Team Canada had already advanced. They’ve already shown they’re dominant against their division. But Monday was the cherry on top.
They didn’t start out with the same offensive explosion they had against Puerto Rico, but it didn’t take long for Canada to Get Busy in this game, and they did it defensively, forcing nine turnovers in the first quarter, pushing in transition relentlessly, and scoring nearly half of their points on the break.
Oh, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put a Jamaican on a poster.
From the get-go, it was apparent how incredibly annoying Canada planned to be defensively. Alexander-Walker, in particular, was Like Glue at the point of attack, forcing turnovers and notching over 4 steals in the process. Jamaica was missing its key pieces, particularly Norman Powell, and had little to go on offensively. Canada smelt One Blood in the water.
They scored 45 points in 15 minutes of basketball. With 5 minutes left in the 1st half, nearly half of their points came off fast breaks. They were shooting 64% from the field at halftime. It was Murder She Wrote. SGA and his cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker connected on a lob. Pon De Replay, you could see the two laughing and smiling on their way back on defense. The good times were afoot.
While there were many standouts, the player who caught my eye the most was Leonard Miller, who figures to be an important piece for Canada moving forward. The theme of this weekend for them was how much Head Coach Gordie Herbert is trying to explore what’s possible with his future frontcourt. Mfioundu Kabengele showed out in a big way versus Puerto Rico. Versus Jamaica, it was Miller who made timely defensive plays, got out in transition, and showed off just how versatile he can be. He finished with 12 points, two steals, and a block in 16 minutes, showing everyone in the crowd “Who Am I?”
Maybe the Chicago Bulls will find out next season.
“I want to take a leap,” Leonard told me post-game when I asked him about how his experience with Team Canada can inform his NBA career. “I showcase a lot of my defensive versatility towards the end (of the season), taking on challenges, guarding some of the best guys in the league, so just to continue to expand on that, showcase my offensive ability, play different spots on the court, it’s been exciting.”
Meanwhile, you would think SGA, Dillon Brooks, and Andrew Nembhard were running a Fever with how hot they were versus Jamaica. While the trio all played 20 minutes or less, SGA finished with 16 points, Nembhard had 17, and Brooks led the team with 20. Over two games, Nembhard missed just 6 shots on his way to 40 points.
“Special player,” Dillon Brooks said post-game about the 26-year-old guard Nembhard. “He’s very composed, plays at his own pace, an underrated scorer… I love playing with him.”
While Jamaica was outmatched here against a team with some superstar NBA talent, their performance wasn’t without merit. Andrew Thelwell led the team with 25 points, and Marcus McDonald, who just graduated from high school and is headed to the University of New Orleans, added 19 points in just 20 minutes.
“These are the games we want to play on the biggest stages. While this round didn’t go the way we wanted, we believe that eventually we can be among the best in the world.” Head Coach Richard Turner told the media after the 116-78 loss on Monday.
After their win over Sweet Jamaica, Canada finished 6-0 atop their group with a +95 point differential. Brazil and Canada are the only undefeated teams in the Americas, and if Brazil wins by less than 47 points in their final game (or loses), Canada will be the top seed in the Americas heading into the next qualifying window.
12 teams will play in the second round, starting in late August, and the top 7 among them will automatically qualify for the FIBA World Cup next summer in Qatar. So, in summary, Canada has put itself in a great position not only to qualify early but also to be the best team in the Americas by next summer.
More than anything, the weekend in Hamilton was a resounding success for the organization. Over 20,000 fans packed into TD Coliseum to watch a star-studded affair that included one of the best players in basketball (SGA), one of the most polarizing players in the league (Brooks), and two of the best role players in the NBA (NAW and Nembhard).
“Great to play in Canada,” Herbet said. “It’s not every day in international basketball that you can play at home. Thank you to the crowd.”
The event, like the team, delivered.
