On the world juniors and some old comedy stuff

So, what about this Canadian junior men’s team that starts the world championships in Latvia on Friday?

Not a bad group at all, some excellent young talent, some kids missing, of course, but a Top Eight finish in the world isn’t out of the realm of possibility and it’s another step on the revitalization of Canada in the global game.

Coach Greg Francis was e-mailing yesterday from Latvia and while he wouldn’t load up on expectations – he’s as much about process leading to results – there was a sense of optimism.

He says he’s got some good shooting with Julian Clarke (whose dad Norm was a national-team staple back in the 80s) and Phil Schrubb, coming off a CIS championship last spring and point guard Kevin Pangos may be one of the best at his age anywhere. Kid by the name of Dyshawn Pierre is a “dynamic” player, the coach said, but the most important thing:

“We try to focus on one game at a time but our team has some international experience and success. We are a tough match up for most teams here so our goal is to advance to each round as it comes. If we can get to the quarter-finals than I think we can make a run at the World Championships.”

That’s the big thing. What Canada Basketball has done in the last six or seven years really is remarkable. They put programs in place that got the youngest kids outstanding exposure to the international game and, sure, they may have taken their lumps at times but the benefits they’ve reaped have been huge.

Sure, they’d love to have the likes of Khem Birch or Kyle Wiltjer or Myck Kabongo but there are other commitments – school mainly – that make that impossible and it’s forever thus here in Canada.

But all those times these kids have gone to world events makes it a bit easier to handle, Francis said.

“We have some athletes that had school commitments but we have a bigger talent base to choose from than we did even 6 years ago. I would love to have every player in the age group available for this competition but I also know that our team is deep enough to compete for a gold medal.”

I don’t expect the country to challenge for a gold medal at every significant competition it enters but the progression has been steady and we’re no longer a global afterthought.

The juniors are in a first-round group with Korea, Croatia and Lithuania and the top three move on to a second-round and from there the quarter-finalists are determined.

We’ll track ‘em as well as we can here through the process.

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Speaking of the world juniors …

Jonas Valanciunas goes for 23 and 11 and Lithuania drills the USA in an Under-19 exhibition and I’m thinking, ‘well, what if this kid can play?’

If that’s the case, I absolutely cannot wait until 16 months or so from now when I can sit here and post all kinds of comments like:

“Yeah, sorry, Doug. It was truly a rush to judgement way back on draft night. Should have listened to those who said picks are a crapshoot and no one knows for sure how they’ll turn out but that Jones was really highly regarded.”

“Oops. Maybe the guy with the multiple Executive of the Year awards knew what he was talking about. I apologize.”

“Hey, Idiot. You’re still a Pollyanna-ish homer and I hate you with every fibre of my being. But thanks for the blog, I read it every day.”

Yeah, can’t wait.

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So, me and TOD at Fenway on Monday afternoon and Tuesday and Wednesday nights?

Lucky, lucky readers.

Yeah, a scheduling snafu somehow has no one who, you know, writes about the game actually able to write about the game so they’re bringing in the aged lefty from the ‘pen.

I’ll fool ‘em with my giro ball or something like that.

And fool the regular seamheads into thinking I know how to write game.

Now, if someone’s got a primer on the difference between a four-seamer and a cutter, I’m all ears.

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You know, I have no idea how Super Son is going to ultimately turn out; you do your best and hope to instill things like respect, tolerance, fairness and self-confidence into their personalities and hope it works.

But, I tell ya, when a fella of a certain age wanders into the home after a long day and hears the young guy and Super Wife doing this schtick, I’m thinking we’re on the right path:

Who’s there?

Candygram.

Who?

Plumber.

Who?

Pizza man.

You’re that tricky land shark, aren’t you?

No, ma’am. I’m just a friendly dolphin.

Oh, then that’s okay. I like dolphins.

(Man, I think google ought to cut me a cheque for all the hits I get for ‘em from young ‘uns here who are totally confused by some items)

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The Raptors?

Nothing of even marginal interest, actually.

Maybe today or tomorrow.

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Know one thing I like about the junior men’s team?

The coaching staff.

You’ve got Greg Francis and Peter Guarasci and Shawn Swords, three guys who’ve played and starred for the country at times and are able to give some context to the kids.

There’s been all kinds of coaching continuity of late, which is a big boon in keeping players connected to the programs with some familiar faces in charge and those three guys needs to be commended for giving back to the program. All three of ‘em were around when times weren’t nearly as good as they are now and could have bailed, or not come back. They didn’t.

This is how Greg put it yesterday when we were e-mailing from Latvia:

“We have experience playing the game at a high level but more importantly we have been coached by Canada's best coaches over the years. We try to give our team the best chance to win while showing them what it takes to have international success at the senior team level.”

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It’s getting to be that time of the week.

Mail, please.

But we need to cut down the number of questions about free agency this summer. Until we know the system they’ll operate under and what they might be able to afford, it’s really tough, and a bit silly, to talk about specific players.

But click, write and send and we’ll see what we can do.

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Comments

[jc]

17 and 10?!....even better 23 and 11!
Sure there was no Jack singing Bon Jovi but it was nice to get a grainy glimpse of our future centre. I think the lockout is going to make Euroleague look pretty entertaining. Should be interesting to see how the big guy does there.

Blogger's note: Yeah, got numbers fixed. Had typed it early and thought I'd looked at final box

[JW]

Great blog this morning Doug! I always enjoy it when you talk Canada basketball. This is truly a great era for young basketball talent in Toronto and Canada as a whole, we need to get behind these kids.

It's too bad all of our young talent couldn't make it, but I'm sure we'll be fine as Canada basketball is VERY deep these days. I know I'll be watching. And to anyone who loves to watch a great point guard in action, if you've never seen Kevin Pangos play please do yourself a favour and catch a game. The kid is unreal, a future NBA'er.

Not to nitpik Doug, but it further proves your point. Valanciunas went off for 23 and 11, not 17 and 10.

[Snizzoop]

JV went off for 23 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes...get your facts straight...sheesh! :P Just playin'.

I watched a bit of the game via live stream...kid played well.

[Zach]

"Nothing of even marginal interest, actually."

David Aldridge blogged that the Raptors filled out their coaching staff. No comments?

Blogger's note: No. Hadn't heard, I might today.

[Matt M]

I too am waiting for comments apologizing to the Raptors for drafting what they considered the best overall player regardless of passport or contract status. I imagine it will happen the same day as when the Raps get apologies from certain media members who ragged on the pick, either for the drafting of a European or for refusing to give the Torontonian special consideration. Of course, Jonas is still a ways away from the big leagues and dominating against under-19 players doesn't necessarily mean he will dominate against men. Hopefully, the current domination Jonas is enjoying will translate when he gets to the big leagues. I would love to see the European stereotype put to rest permanently. But then since it hasn't happened in hockey yet, in spite of the many European players who do not fit the mold certain people try to project upon them, I have no real hope of that happening.

[Chad Nunn]

A cutter is like a mini slider. From a RHP to a LHB, it starts over the plate, then cuts in at the hands. A four seamer is a power fastball. A two seam fastball slices back out away from a LHB.

[John Bastedo]

Brief highlights from the Lithuania-USA game for those interested:

http://www.usabasketball.com/video/index.html?vid_id=1_fy8fl98n

I think JV's #69.

[Rossco]

Good snl reference, classic skit. Glad to see our pick is playing well can't wait for him to be wearing a raptors jersey and quieting all the doubters

[BrianV]

Didn't Coach Casey hire his new coaching staff yesterday? This should be of interest, no?

Blogger's note: No, no one's hired; they're talking and should be done soon

[Richard]

It's very easy to say "Let's wait and see." and be so non commital. If Jonas is great you win. If Jonas never amounts to anything you can fall back and say "I never said he would be good". The point is to have an opinion one way or the other. If you look at the draft picks we have taken in the past you can see a trend. We have taken 3 international big men in the first round and only 1 has amounted to anything. That being Bargnani who has us all pulling our hair out. Of the 12 American players we have drafted and had in uniform 9 have been good to great. And the players that did not have a great impact were picked 16th, 17th and 20th. So 75% of American players the Raptors draft actually turn into somewhat of a good player or even very good. And only 33% for International players. Am I being biased against non-American players when these facts are in plain sight? I think not. Taking an international player is a much bigger risk. And generaly speaking the stars in the league are Americans so they reap the better rewards as well.

Blogger's note: I did have an opinion; of the guys ultimately available, he was by far the best choice and no one had an inkling he would be; kind of like no one thought Ed Davis would be there a year ago

[Mike]

I imagine everyone will have their slice of humble pie when our GMs become infallible. Given that we lived through Rafael Araujo's development curve (more like cliff) and continue to experience one of the worse #1 draft picks of the past decade (I like the guy but facts are facts) I think its actually quite reasonable for fans here to be sceptical to the "we're European experts" line. With all due respect, Colangelo's much vaunted European scouting department has more swings and misses than the TOD. Calderon's the only diamond we've dug up, and he was a Babcock find.

Blogger's note: Garbo and AP came from Europe; they weren't "misses" by any stretch and neither was Bargnani. So you're wrong, with all due respect.

[John]

Hey Doug, found some pics of JV from the tourneyment and was a bit surprised that he is not exactly the "bonerack" that others have labelled him. I was ready for the second coming of Manute Bol but considering he is 19, for him to put on 15-20lbs in the next couple years is not exactly unheard of and 255-260 is a pretty solid weight for a center. He's a kid! Where do these idiots get this misinformation from anyways! He weighed in at 245 at the Eurocamp!

Is there somewhere we can find a box score for these games or a place where they will be live-streamed online? It would be great to watch him play a game instead of just links to him dunking over smaller people...

[ohsnap]

I'm sure you don't really give a rat's arse about the losers who slobber anti-everything vitriol on your blog everyday. But I hope you smile at the irony of these kids checking and re-checking their posts to see if they managed to ruffle your feathers. They get sense of accomplishment that they've somehow managed to get you (in their minds the closest thing they have to a celebrity) to pay attention to their brilliantly insulting posts...and yet they spend an inordinate amount of time CHECKING, CHECKING and RE-CHECKING their posts. Why live life when you can occasionally get a reaction from a grey-haired (sorry Doug) blogger about a bunch of strangers trying to poke a ball into a net, right? Appreciate your work Doug.

[Snizzoop]

@John - JV was wearing #11.

[Dave]

The big question about Fenway is how do you decide between Yuengling and Sam Adams?

Blogger's note: You forgot Harpoon

[Peter]

I know it's been talked about to death, but people have got to stop ragging on Bargnani and euro players in general. Who in the 2006 draft should Colangelo have taken instead of Bargs? You can play revisionist history and say maybe LaMarcus Aldridge, or Brandon Roy (even with all his injury problems). No one knew Rondo would become the player he's become (as his draft position of 21st will attest to). Bargs has been in the league 5 years, and has gotten better every year. He's got, at the very least, 5 more years in the league, probably more. I'm interested to see the player he is in 5 more years. But, this shoulda/coulda attitude is so silly and has to stop.

[Andre]

23 and 11 ?
Wow, was he playing for the senior team? oh, it was 17 and 18 year olds? oh he was defended by a 6"9 high school player? This is going to be a long summer.. *sign

Blogger's note: You've obviously checked the US roster, watched the game and know precisely what you're talking about, right? Because it'd be immature and irresponsible if you didn't and no one would do that here, would they?

[Lorie]

Hello Doug!
You're absolutely right. You do your best and hope. And if I might add one quality to your list, I've always tried to instill in my kids the importance of a well-developed sense of humour. So, along those lines, these immortal words were oft summoned up by my darling children to entertain: "He's not pining, he's passed on. This parrot is no more. He has ceased to be. He's expired and gone to meet his maker. He's a stiff, bereft of life, he rests in peace. If you hadn't have nailed him to the perch he'd be pushing up daisies. He's rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-parrot." (I did say "well-developed" not "highly".)
And I'm a big fan of the elegant putdown, so if the doubters and mockers get you down, here's a bit more Python to add to your arsenal: "...when I said that you are like a stream of bat's piss, I only mean that you shine out like a shaft of gold when all around it is dark". Boston for July 4th? Bring out the Pops and the hops!!! Do we get an IDIGBT?

Blogger's note: We're going to have to check on the in-game blog thing; I have no clue what's expected of me from work

[Ryan M in Ottawa]

@Mike

Hoffa was also Brazillian (I think) and not a Euro, and also a Babcock pick. I don't know how to judge a tournament of under 19 year olds in terms of points, feels like an NBA ready player should be able to score pretty easily. Bigger number for me is 11 REBs, gives some confidence that the 7fter knows how to rebound!

[paulino]

A four seamer is a pillow or a bolster (four seams) and a cutter is the person who cuts the patterns for the tailor.

I think...

[Mike D.]

"oh he was defended by a 6"9 high school player?"

Just to clarify, that was Patric Young, a 6-9 245 pound University of Florida freshman whose style of play draws Dwight Howard and Kendrick Perkins comparisons, and whom DraftExpress projects to be the #8 pick in the 2012 NBA draft as the next-best inside banger after Jared Sullinger. Young was 6-6 in 19 minutes vs Jonas V's 23-11 in 25.

[onemanweave]

If we were to draft a Canadian, would he be considered a Euro?

[billy]

There's only one world juniors anybody in Canada cares about.
And that occurs in January.
This basketball thing?
Never heard of it

Blogger's note: Then please don't waste either my time or the time of people who read here until next Christmas when we can delete every reference to your pucks. Deal?

[gdr]

@billy.....your comments are both inaccurate and ignorant. Canada is the only country that cares about hockey at a junior level. Take your comments & opinions over to TSN (The Slapshot Network), I'm sure they'd love to hear from you. You are what's wrong with Canadian sports fans and why we all get a very bad reputation!

[Nihir Morzaria]

My frustration with this pick is not his ethnicity, which is irrelevant (see: Barbosa), but the longer term gamble. It's a given, he has talent. It's not a given that will translate well to the NBA. In fact, there aren't too many big men out there who aren't long-term projects. And, we're now guaranteed to have to wait a full-year before we even get a glimpse of what Jonas is capable of in the NBA.

But, here's the kicker. Even if Jonas turns out to be a better player in ten years, I don't care. There are a lot of factors that will come into play between now and then (new contracts, management, owners, etc.) Picking a guard who will probably have an impact immediately, and will bring some excitement to a fan base that has suffered through years of mediocre-average basketball, is the best option for the Raptors. It gives us an ability to make a trade with one of the guards already on the roster, perhaps to bring in younger, complimentary talent.

It's frustrating, as a fan, to acknowledge that the team we're going to see on the court will remain pretty much unchanged from last year's squad. But, I've accepted that now.

I find it annoying that you and others consider the viewpoint that this pick was a mistake, without merit. Chalking it up to racist blather is like calling all Canucks fans hooligans.