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http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=27213729-15f9-4cf9-abe9-a45eeaff80c4&p=1
CANDADA NEEDS NASH
Sunday, September 09, 2007
After qualifying for next year's Beijing showdown tournament, which could end up in Vancouver, Canadian men's basketball coach Leo Rautins is very happy with how his young team has come along.
They'll still have a long way to go to qualify, but if they do Rautins says he'll have a serious offer to make to Canada's best player, one Steve Nash.
"I think it's our obligation to qualify, and if we do we would then be in position to offer Steve the opportunity to play with what we believe will unquestionably be the most talented guys he will ever have played with in a Canadian jersey," said Rautins.
"If he wanted to come along next year and join us to make the [qualification] process that much easier, so much the better. But he knows we're here and I do my best to keep him informed of everything we're doing.
"I talk to him formally once a year about the issue. During the season when I see him [Rautins is also the TV colour man on some Raptor NBA games] I just say 'hi', ask him how he's feeling and how things are going."
Nash knows there is a possibility that Canada could host the 12-team FIBA qualifying, which would produce outstanding entertainment, with Vancouver and Toronto the only real considerations, although Edmonton seems to be able to make a success out of almost anything.
However there are other countries which will no doubt be interested in hosting in July when three of 12 teams will make the Olympics. The FIBA decision will almost certainly depend upon what sort of money guarantees they can wring out of the hosts.
"We'd love for it to be in Canada and I hope someone in Vancouver or Toronto steps up, but that's something that has to be determined by others," said Rautins, whose side finished fifth in the recent Americas tournament with a young, big team that was literally begging for a point guard. Nash happens to be the best in the world.
But Nash, in part to prove his former employer Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wrong (he said the Victoria native wears down in the playoffs), prefers to use the summer to train, get away from the game and prepare for the pressure he carries in Phoenix. And who can blame him? He's worn the Canadian jersey many times and performed miracles in it. There's also the small matter of roughly $11 million he gets per season from the Suns. That's where his first allegiance must lie.
But when asked what the most pressing need for his young team is, Rautins was quick to answer "a point guard," and if you saw this team play last week you know he wasn't just trying a different pressure tactic on Nash.
"Jermaine Anderson did a great job for us, I can't say enough about him," said Rautins of a guy who at times would dribble out of the gym if you opened the doors of the building.
"His assist to turnover ratio was one of the best in the tournament and he's an outstanding outside shooter, but the point is just not his natural position. Having said that, I like him at the point, but more off the ball where he can get more shots."
The team cannot be discussed without mentioning Montreal's Samuel Dalembert, who got his Canadian passport just a couple of weeks before last week's Vegas tournament. The 6-foot-11 forward has added a whole new dimension to this team, anchoring a group of big men that stands up well to the international format of a lot of games in a short period of time.
"Sam gives us that big body defensive presence Canada hasn't had in 10, 15,20, 30 years even," said Rautins. "He changes the whole complexion of our team ... and he's such a good team guy as well."
With Dalembert blocking shots and making getting through the lane a dangerous business, there's no telling how good Canada could become. They will be better next year regardless with guys like Denhem Brown, Olu Famutimi, Juan Mendez and Vancouver's Levon Kendall all going to Europe for pro experience. But if ever Nash would walk through that crack he's left open in the almost-closed door to the national team, then you're likely to tear Jamaal Magloire away from his Caribbean beauty pageant and land Rowan Barrett as well.
Then you could almost mention the words "medal" and "Canada" in the same sentence.
CANDADA NEEDS NASH
Sunday, September 09, 2007
After qualifying for next year's Beijing showdown tournament, which could end up in Vancouver, Canadian men's basketball coach Leo Rautins is very happy with how his young team has come along.
They'll still have a long way to go to qualify, but if they do Rautins says he'll have a serious offer to make to Canada's best player, one Steve Nash.
"I think it's our obligation to qualify, and if we do we would then be in position to offer Steve the opportunity to play with what we believe will unquestionably be the most talented guys he will ever have played with in a Canadian jersey," said Rautins.
"If he wanted to come along next year and join us to make the [qualification] process that much easier, so much the better. But he knows we're here and I do my best to keep him informed of everything we're doing.
"I talk to him formally once a year about the issue. During the season when I see him [Rautins is also the TV colour man on some Raptor NBA games] I just say 'hi', ask him how he's feeling and how things are going."
Nash knows there is a possibility that Canada could host the 12-team FIBA qualifying, which would produce outstanding entertainment, with Vancouver and Toronto the only real considerations, although Edmonton seems to be able to make a success out of almost anything.
However there are other countries which will no doubt be interested in hosting in July when three of 12 teams will make the Olympics. The FIBA decision will almost certainly depend upon what sort of money guarantees they can wring out of the hosts.
"We'd love for it to be in Canada and I hope someone in Vancouver or Toronto steps up, but that's something that has to be determined by others," said Rautins, whose side finished fifth in the recent Americas tournament with a young, big team that was literally begging for a point guard. Nash happens to be the best in the world.
But Nash, in part to prove his former employer Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wrong (he said the Victoria native wears down in the playoffs), prefers to use the summer to train, get away from the game and prepare for the pressure he carries in Phoenix. And who can blame him? He's worn the Canadian jersey many times and performed miracles in it. There's also the small matter of roughly $11 million he gets per season from the Suns. That's where his first allegiance must lie.
But when asked what the most pressing need for his young team is, Rautins was quick to answer "a point guard," and if you saw this team play last week you know he wasn't just trying a different pressure tactic on Nash.
"Jermaine Anderson did a great job for us, I can't say enough about him," said Rautins of a guy who at times would dribble out of the gym if you opened the doors of the building.
"His assist to turnover ratio was one of the best in the tournament and he's an outstanding outside shooter, but the point is just not his natural position. Having said that, I like him at the point, but more off the ball where he can get more shots."
The team cannot be discussed without mentioning Montreal's Samuel Dalembert, who got his Canadian passport just a couple of weeks before last week's Vegas tournament. The 6-foot-11 forward has added a whole new dimension to this team, anchoring a group of big men that stands up well to the international format of a lot of games in a short period of time.
"Sam gives us that big body defensive presence Canada hasn't had in 10, 15,20, 30 years even," said Rautins. "He changes the whole complexion of our team ... and he's such a good team guy as well."
With Dalembert blocking shots and making getting through the lane a dangerous business, there's no telling how good Canada could become. They will be better next year regardless with guys like Denhem Brown, Olu Famutimi, Juan Mendez and Vancouver's Levon Kendall all going to Europe for pro experience. But if ever Nash would walk through that crack he's left open in the almost-closed door to the national team, then you're likely to tear Jamaal Magloire away from his Caribbean beauty pageant and land Rowan Barrett as well.
Then you could almost mention the words "medal" and "Canada" in the same sentence.
