Canada Basketball Needs More Culture and Less Talent

 Another heartbreaking loss for the Canadian Men's basketball team has put fresh salt in a old wound that just won't close. 

Not even eight NBA players playing in their own country could get it done. To say that I'm surprised wouldn't be accurate as this is more of a rules thing than anything else. If we played the NBA rules I think we are the much superior team and Canada goes on to win by 30. The FIBA rules closes the talent gap between teams and creates for a much more competitive game. 

To add insult to injury, there is just not the opportunity for our players to get the FIBA experience they need. This likely won't change either. The NBA owners won't let their players go on international breaks like FIFA and this new format only works if its best on best. 

Canada was ranked 21st coming into the tournament and I would be shocked if that number goes higher. I for one haven't figured out how the rankings work. People shrug this off but this is how we ended up with a Group of Death in China and this weekend. Our group would have been harder if it wasn't for hosting this tournament but easier if we weren't ranked so low.. 

 By 2023 there could be 25 NBA players from Canada. Again, that doesn't mean anything if you don't have the right players. I'm not sure there was anything Nick Nurse could have done better. Canada just wasn't able to drive inside as much as they wanted to because of the Czech Republic size. 

The format was also altered which I believe put Canada at a huge disadvantage. Most likely, the old format which would have been the 2019 FIBA Americans in where Canada would have probably battled Argentina for the last Olympic berth. Not sure if Canada is better than Argentina but it would have been nice to find out.    

The pain is real but there is two things that are holding the Canadian Men's team back. One is experience and the other is the depth around the globe. Lithuania, Serbia and Croatia all were bronze medal contenders all also failed to make the Olympics. 

We are too guard orientated to win short tournaments like this. I wish I had the answers as well. I would be all for having every Province go to FIBA rules but I don't know much of a difference that would make. Canada produces talent but it isn't producing enough B-talent. The problem with this is if the A talent aren't committed to playing for the National team than there is a big drop off. 

To add to this, Canada hasn't developed the culture that some European countries have. This will be hard for Canada to develop. 

Look at USA, they win because they almost make it so relentless that it leaves who there playing with no margin for error. If Canada can't get to that relentless level than we need FIBA Experience. 

I hated the new format six years ago and I still hate it. Qualifying for the Olympics through how well a team does at the World Cup is not how things should be done.