Basketball in Canada - Page 106

rousseau · #**2101** Posted **Feb 7, 2021, 2:25 AM**

Aaron Baynes in fugging useless, and it's pissing me off. Not in shape, can't shoot, can't drive, no defensive presence, no rebounding, no shot-blocking, he's just a big, stupid body that does nothing more than set picks. Just started watching the game in Atlanta and already he's missed a rebound or two, gotten blocked on a weak-ass shot attempt

I honestly don't know why they stuck with him over Alex Len, who is now catching on and playing decently in Washington. The little I saw of Len earlier in the season seemed a lot better than this Baynes yokel.

I was wrong above about writing off this season, though. Turns out the loss of Ibaka and Gasol was a big shakeup that the team has slowly been recovering from, and they're starting to gain some steam. They might not be title contenders, but they don't "suck" like I so shortsightedly claimed a month ago.

yaletown_fella · #**2102** Posted **Feb 7, 2021, 2:25 PM**

Id consider trading Lowry and OG or even Norman Powell, Davis(or Johnson), and OG for Bradley Beal. It'd be an instant upgrade that'd make them finals contenders. I know people worry about losing OG's defense but he is at his peak value right now (despite the injury) and we still get plenty of defensive value from Fred, Boucher, Yuta, Siakam.

The whole Lowry system is much less efficient without Ibaka or Gasol. Would love to see Lowry retire a Raptor but he will walk away in the offseason if the Raptors dont at least make the second round.

Beal wants to win and it's not going to happen in Washington. Washington is looking to rebuild.

isaidso · #**2103** Posted **Feb 7, 2021, 10:39 PM**

The Pools at the Tokyo Olympics were determined a few days ago. Canada has a good shot at finishing 1st or 2nd in Group A of the women's side. The absence of a South American team is notable. Brazil and Argentina have slipped considerably over the years. No Russia either. On the men's side, we still need to win the Victoria OQT but it doesn't get any easier if we were to advance. We'd be slotted with the US, France, and Iran in Group A. Finishing 2nd in Group A is very doable though.

https://www.insidethegames.biz/artic...raw-tokyo-2020

JHikka · #**2104** Posted **Feb 7, 2021, 10:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

On the men's side, we still need to win the Victoria qualifying tournament but it doesn't get any easier if we were to advance. We'd be slotted with the US, France, and Iran in Group A. Finishing 2nd in Group A is very doable though.

I'm not super high on our chances to qualify out of Victoria. We're in a group with Greece and China which should both be tough games, and then we have to beat one of Czechia or Turkey. I'd be impressed if we qualify out, and I imagine we only do that with our best or near best roster.

isaidso · #**2105** Posted **Feb 7, 2021, 10:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

I'm not super high on our chances to qualify out of Victoria. We're in a group with Greece and China which should both be tough games, and then we have to beat one of Czechia or Turkey. I'd be impressed if we qualify out, and I imagine we only do that with our best or near best roster.

It's tough as only 1 team in each OQT advances and you only need 1 bad game to get bounced. Alot of pundits are picking Canada to emerge out of Victoria but agree that it could easily go the other way. If these were Best of 3 or Best of 5 series I'd have more confidence but it's not set up like that. And as usual, our chances largely rest on who ends up playing and who opts out.

https://www.lavocedeltrentino.it/202...l-preolimpico/
https://basketballbuzz.ca/nba/2020-2...-stats-tracker

JHikka · #**2106** Posted **Feb 17, 2021, 5:09 PM**

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/b...nchise-in-cebl

Montreal on verge of getting pro basketball franchise in CEBL

The number of Montreal athletes who have advanced to the NCAA and, by extension, the NBA hasn’t been lost on executives from the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).

The fledgling professional basketball circuit, in existence since 2019, plans on expanding into Montreal for the 2022 season. And don’t be surprised if the team plays in the refurbished Verdun Auditorium.

isaidso · #**2107** Posted **Feb 18, 2021, 10:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/b...nchise-in-cebl

Montreal on verge of getting pro basketball franchise in CEBL

The number of Montreal athletes who have advanced to the NCAA and, by extension, the NBA hasn’t been lost on executives from the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).

The fledgling professional basketball circuit, in existence since 2019, plans on expanding into Montreal for the 2022 season. And don’t be surprised if the team plays in the refurbished Verdun Auditorium.

Great news. I wish the NBL and CEBL would put their differences aside and merge though. It's absurd that we have 2 professional basketball leagues in this country. If they did and with the addition of Montreal, Canada would have 1 national league with 16 teams. They'd be 13 teams in the East and 3 in the West. The West is an obvious weak area and a logical place for future expansion. Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Kelowna, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Victoria?

NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Halifax, St.John's, Island, Moncton
Windsor, London, KW, Sudbury

CANADIAN ELITE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Niagara, Hamilton, Guelph, Ottawa
Fraser Valley, Edmonton, Saskatchewan

isaidso · #**2108** Posted **Feb 18, 2021, 7:03 PM**

The 2021 Americup Qualifying tournament for the 2022 AmeriCup is underway. It may seem like an inconsequential tournament but qualifying for the 2022 AmeriCup is required if Canada wants to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. To qualify for the 2022 AmeriCup Canada must finish in the top 3 in its group.

We've sent what looks like our 'C' or 'D' team so it's not a given that we'll move forward. Yesterday Canada needed a buzzer beater to edge the US Virgin Islands. Canada currently sits in 2nd spot behind the Dominican Republic but ahead of the US Virgin Islands and Cuba. We have 3 more games left. We play the US Virgin Islands again on the 20th and finish with 2 games against Cuba. Winning at least 1 of those 3 games will likely get us to the 2022 AmeriCup.

isaidso · #**2109** Posted **Feb 21, 2021, 12:07 AM**

Canada's men's team is one step closer to a 2024 Olympic berth with a win over the US Virgin Islands earlier today. With the victory Canada qualifies for the 2022 AmeriCup, a requirement in order to be eligible for Olympic consideration.

svlt · #**2110** Posted **Feb 24, 2021, 11:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

Great news. I wish the NBL and CEBL would put their differences aside and merge though. It's absurd that we have 2 professional basketball leagues in this country. If they did and with the addition of Montreal, Canada would have 1 national league with 16 teams. They'd be 13 teams in the East and 3 in the West. The West is an obvious weak area and a logical place for future expansion. Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Kelowna, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Victoria?

NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Halifax, St.John's, Island, Moncton
Windsor, London, KW, Sudbury

CANADIAN ELITE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Niagara, Hamilton, Guelph, Ottawa, Montreal
Fraser Valley, Edmonton, Saskatchewan

Quite a number of those will have to be relocated if they ever merged. Expansion for such a small league is kind of a death knell. Obviously good (cost related) reasons to have 8 teams in Ontario and 4 in the Atlantic, but it's really poor national representation for now. I'd propose subbing out Niagara, Guelph, Sudbury, KW and PEI for Victoria, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg and QC.

JHikka · #**2111** Posted **Feb 25, 2021, 9:59 PM**

Growing a Canadian Game:
Sportsnet and Canada Basketball Team Up for “Net” New Partnership

"In a first of its kind partnership, Canada Basketball and Sportsnet are joining forces to grow the game of basketball from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Uniting far beyond the broadcast, Canada’s #1 sports media brand and Canada Basketball have committed to a multi-year innovative and unique partnership that will see the development and launch of several new national and international men’s and women’s basketball events in Canada, beginning in 2022.

Additionally, the collaboration will work to shine the spotlight on Canada’s best and brightest in the basketball landscape with original and creative content development, set to air across Sportsnet platforms.

“Over the past decade, the love and passion for basketball has grown exponentially throughout Canadian communities,” said Bart Yabsley, President, Sportsnet. “In joining this truly unique partnership with Canada Basketball, Sportsnet shares the privilege and responsibility of growing the sport of basketball across the country for years to come. Pairing this partnership with our long-term collaboration with the Toronto Raptors and the NBA, plus our growing connection with the WNBA, Sportsnet is officially the destination for all the content Canada’s basketball fans need.”

...

2022 Event Series
Next summer, Canada Basketball and Sportsnet are set to launch a series of men’s and women’s events, including the inaugural U22 international tournaments for both women and men. Welcoming the top national federations in the world to Toronto, the international competition will showcase Canada’s up-and-coming talent in action and set the stage for more competition to come.

...

Sportsnet Original Content
Complementing the collaborative event production, Sportsnet and Canada Basketball are also teaming up to deliver creative and innovative original content featuring the stories, moments and events that both influence and unite the Canadian basketball community. Available across Sportsnet’s platforms, the content offerings will highlight the activities and accomplishments of the country’s most heralded players and coaches, as well as rising stars, while leveraging the live event schedule and news trends."

https://about.rogers.com/news-ideas/...w-partnership/

JHikka · #**2112** Posted **Mar 11, 2021, 3:09 AM**

Steven Loung
@loung_s
Yuta Watanabe and the Raptors are the most popular player/NBA team in Japan, according to merchandise sales.

https://twitter.com/loung_s/status/1369477256129708035

Denscity · #**2113** Posted **Mar 11, 2021, 3:33 AM**

Heard recently that the top rebounder in the entire NCAA this year was from BC. Forgot his name tho.

JHikka · #**2114** Posted **Mar 16, 2021, 4:47 PM**

Nate Darling becomes first Nova Scotian to appear in NBA regular-season game

By Rebecca Lau Global News
Posted March 14, 2021 2:13 pm

"A 22-year-old Nova Scotia basketball player made history this weekend.

Nate Darling, who hails from Bedford, stepped on the court Saturday night with the Charlotte Hornets and became the first Nova Scotian to play in an NBA regular-season game.

...

Brien notes Darling has been influential in Nova Scotia basketball throughout his career. In 2015, he was part of the provincial team that won gold at the U17 Canada Basketball National Championships, which were held in Halifax."

https://globalnews.ca/news/7695748/n...irst-nba-game/

--

Darling played college at Alabama-Birmingham and Delaware.

blueandgoldguy · #**2115** Posted **Mar 23, 2021, 5:46 PM**

The Raptors' season was looking promising just a few weeks ago. The team had finally reached .500 after a terrible start and appeared to be a cinch to qualify for the playoffs. Just a few weeks later, the Raptors have lost 9 in a row including last night's loss to Houston - a team that had lost something like 20 games in a row before beating Toronto.

It appears the season is lost. Toronto might as well trade Lowry to receive some compensation which will assist with the rebuild.

rousseau · #**2116** Posted **Mar 23, 2021, 6:19 PM**

COVID kicked them in the balls, and it's pretty obvious that they still haven't gotten back up to speed physically. But at some point it will switch to a test of mental character. They're not as bad as this nine-game losing streak might suggest.

Save for Aaron Baynes. My gawd, what an awful player he is. I haven't been this aggravated by a Raptor since Bargnani. Which only goes to show how great the team has been over the last six or seven years.

isaidso · #**2117** Posted **Mar 23, 2021, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by svlt

Quite a number of those will have to be relocated if they ever merged. Expansion for such a small league is kind of a death knell. Obviously good (cost related) reasons to have 8 teams in Ontario and 4 in the Atlantic, but it's really poor national representation for now. I'd propose subbing out Niagara, Guelph, Sudbury, KW and PEI for Victoria, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg and QC.

Stability of a franchise, corporate backing, and support at the gate should take precedence over geographic coverage. There's no point in expanding to a region just because its a blank spot on the map.

isaidso · #**2118** Posted **Mar 23, 2021, 8:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

Nate Darling becomes first Nova Scotian to appear in NBA regular-season game

By Rebecca Lau Global News
Posted March 14, 2021 2:13 pm

"A 22-year-old Nova Scotia basketball player made history this weekend.

Nate Darling, who hails from Bedford, stepped on the court Saturday night with the Charlotte Hornets and became the first Nova Scotian to play in an NBA regular-season game.

...

Brien notes Darling has been influential in Nova Scotia basketball throughout his career. In 2015, he was part of the provincial team that won gold at the U17 Canada Basketball National Championships, which were held in Halifax."

https://globalnews.ca/news/7695748/n...irst-nba-game/

--

Darling played college at Alabama-Birmingham and Delaware.

There has been fairly widespread support for basketball in that province for over 50 years. It's great for Nova Scotia basketball to finally have a local make it to the NBA. It may be a small province but there's no reason why it can't produce some more. Lithuania only has 2.8 million people and they've produced 13 NBA players over the years.

isaidso · #**2119** Posted **Mar 23, 2021, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Coach K closes out 46-year coaching career with victory No. 919

The inaugural 'Coach K Challenge' exhibition game was a victory for the hometown X-Men over the Acadia Axemen by a 99-76 margin. The victory marked career win #919 for veteran X-Men head coach Steve Konchalski as he closes out his 46-year coaching career at StFX with 1495 career games. Moving forward, the Coach K Challenge will feature one game between the Acadia Axemen and StFX X-Men on an annual basis as both schools are near and dear to Steve's heart.

https://usports.ca/en/sports/basketb...victory-no-919

JHikka · #**2120** Posted **Mar 23, 2021, 8:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

Lithuania only has 2.8 million people and they've produced 13 NBA players over the years.

As an aside, basketball is the national sport of Lithuania and easily its most popular sport. I think it's the only country that can say basketball is its most popular along with...the Philippines, I think?