Tough decisions and the sea of tranquility, plus a late update

It was interesting talking to Leo Rautins in the wake of the loss to France about the decision to sit down his son, Andy, because of lingering knee pain, a decision that took the best shooter out of Canada’s lineup.

And it really underscored what has to be a very odd balancing act between being a father and a coach.

Andy hadn’t played or practiced in the weeks between exhibition games against France in Toronto and opening of the worlds but got about 20 minutes a game in the first two in Izmir.

“Any of my other players, I might not have played him when I did. Because I know him, I thought I could see things and I’d know where to draw the line (and get him out) and I think I crossed that line, which I would never cross with any of the other guys because I don’t intimately know them. I think I crossed that line and it’s not worth it.”

I can’t pretend to know what it’s like to be in that situation -- I just run Super Son out inning after inning in bantam house league baseball – but it sure sounds like a difficult situation to handle.

Personally, I think they handled it well; Andy looked good in the first two games, seemed to tweak his knee a bit late against Lithuania and the decision to shut him down completely – I would be shocked if he was dressed for either New Zealand or Spain although there is no official word – makes entire sense.

 Official word has just come down, mid-day here and while you folks back home were sleeping. Andy's gone home and is done for the tournament.

Here's the statement from Leo:

We have decided not to have Andy play. It was a difficult decision but we did not want to risk any further injury to his knee and the NY Knicks requested him back so their doctors and trainers (can) work with him and prepare him for camp. Andy feels badly that he was unable to help Canada more due to his injury but he is confident his guys can pull through the pool."

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So, what in the world is going on with Spain? That’s the big question here after they blew an 18-point lead and lost to Lithuania on Tuesday night and now cannot finish higher than third in Group D and that likely means a round of 16 match with Greece or Turkey.

I didn’t see a lot of the game against Lithuania (these darn Canada stories keep taking up some time) but from what I’ve told, they have shown a tendency to get a little rattled when things get tough, which is entirely out of character.

I wonder if that Jose Calderon fellow, whose been with the team for almost a decade and who led them as the starting point guard to a world championship four years ago, would have helped? I’d say yes.

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It was something like ridiculous to sublime wandering the streets near the Kaya Prestige (an entirely functional hotel that we’re living in, except when the power went off a couple of times yesterday) over the past few days.

As you’d expect, there are some, um, crowded streets and alleys in this city of over 3 million. And as you’d also expect, you can buy pretty much anything from any number of enterprising vendors who set up shop anywhere the mood strikes. I could have bought a couple of tires, or a cell phone or a watch or a belt, or from one guy, what looked entirely like clothes he’d taken out of his closet and folded neatly on the street. It’s charming, if not a bit stressful being, um, enticed to look over the wares.

But then you go 15 minutes from the hotel and, presto!, you run into the sea, tranquil, spacious grass area separating it from the avenue of restaurants and shops and you get the feeling of being utterly detached from the chaos of the city.

I had never heard of Izmir until I found out a few months ago that’s where Canada would be playing. I can’t imagine ever coming back – so many other places to see – but I’m glad I got here.

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You know what never gets old? Watching New Zealand sports teams do the Haka.

It’s a traditional Maori dance the teams perform before every game (I once heard it described as a “symphony of the body” and it’s very cool.

It’s something used to prepare for battle, or to proclaim strength and it is not a measure of intimidation as much as it is a sign of respect.

The Tall Blacks do it before every game, as do the All Blacks and All Whites (the soccer team, which is generally kitted out in, yep, white) and when I saw it before the Canada game, I smiled. It’s neat.

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Oh yeah, to all those in the Baltic States or the Balkans, a big old “oops, I’m sorry for the screw up” from yesterday. I do know the difference; I just can’t type it.

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Mail? Please. We’re a wee bit light over there in the in-box, click here and do your stuff.

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I’m not going to say France coasted in those two games in Toronto a couple of weeks back, games that might have imbued Canadian fans with a somewhat false sense of security about their team.

No, I’ll let French coach Vincent Collet say it, as he did when I asked him about the startling change in his team:

“From the first two games, for sure we had great improvement. I think there are several things … First we are a defensive team and our best way to win the games is to defend, deny opponents to be good and I think you do it much better in a competition game than a preparation game.”

There you have it, good teams, old teams, teams that have been around, do have an idea of when it’s most important to be playing with all-out intensity.

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Turkey pulls away for a somewhat easy win over Greece in their big regional battle Tuesday night and from the part of the game I saw on television, it sure did look like an emotional night.

It underscores the huge boost a team gets in a tournament like this from playing at home. The sellout crowd of about 12,500 was in full throat the entire game, I’m told and the kind of adrenaline boost it gave Turkey was a huge factor in the outcome.

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Comments

[capt kirk]

Eh Doug, what is going on you seem to be posting earlier every day. Must be used to Turkey time already you better save some wide eye for Toronto time though. So who wins today Canada? Sure hope so we need something to cheer about.

[Mauro]

Hi, Doug
I was trying to understand how many players of the variuos national teams have "touched" NBA one day or another.
My wild guess is 30 % but aniway, I do recognize a few each game.
Wondering if Fiba provided you with those info.

Don't forget, while in Turkey to visit at least one "spice" market!

[Rod]

Hey doug...how about a comment on how the raptors at the tournament are representing their nations? Kleiza, barbosa and Anderson seem to be showing some leadership for their teams in a real "team game" atmosphere. Hopefully it carries over to the fall back in TO!

Blogger's note: We'll get the first round over and get to that, not to worry

[Bill from NS]

I am sorry to see Aandy having to shut it down, he brought more than just shooting to the floor, he clearly has the best court vision of any player on our roster. I hope he heals up well and makes the opening day roster for the Knicks.

Good luck today Canada!

[arun]

0-3 and Leo is still counting on them to make it out of the pool? and to me, Leo only cares about his son's immediate future in the NBA, and not so much about team Canada... As much as I like him as a commentator on TV... not so much as a coach.

Blogger's note: So, just to be straight: You'd prefer he'd say "no, we can't do it, why even try?" or that he'd play an obviously injured player? Right.

[Blake Kennedy]

I think that Gasol fella means more to Spain than Jose ever did, honestly.

[sam]

Blake Kennedy - your dislike of Jose Calderon has taken on epic proportions - What's not to like about a player that gives his all - is the ultimate team player and has proven time and time again that he can calmly and efficiently get the ball into the hands of his team mates.
There are no perfect PG's - Some do somethings better than others and some don't. His defensive liabilities are more a legend than reality suggests to me. His ball handling skills and ability to score far outway his perceived weakness'

[Johnn19]

The best PF in the NBA, Pau Gasol would make a huge difference for Spain, but he did not play in the final in '06, and Calderon did lead at starting PG for a World title.
One of the problems this year is consistent leadership at the point, as Rubio is still young and inconsistent, and his back-up was parachuted in to fill in for Jose and is not as talented.

[CC]

I think Jose is enough.. because he is a good point guard.

[Andre]

Wow. Canada is really bad. are you serious? 0-4? not to take away from the other teams, but what the heck is Canada doing wrong? Is it an issue of finding talent? is it development? Coaching? or just experience? I think Canada needs to take a different approach. We need to develop our own players. I think we need a Canadian Basketball League. To develop our own. So that our universities and COLLEGES have something to move on to. Make it a professional league. It could even be a summer league. We need experience. there are so many great players in Canada. Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Nova Scotia. All have a huge talent pool. We also need our younger players (Thompson, Cory) to be gaining some professional and/or high level skill. jeez.

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

So, with Canada going 0-4 at the world championships, is it now time to evaluate Leo Rautin's future as the head coach of this program. Wasn't Leo's big draw as Jay's replacement that HE would be the guy that could get NBA players to come aboard and play for their country? Wasn't Nash's immediate reaction to stop playing International ball. Was this a sign of respect and a nod to Triano? (With Jay's previous coaching experience in Vancouver, they'd have had some kind of relationship wouldn't they?) Now that Nash's international playing days are over, Dalembert was chased off this team by Leo, Magloire continues to not want to play for the team, what exactly does a "Name" guy like Rautins offer as a head coach? He's never coached at any level prior to his getting the Men's head coach gig has he? With a new crop of kids coming into the program, what possible reason is there to continue the program under a guy that has no coaching or player development skills on his resume?

[pain777pas]

@Rod

Nice post. Doug your input would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

From fan's vantage point, Leo Rautins certainly knows the game, but his self-referential nature on Raps broadcasts is tiresome. And I know some folks in the basketball community who grew tired of him long ago.

Still, I hope Basketball Canada keeps him in place as coach. I like this young team--the building blocks are there. This tournament has been a huge disappointment for me, but some of the blame has to be placed on bad luck--particularly Andy Rautin's bum knee (and I hope that doesn't affect his rookie season with the Knicks).

In another few years Leo will have his son's veteran leadership, plus Wiltjer and Kabongo and Sacre and Olynyk as a solid core. By then maybe Nash can be involved in the National Program in a leadership role (and maybe Triano again, too, because I think he'll be unemployed by then). The team is going to the right way--it needs to commit to young Canadian players, in order to get them to commit to the team. It didn't used to be that way.

I just hope no one gets the bright idea to blow up the program and start all over again now. Leo might not be perfect, but he's the best guy for the job.

AG, Toronto

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

More of an NBA question, not sure if it's mailbag worthy.

So the recent decision of Bosh/Wade/LeBron to play together, and basically make a shambles of the whole free agent period with their disingenuous tour of other teams and fake tweets about them got me to thinking, who is responsible for this mess?

I think that a fair amount of criticism has to be placed on the power of agents and "advisors" in the game today, guys like World Wide Wes, they now have incredible sway over young athletes in this world of "branding" yourself and your image as a marketable commodity. But doesn't the Commissioner David Stern also have to take a bit of heat too?

Under Stern's direction the NBA has gone from marketing teams to marketing individual superstars. By allowing these marquee guys to become bigger than the game itself, be it the preferential calls by officials, the plastering of certain players in the marketing materials for the last couple of decades, (probably since Bird and Magic), the game, and teams are now complete after thoughts. The culture that Stern has created by placing the emphasis on players rather than teams has created these albeit incredible athletes that now see themselves as above the game.

Toronto is what, the fourth largest market available in the NBA, no? Bosh's statement that he has "seven years to make up" in opportunities now that he's in Miami goes to show that it's not about "the team", it's about "the player."

Stern created this mess, does he have any idea how to fix it so that teams like Toronto, Sacramento, Indiana, can retain their talent rather than be a feeders system to teams that agents and advisors deem better for their clients?

Blogger's note: I think the league and the system it's allowed to develop are mainly responsible and I think it needs to be fixed. The people to do that are the leaders of the league and the union in the next CBA, which is coming soon.

[Mark L]

Doug,

Are they sending you home or sticking around for the rest of the tourney?

Blogger's note: I'm going to see a couple of days of playoffs in Istanbul and then home.

[The J]

Do you still see Spain as the favourite? With some games out of the way any other teams jumping out at you as taking their place?

Blogger's note: One of, yes. But I haven't seen enough of Argentina or talked to many who have. And I still say don't sleep on Brazil.

[snacker]

Yawn. This tourney is a joke. Call me when the NBA season starts. And, Rautins needs to go...we need the big boys to come and play...the kids work hard, but the lack of experience all-round is how they got to 0-4, soon to be 0-5.

Blogger's note: And yet you take the time out of your busy day to rip it? Okay. See you Oct. 26

[Coach K]

From a straight athletic standpoint how does Team Canada look, in real life, compared to the competition they have played against? Coverage here makes it look like we should be 3-1 based on potential. What do you see Doug?

Blogger's note: I think they missed the playoff round on merit; I think they are lacking in athleticism and experience and age. Potential? They had the potential to beat Lebanon, they might have had the potential to beat New Zealand

[marc in panama]

@ AG,

How is a guy who had no previous coaching experience "the best guy for the job"? Leo is an NBA TV analyst, and some might argue the second best one at that employed by the Raptors. What does commenting on an NBA game have to do with coaching?

This team needs a coach that can you know, coach. Not talk about it. Replacing the coach is not blowing up the program, and by the lack of any significant improvement of this team in FIBA rankings, must be considered.

[The J]

I know you have spoken of some of the weaknesses of the USA team, but considering they have gone undefeated so far, including beating Brazil, does this not elevate them to a favourite to win the tournament? There have been some close games but I wonder if those wont actually help them in the long run.

[Lorie]

Hi Doug,
What fun watching Delfino and Scola in the surprisingly close Jordan vs Argentina game. Did you see it? (And Brazil vs Slovenia was no slouch in the surprisingly exciting department for me either, although Lithuania and France sort of disappointed.) And all this work is really cutting into my basketball, ahh, I mean this basketball is really...! Anyway, I need a bit of advice scheduling a meeting tomorrow: which game is most likely to be a "must-see"? Brazil vs. Croatia? Thanks!

Blogger's note: That would be the one I would want to see

[Andrew Gregg]

@Marc:

It's not just Leo involved here. It is the whole system. It has been striving for consistency for years. There are valuable sponsorships in place now and basketball has attained a status within the Canadian sports bureaucracy. I'll agree that Leo Rautins has his failings, but if not him, who?

A solid program is the most important thing right now. Players on the younger teams are strong and eager to play for Canada. Start messing it up again--like they did at the end of Donohue's era and for the years after--and you can kiss any chance of future success goodbye.

AG, Toronto

[Jeff Doughty, Vancouver]

rautins has to go.. lets get a coach with some experience.. just cuz he's canadian and played in the nba for minute, that doesn't mean he can coach.. there has to be a motivator out there that can get more out of the players.. Unbelievable.. This has been a france at the world cup meltdown. I mena.. come on.. you can't beat lebanon!!