You like them; you really, really like them!

Just a couple of quick Canada points before I head out to spray some gentle draws and drain some slick downhill left-to-righters over Osprey Valley. Or before I hit some off the hozzle and putt like I’ve never read a green before. It’s the fun part of the game, not having any clue what’s coming out of the bag on any given day.

Anyway, I digress …

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You know what I find funny?

How the number of comments I get from casual fans who say they don’t really care about international basketball has absolutely no correlation to reality.

Over the past 10 days or so, the senior men’s team has created a buzz around these parts that, to my mind at least, is very nice to see and very significant.

And think back to last year in Greece, during that final last-ditch tournament to qualify for Beijing, when the whole Affair Dalembert developed.

Passion? There was this week, there was last year and I’m sure there will be again next summer when they go to Turkey.

I’ve been around and chronicling the national team program for a very long time – I think the first thing I covered was an exhibition series in the late-80s, I took ‘em through qualifiers for the ’92 Olympics, did the ’94 worlds, the ’98 worlds in Greece, of course the magical ride in Sydney and the ’02 worlds in Indy.

It’s always struck me as a program that needed to be paid attention to, to be criticized when things weren’t going well, to be put out in front of the public so they could know what was going on.

It hasn’t been easy these last few down years, it’s hard but necessary to be critical of a program run on a shoestring when things don’t go well, but to see some success – and Friday was a very significant victory for reasons we’ll get into when this tournament’s finally.

It’s nice to know that a lot of you care.

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For those of you with some idle time early tonight, Canada gets Brazil at 6:30 p.m. in the semifinals and I was told earlier in the week that The Score would be doing the game live. I figure that still holds true so if you want to check it out, it be a good idea.

Speaking of television and this tournament, if you’re looking for people to thank for the last-minute decision to get the Canada games on the air, send notes to the upper levels of Basketball Canada, who helped broker the deal, and the folks at the Score, who cleared some broadcast hours to show it.

I was out at a function with some national team types about three days before they headed to Puerto Rico and at that time there was no suggestion the games would be broadcast. Someone worked pretty hard to make it happen.

I don’t think anyone made any money on the deal, in fact I’d guess it cost somebody something but someone came through and that’s pretty good.

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Speaking of those semifinals and finals, they are relatively meaningless because, of course, all four teams have already qualified for Turkey and all they are is to set up some kind of process by which teams can be seeded at the worlds.

But because nearly half the field for the world championships has yet to be set – six teams have to come out of Eurobasket and there are four wild cards to be handed out in December – the seeding process really doesn’t mean anything.

But it’s nice to declare a winner from a tournament and it’d be a shame to just shut down the FIBA Americas event right now.

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Know who I feel really good for?

Jermaine Anderson.

Sure, the kid’s got limitations as a point guard at the elite international level, lots of players in this tournament are flawed. But when it mattered most, in the biggest game, he played great, made more three-pointers against Dominican Republic in one game than he had combined in seven outings previously and run the team with a steady hand.

I remember writing a story in about ’03 or ’05 – it was before some qualification tournament at which Canada failed – saying Anderson’s single biggest obstacle was overcoming the fact he wasn’t the guy he replaced (you know, the two-time NBA MVP) and that had to be a difficult thing to deal with.

But the kid dealt with it as best he could, he kept playing and trying to get better and while there are still flaws, seeing him come up huge in a huge game was very nice and good reward for kid who simply came out and gave his best every summer.

Good on him.

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Okay, gotta jet, be back with some mail or Canada stuff in the morning after I’ve had a few hours to really digest what this tournament means for the future and, maybe, what things might change for the Canucks between now and next summer in Turkey.

Oh, and I also have to work on the sales memo to send to the boss explaining why I better start figuring out flights to Istanbul.

Comments

[NC]

Do you think Canada should try to stack the squad for the Worlds (Bonner, Nash, Magloire, Dalembert ... they accept and are eligible: perfect world scenario) or let the guys that got them there play?

Blogger's note: I'll get into this later but I think they should go young

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

That win last night was a very pleasant surprise, especially considering the size of the D.R. team. I really thought as the game wound down that they'd get the ball into Charlie V. and Horford more. Glad they didn't.

But even though the win was great, I agree with something you said the other day--that this Canadian team relies too much on the jump shot. We have to remember that it was timely shooting and luck that got Canada into the Worlds and there is still work to be done to avoid getting pasted in Turkey (or is it "basted" in Turkey--HA!).

So my question is this: is there anyone on the U-19 with a strong inside presence who is ready to graduate to men's team for next year? I have to admit I know nothing about the youngsters...

Thanks Doug,

AG

Blogger's note: No, there really isn't; especially at the level of the world championships

[derek]

Steve Nash, Matt Bonner or any other Canadian should not be playing next year. They would remind me of that ars that I work with that always jumps into the project after he knows it will be a success and wants the credit and glory with all of us who had worked hard and as a team to accomplish.
I hate that guy:)

[coachd]

Doug,

I completely agree that Jermaine Anderson was the difference.But, I also want to send out some Kudos to Aaron Doornekamp.He was absolutely spectacular out there yesterday. He hit key three pointers that helped seal the win. He played a ferocious game.He must really get under people's skin, because other players seem to want to go after him ( The Italy fracas and Al Horford getting a T for throwing the ball at his face during yesterday's game are just a couple of things that he's been involved with.) I've had the pleasure of watching him play High School and University ball and I'm not sure if people realize this, but Doornekamp is on an amazing streak. His high school team won the Ontario provincial championships in his senior year. His University team, Carleton, won the CIS Championship every year he played , and now this. Wow!

[J M]

I am probably like a great many bball folks who did not think that this team was going to succeed in getting to Istanbul. Give them credit, they did it! Congats to them and who knows what could happen next year!

[Boko]

Gee, I wonder where this team would've ranked if Nash & Dalembert were on it? ... Good for them, as it is! Congratulations, Leo!!!!!!!!

[gigi]

hey doug, watching the team canada was quite exciting. its true, they are a shooting team and they had a very nice fastbreak i think like in the middle of the game. since this was the first canada game i have ever seen, it was nice not to be disappointed.

[Dave]

Doug:
During the game last night on the score, the announcer said the Semi-Final would be broadcast at 11:00 PM.

It was a great game. Levon Kendall had a great game last night, with a double double. It won't be reported because he played great defensively and grabbed many key rebounds. Unfortunately, in basketball all the praise goes to the scorers. However, Canada won that game yesterday with their defense even with Leo making some questionable calls like the last basket by DR. He tried to surprise the DR team, but surprised himself by letting DR score in only 4 seconds.

Our kids played their hearts out and for that I am proud of them!

[Pac Man Fever]

Truly a special win. Perhaps some god momentum to build on over the next year.

There is a lot of young Canadian talent playing in the NCAAs. It would be a pretty exciting future if some of these kids could/would commit to the national program.

[Dallas]

Great piece Doug. That was a great game to watch yesterday. Should be a confidence Booster. I'll be watching tonight. Any chance of a live blog in the event that we do play for the gold, or tonight even?

Blogger's note: I may do something off the Sunday game; a bit preoccupied with family stuff for Saturday. If there's enough interest, Sunday's a possibility

[Doug Storey]

When will the Worlds be played next year in Turkey?

Blogger's note: Aug. 28-Sept. 12

[Matthieu]

Quick question (just out of curiosity) for Doug or any informed reader of this blog: why doesn't Mr Nash play with team Canada any more?

Blogger's note: Because he did for a dozen summers; he's getting older, he's got a family and his time is done

[Jeff]

After Canada's unexpected qualification, coach Leo Rautins said he'll add three NBA players to the roster.

"We're going to be making some changes," said Rautins after the victory over the Dominican Republic. "Maybe (Steve) Nash, Matt Bonner, Jamal Magloire. We're very excited."

Is he being serious?

Blogger's note: I highly doubt that will happen

[Marcus]

Hi Doug,

That was one of the more exciting basketball games I've seen in a while! Great win by Team Canada!

Just had a question though. On ESPN Leo is quoted as saying:

"We're going to be making some changes," said Rautins after the victory over the Dominican Republic. "Maybe (Steve) Nash, Matt Bonner, Jamal Magloire. We're very excited."

Have you heard if this is true or not?

Thanks!

Blogger's note: I highly doubt that will happen

[A.]

I read on True Hoop that Rautins says that he will be bringing in Magloire, Nash and Bonner for the World Champioships. Is this true or did he actually mean that he was going to ask them to play? It seems like a bit of a stretch that all three would be on board. Really I don't think Magloire would do much in international basketball but Bonner's game seems to be well suited for it.

Blogger's note: I doubt that will happen

[doug]

yes it was a very,very significant win...Leo is assured of being back as they need that continuity, there is weaknesses in his coaching but he produced results you can't argue with that....also for Anderson I was very happy as he had had a rough tourney up until after half time and then just caught fire, I guess a quality guy so for that to happen it was well deserved....I am impressed with the youth on this team, the talent and their competitiveness gives me hope for the future and canadian ball, as to ever be in a medal game again would to me be equalivalent to the raptors making the finals even moreso maybe...

[JIM T]

LEO LEO LEO!!!

[Raps Fan]

Why do you think Matt Bonner won't play for Canada next year?

Blogger's note: I didn't say that (another mis-interpretation of something rather straightforward); I think it's highly unlikely that Nash, Bonner and Magloire play. In fact, I think it's 100 per cent certain they won't.

[DF]

Doug, Misunderstandings are due to poor communication. Communication is always a two way street so perhaps you could be more clear in what you really mean (we can't read your mind). It is now clear that you mean that it is 100% unlikely that all play will play and, from an earlier comment, that you think that Nash's time on the National team is over. Any thoughts on Bonner (has said before that he would like to play) or Magloire (has shunned the team in the past) or do you just like making us guess? Clarity is something for which you should strive.

Blogger's note: Bonner is not a citizen yet, Nash's time is done, Magloire has never played.

[stoneman]

Perhaps, DF, you and your friends should read slowly enough for your clarity to catch up.

[Dave]

I think it would be unfair to the kids who got the team to the Worlds to have Magloire play. He has never shown any interest in representing his country or in doing the hard work needed to get them there.

[cdnmoney]

talk about a back-handed compliment - why not just say that Jermaine stepped up instead of tearing down his game and then saying "good job" Dude has continually improved his game and had a strong year as a pro this past year and in this tourament has held his own against NBA guards.