Bitter Sweet

You know, I watched all the games and am very proud of this group. I think Leo has done a fine job with this young group. Not sure if we will ever be up in the top three in the America's though, for the next few years all I need to see is progression to be satisfied.

Actually, it's a whole new Olympic qualification process. There will be 12 teams in the last-chance Olympic tourney at a yet-to-be-determined site next summer and three will advance no matter where they are from.

Cheers

Magloire and Nash aside, are there any other players Rautins would want to add to our roster for the next round of qualifications? The core of this group seems solid

Jamaal Magloire' refusal to contribution to team and his reasoning has left a bad taste in my mouth and I'm not enthused about inviting him to next international competition even considering what is at stake.

To follow up David Wells' (how's the American beer) point, here's Doug Smith outlining next summer's Olympic play-in:

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/252019

"There are 12 teams in next year's tournament (four from Europe, three from FIBA Americas, two each from Asia and Africa and one from Oceania).

And there will be three Beijing berths available, which will make it one of the most intense tournaments possible. Seeing how dominant, and good, Europe is, I'd have to say they would have an inside track on all three of those spots.

The 12-team Beijing tournament includes: China, Spain, two from FIBA Americas, two others from Europe, one from each of Asia, Africa and Oceania and the three qualifiers from next summer."

So there you have it, Franchise. Canada doesn't just have to beat tomorrow's FIBA Americas Semifinal losers (likely P.R. and Brazil), but 4 quality Euro teams that don't make it in. The mountain is high, higher still if Nash doesn't suit up (I'm leaving out Magloire for a reason, 'cuz he's a free agent next off-season... and he sucks).

Magloire is not welcome on the team - Toronto Sun quotes Leo saying that the team don't want him. Magloire was quoted as saying that if they make it to Beijing he might show up and that offended everyone involved in Canada Basketball.

I say screw Benedict Jamal and his 6 ppg. This team had a decent tourney and its obvious that they listened to Leo's "Keys to the Game."

Thanks for the further insight folks...I forgot that some teams outside of the Americas have ALREADY qualified. Frustrating thing is that you're right JJ, with the current process, winners of other regions (Africa, Asia etc) get bids even if they're not actually worthy of an Olympic spot. Canada might actually be one of the top eight teams in the world but it won't matter because a 25th ranked team could have won its regional title and thus be automatically in.

Sort of like the Jays being stuck in the same division as the Yanks and Redsox right??...ok...I won't go there.

PS - EHB's right...anyone else think they'll pay more attention to Leo's "Keys of the Game" next year with the Raps??

If Tim Duncan wanted to join the raps, but only if they made it to the playoffs, would we take him? What if Juan Dixon felt slighted by being on the team that got us there, only to have TD take his pace.

If Magloire joined the team he would become our best or second best player (unless Nash came too). Having Dalembert and Magloire up front would give us one of the top front lines in the world. I know why people might say we don't need Jamal, but being objective, he would definitely improve our team. Nobody in the NBA is offering Jesse Young 4 mil a year for a reason.

I cried when I watched the movie Rudy too, but that shouldn't effect the decision makers at Basketball Canada.

Canada connected on just six-of-23 shots from three-point range VS Puerto Rico.

These are the guys who made the team over perhaps thebest perimeter clustch shooter in the country.

Starting PG Jermaine Anderson who played 30 minutes shot only 2/9 22.2 FG% so in other words the man shot 1/4 in the key and 1/5 form the three point line.
As for Carl english the so called best SG on the team only shot 2/12 in total 16.7 FG%. English missed every attempt in the key 0/4, made only 2/8 from the three point line and on top of that shot only 50% from the free throw line.
Excuse me but to me and many canadian basketball fans Osvaldo Jeanty was meant to be on that roster.
When both English and Anderson shoot under 25% when they get more then enough playing time we have all the rights to be desapointed and perhaps change is good for the team.

Head coach Leo Rautins mentioned Osvaldo would have trouble guarding bigger and taler guards inthe olimpics, well i don;t know if we watched the same games but anderson and English couldn't even keep up with Puerto Rico 5'10 PG Jose Barea and 6'3 SG Ellias Ayuso
not to mentioned 6'2 PG Carlos Arroyo torched them from every angle scroring 22 points int he game.

Dave Smart knows it, all the CIS and OCAA coahes inthe Canada can't denie it.
if Osvaldo had the starting job on this team things will be different trust me.

Its too bad how canadian sports is not always about raw talent, or outstanding accomplishements but mostly POLITICS.

(Hey my name is Kobe "Rautins" and im 5'6 can i be on the team too LMAO!)

The best defenders on the team were starting C Samuel Dalembert "aka DOCTOR SWAT"
Dave thomas, Kendall and Mendez.
Ryan Bell showed great defensive shuffle but thats about it!lol
If i coached the team this would be my roster.

C Samuel Dalembert 6'11
PF Juan Mendez 6'8
SF Dave Thomas 6'8
SG Olu Famutimi 6'6
PG Osvaldo Jeanty 6'0

Off the bench

PF Joel Anthony 6'9
SG Carl English 6'5
Pf Levon Kendall 6'9
SG Garry Gallimore 6'3
C Neil Macdonald 6'11
PG Josh Gibson bascombe 6'4
SG Andy Rautins 6'5

guarantied this team would do better then the present one no doupt.

don't get me wrong if Steve Nash wanted to play he'd start for sure and OZ would come off the bench to throw some daggers but if magloire came to play for us he'd be my six man simply cause i'd make him come off the bench for Dalembert when he gets in foul trouble.

well hockey is back on tsn. Sure can't beat it to put me to sleep in front of the tv.

I hope that Canada Basketball will rethink his lineup for next summer and add Osvaldo Jeanty & Jamaal Magloire. Heck...if Captain Canada has a free summer, why not?

It's official: Garbajosa is finally in the spanish squad, he has been cleared by the Raptors after intense negotiations over an insurance agreement, which has been possible by the fact that the spanish insurance company happens to be one of the sponsors of the national team. No other insurance company did even enter discussions as the equation risk/money was perceived to be pretty significant, but these guys will probably get a nice PR boost in the spanish market which kinda compensates for the risk.

Watching the Raptors on Sundays will be exciting games

Boston is in Toronto twice while Cleveland, Houston, Portland and Seattle are all in Toronto on Sundays.

persoanlly i was ahppy with the showing i didnt think canada would do as weel as we did. Also so can stop talking about Nash playing for team Canada because its not going to happen, after they got rid of Jay triano which was a huge mistake by the way and hired Leo he vowed he would never play for team canada again. i dont care what you say Leo doesnt know what hes doing and isnt half the coach triano is. but the big thing for canada is there missing a pg the one they have right now is more of an undersized sg they moved to the point and carl english really didnt impress me at all after all the hype around him.

You used "birth" incorrectly. You should have been saying "Olympic berth". Also it will "pay dividends" not "play dividends", as you used the latter phrase.