done for himself was to become a part of the national team. It would've given him the chance to become the cornerstone of a team in a way that never worked out for him in the NBA. It could have been his legacy. Don't get me wrong--I think what he has already achieved is tremendous, but I just think it will be sad if his career ends this way, before he even turns 30.

AG, Toronto

[Amr Abou-Guendia]

Doug,

Your comment about the halfcourt offense being "non-existent" in this morning's game was right. A weak half-court offense is generally indicative of weak coaching. I do think you are beating around the bush by phrasing the analysis that way.
I know you probably don't want to go on the record and say it, but Leo was outcoached, and that is a fact.

Leo is a great tv personality, and he belongs on TV. Head coaching duties? That should be left to guys like Triano.

Amr

[Patrick]

Regarding Jawai and the boxscore, I'm pretty sure they simply made a mistake and erroneously listed Jawad Williams instead of Nathan.

From what I could see (NBA.com internet feed of the game), Jawai definitely played in the game.

[Amanda]

I watched from halftime on and was not impressed with what I saw. Canada wasn't working very hard to get through Slovenia's defense. Definitely will need a much better effort tomorrow. Was anybody else getting warm, fuzzy memories of Raptors games when Canada was unable to guard the 3-point line?

[jr]

raptors summer league game on thursday will be on raptors T.V finally is about time.

[GM]

The Braves weren't around when Mokeski played for the Bucks, were they? I loved the Bucks when Mokeski was on the team, but the Braves weren't a team by then.

Boy, that Canada game was u-g-l-y. Rautins outcoached, though? He'd have to actually coach to be outcoached. I wonder if there's enough international coaching experience on the squad. Dumping it in is such an unimaginative NBA-style offence.

Blogger's note: Good call on Mokeski, he broke in '79, the Braves left Buffalo in '78

[derek]

I hope Leo didn't learn too much from the raptors this year. There were waaaay too many drive bys and uncontested three pointers for slovenia. But the good ol' 'cuse boy should be pretty knowledgable of the 2-3 zone that they were "playing".
Best play of the game - Dalembert putting the ball around his back off of a dribble in the post - priceless, Mo Cheeks would have him on the bench sooo fast.
Where is Mendez? Did Andy Rautins take the final roster spot?
Looks like the Pacers stole rasho from us, can't wait to see him play this year.

Blogger's note: They cut Mendez late and added Rans Brempong as the 11th man.

[Andrew Gregg]

My Bad on Mokeski. I just remember his gut muscle putting a strain on the jersey. But the Bucks did have Dave Meyers whose sister Anne was the first woman to sign an NBA contract. Dave Meyers (not Anne) used to sport a serious lumberjack beard. But back to the Braves--I always liked Sven Nater--I read online somewhere that he's a manager for Costco.

[matt]

Doug after watching the game it seemed to me the team could really use a back up point who can energize the offence, penetrate and generate some offence. Maybe someone wit ha 4 year pedigree from an elite school. Any news on that weird Denham Brown disappearance yet?
And any chance Junior Cadoughan or Olu Ashaolu are on that U-18 team?

Blogger's note: No word on Brown, who I'm not sure would play ahead of Barrett, Famutimi or English, actually. And neither of those kids are on the under-18 team, which won again tonight, by the way.

[Jarrod]

There's an interesting article about the Braves (often suggesting that the move from Buffalo was a blunder mirrored in Seattle's loss to Oklahoma) in the current issue of SLAM magazine (maybe you can also find it on slamonline.com). It's worth reading for all of us who really didn't get the chance to see the team ourselves. It's fortunate that they did lose the team - would we even have a Raptors team with another NBA franchise just a short hop away?

[Jimbo]

Hi Doug, Great Blog. Are you saying the Raps have $2.744 Mil. budgeted for the 13th guy and presently Carlos is that guy?

Blogger's note: No, that's not the case at all. They have a qualifying offer out to Delfino that doesn't count against the tax or the cap until it's signed, and it won't be, so it's like money that's not really there.

[History Buff]

Just to provide some info AG might not be aware of. Jam had already played for the Canadian National program by 1995. In fact, he and fellow Eastern Commerce player Collin "Skinny" Charles had played in the 1994 U-18 Tournament of the Americas. Jay Triano was Canada's head coach. If I recall right there were six black kids on that team.

In fact, Jam and Skinny came out for national teams after the 1994-95 season too.

Was there frustration on that Eastern Commerce team with perceived slights from the national program? I wasn't there so I don't know. However, I do know first-hand the team's head coach felt he had been slighted by the program.