Time to set Canadian sights a wee bit higher

So the national junior team wins the bronze medal at the FIBA Americas qualification tournament in Brazil last night, beating Argentina by two in the third-place game.

They finished 4-1, losing to the hosts in the semifinals, and easily qualified for next year’s worlds.

Good on ‘em.

But while it is a good accomplishment and a taking-care-of-business step in the process for which they should be congratulated, it now is just that: A step.

Gone are the days that anyone should be overly excited that a Canadian age-group team – boys or girls – got to a world championship or finished on the podium at a FIBA Americas qualification event.

It is to the credit of the fine folks at Canada Basketball that qualification is a foregone conclusion and we need now to look at how the under19s or under-17s – both genders – do on the world stage rather than just in our hemisphere.

The group in charge of the game at the national level – and that’s coaches, athletes and administrators – have moved basketball so far along the line globally that even casual fans need to think bigger. We need to watch these kids against the best in the world rather just the best in North and South America; they have conquered that world in many respects – qualification for the worlds is now almost a given rather than a surprise – now it’s time to expand the horizons.

Still, it’s cool that the junior men did what they did, I fully expect the cadet men to have a successful run at their world championships shortly in Lithuania and you all know I’m pretty pumped about the women’s team as it starts its Olympic qualification tournament in Turkey on Monday.

We lose track of these teams and players for 10 or 11 months each year because they break up, other things occupy our time and life doesn’t allow for paying a lot of attention, unfortunately.

But those who follow them even at a cursory level should know that it’s time to up the ante, it’s now time to see how the youth measures up against the world.

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Sorry, any Irregulars from Lisbon.

Gotta be Portugal today? Right?

Maybe 2-0?

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I am absolutely sure there are all kinds of famous people at these games down here but I am also absolutely sure they are musicians and performers I've barely heard of and not people who'd be recognizable.

In fact, in all the years I've been coming to games in Miami -- and that includes at the old arena where you had an armed guard walk you to the media parking lot after games -- I've only run into two "stars" that I knew.

One was a long time ago when I saw Sylvester Stallone in a back hallway (he's waaaaaaay shorter than you'd think) and then there was this guy.

And who doesn't need a little Jimmy Buffett in their day?

 

Couple of reminders.

We’re here tonight at 9, perhaps for the last time this season, and there’s all kinds of room in the inbox for weekend mail offerings, if only to say hello in some secret code.

You know the drill.

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Wonder how the TFCs celebrated the road draw in Houston last night?

Bet not too many of them ventured to the clubs.

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Want to know what’s going to happen tonight?

Thunder wins.

Why?

It’s called Koppett’s Law, named after the late, great sportswriter Leonard Koppett and it says the outcome of any game will be that which inconveniences the greatest number of people.

And if you don’t think a whole lot of us have already checked flights home for tomorrow and that our families and friends aren’t doing and thinking the same thing, you’re mistaken.

There’s a nice, direct Air Canada flight at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon that still has seats available, by the way.

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Hey, I can’t find the comment or the e-mail that gave us Perricone’s as a place to eat in downtown Miami but thanks, whoever sent it.

The Old Guyz out here stopped by last night and it was an excellent call, made me look like I knew what I was talking about and, yes, I gave you credit.

If you go, try the baked brie and the lasagna and perhaps a Peroni or two to wash it down.

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So, what happens tonight here for real?

Who knows?

But I will say this, there is every chance this one will go down to the final seconds, as almost every game in the series has so far, and I think we are seeing the value of experience as the difference between the two teams.

I’m not talking about “waiting your turn” because that’s simply a trite cliché that doesn’t really mean anything.

I’m talking about knowing what to do down the stretch and doing it, by hook or by crook. It’s not fouling needlessly, it’s making the big shot instead of missing it, it’s mental and physical and, so far, the Heat have shown the ability to rise to the occasion more often than the Thunder has.

The Durant miss in Game 2 (foul or no foul, he needed to make that chippy to tie the game)

The Harden foul on LeBron, I think it was, in the final minute of Game 3 when he should have played out the possession.

The Westbrook brain cramp with the foul in the dying seconds of Game 4.

Those are mistakes that seasoned teams don’t make, it seems, and they have been the difference so far.

I’m not counting OKC out by any means – I know the Heat aren’t all that enamoured of the idea of going to Oklahoma and that atmosphere for two games and are treating this as something close to a Game 7 – but it’s going to take a major reversal of form for the Thunder to win a game that’s tight and tense in the final seconds.

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Talk about your tough scheduling breaks.

TOD’s here on the weekend and I won’t be? Too bad, it’d be nice to catch the lads in the amusement park/ballyard in this ‘burg.

I’ll have to leave Griff a note on where to hang out but he’s far more a South Beach guy than I am so maybe my spots aren’t his spots.

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Comments

[David in Oakville]

Nice work as always Doug. I think you have nailed it this time. Perhaps no one gave the Heat sufficient deference for their experience in the Finals and the knowledge they gained of what it takes to close out a game in this series (from their inability to do so last year). I think we have learned that the ability to close out a game in the regular season (which the HOTH are still learning) and the ability to close out a game when it is one of the four needed to win a championship are entirely different skills. It sure seems that Lebron and the HEAT have acquired that skill and the Thunder have not. Having said that, Lebron and company have yet to show that they know how to win and close out a fourth game. We shall see!
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Margaritaville, Bob Marley or the Beach Boys.. always a great call for a warm day on a patio next to a pitcher of almost anything.

[Bohdan (Bo) Klymkiw]

I predict that our 8th pick will be Andrew Nicholson, NOT cause he's Canadian, but cause a) Moe Harkless, Jared Sullinger, Anthony Davis, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal, Arnett Moultrie, & Damian Lillard will no longer be available, & b) Andrew Nicholson will be the best overall player left on the board.

Blogger's note: Not a chance in the world; duplication of talent and he's not that good. Fear your top 7's way off if Barnes isn't in it.

[S.R.]

@ Bohdan....

Don't know which draft sites you've been reading, but that top seven is waaay off... and no chance Nicholson moves that far up.

The top seven should be (in no particular order after Davis)... Davis, Robinson, MKG, Beal, Drummond, Barnes and Lillard.

My guess is the next group of players starting with the raps at 8 would include Rivers, Lamb, PJ3, Waiters etc.... all things considered I'd be happy if it was Rivers or PJ3 the Raps go with.

Perry Jones is scheduled to workout with the raptors today.

[Mike D.]

Doug, any comments on the Hornets/Wizards trade of Okafor and Ariza for Rashard Lewis. Seems like stiff for stiff (to use your description of the first two gents earlier this week) so I'm not sure I see the point of it for either team.....does Lewis have an expiring contract?

Blogger's note: Seems odd at every level; Wizards add money and Okafor at best backs up Nene and I'm not an Ariza fan but I guess Hornets do same cash and that's an issue for a new owners. But on the court? Don't see it helping either side

[Bohdan (Bo) Klymkiw]

Well, the year-end stats tell me that of the top 22 on the Bobcats consensus site, those are the top 8. Numbers don't lie. Hype does. This is the time of dis-information, and I just went where there isn't any ...

[james]

I always appreciate your mentioning of the national teams. It would be a treat to get one of these tournaments closer to home in the next year or two.
And you mean you won't be doing an IGBT from the draft???

Blogger's note: No, I doubt I will; lots of time away from the computer on the phone draft night; maybe a Q and A the next day

[Mos High]

Mock drafts are interesting to read etc. But I dont even really care. Right now I care about the Raptors scouting team as they have blown it many times in the past. Well between the GM's and Scouts. Raptors need a nice attacking point guard bottom line. Jose is nice, but that slow pound the ball, no pressure style wont cut it with a young team ( thats my opinion)

Valincunis better be half decent, even though we know Bigs take longer to develop. I cant next year starting with out Colangelo doing some wheeling and dealing.

Positives Raptors have D Casey as a coach and no longer Mr Triano aka Mr Excuse. Love that D Casey states " its not a democracy" He demands effort.

Lets go Raps and hopefully, hopefully Raptors do something make sure they are more competitive!!!

[Mike]

@ Bohdan
The only thing i will say to your "numbers don't lie" perspective, is they sometimes don't tell the same story.

Basically a kid can put up superstar numbers in a lesser division, but not be in the realm of decent in a ultra-competitive conference.

So you are correct in stating the numbers are the numbers, but the situation those numbers were acheived varies SO much.

Look at D-league performance. Jamario Moon is basically Lebron James. As we observed first hand, he is not.

[Bohdan (Bo) Klymkiw]

Mike, where exactly can one go to get the picture you desire, without exhausting oneself? I just don't want to spend the time & the energy necessary to get the right answers. By the way, the hype is not more accurate. I use the numbers cause the are without hype, and they are far quicker compared to what you would prefer. The subjective analysis by individuals of one or two games is so much more accurate ... NOT.

[J]

@ Bohdan

Take a step back. So you took the top 22 based on a group of *mock drafts*, made an arbitrary selection based on what *you* feel to be the top 8 of those 22, then declared it to be fact? Seriously? What "numbers" did you base your selection on? PP40? PPP? Some magical formula you concocted? I don't know where even to begin.

[J]

Additional note: One of the mocks used in that Bobcats consensus draft page is from Bleacher Report. Fail.

[Penguin]

Leonard Koppett, wow, Doug, nice reference. Being a native of NYC, I remember enjoying reading him back in the day. Great writer. Next thing I know, you'll be resurrecting names like Red Smith, to say nothing of Howard Cosell.

[jaunty]

Wow - one guy gives his opinion about what players he thinks will be drafted and everyone jumps down his throat. Im almost scared to leave mine.

@S.R - I appluad Bohan for not "mocking" a mock draft. They're are 100's of 'em, they change daily and bbesides the 1st pick it is anyone's gues. Every year the draft is never what is "mocked" beyond (depending what year) the top 1-3 may go. Bohan just might be right.

I personally like in this order (with players they could have a shot at):
1. Harrison Barnes
2. Dion Waiters
3. Austin Rivers (although I could flip him and Waiters and be happy)
4. Damian Lillard (not happy about his lack of one on one's especially since he comes from a small school to begin with)
5. Jeremy Lamb
In my opinion everyone should be talking about later round pickIn t as the Raps (I think) will trade the pick and get some one lower plus the additional player. In this draft that would be a smart move - lots of good players right up to mid 2nd round (that doesn't happen often).

[gordo]

Wow, even when you open talking about our national program, you only get one comment out of 12. I wish Canadian bb fans would wake up and realize that there is wonder bb all around them in universities, high schools and rep programs. I truly hope that this amazing group of young athletes Canada is developing can somehow wake us up to this. I hope that they will stay committed until then. In the meantime we can all stay riveted to Wizard/Bobcat trades.

[doug]

@ gordo it is no reflection on our or rather my lack of respect for the national program at any level or the caliber of university ball...but Doug hit the nail on the head we as a nation can't accept mediocre results when it comes to b-ball as we can achieve so much more..I don't know your age but we at one time had a coach wander up from New york and not settle, he was the coach of arguably one of the best NBA centers of all time...Jack Donahue tried to teach this nation that we should take a back seat to no no one when it comes to basketball and he proved it with results...we as a nation need to embrace b-ball, and demand results ...we should be like Spain, and their should be no excuses....

[Nick M]

@jaunty has a point...
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Somewhere, on some blog, in 2004, someone said Rafael Araujo would be picked 8th by the Toronto Raptors and look who's laughing now...???:)