Mexico City – As advertised.
In their third game of preliminary action, playing an opponent that arrived operating close to peak efficiency, the Canadian men’s national team played the type of game that hints of bigger things to come.
Canada overcame Venezuela 82-62 in a game that was never close, but never comfortable and should serve as template for Canada as the competition continues to heat up. Certainly Canada can play better and will need to, but this is the way they should play: hard, selflessly and with first, second and third efforts where needed.
It started at the top, in this case with Cory Joseph, the team’s veteran (these things being relative, he’s only 24) point guard. There were all kind of examples from a game in which he was the catalyst for Canada’s strongest outing of the tournament, but the moment midway through the fourth quarter when he dove into a pile of bodies to come up with a loose ball and ignite a fastbreak finished with an Anthony Bennett dunk to help turn back a Venezuelan team that was determined to hang around is as good as any.
It wasn’t the prettiest play in a game that had its share, but it was what was needed at the time and Joseph was more than happy to risk a floor burn to get it done.
“I thought he controlled the game,” said Canadian head coach Jay Triano of his point guard, who finished with 10 points, five assists, seven rebounds, two blocked shots a steal and just two turnovers on a night when the rest of his teammates had 22.
“When he needed to step up, he did,” said Triano. “When we were struggling, he took over. I thought he played well.”
It would be wrong to suggest Joseph had been playing poorly through two games, or even be concerned. But the recently signed Toronto Raptors guard wasn’t pleased with his play in a four-game exhibition series in Puerto Rico and failed to assert himself in the opening game against Argentina.
He wasn’t bad, but could certainly be better. What was holding him back, apart from a very small sample size?
One theory making the rounds was that the player who was the catalyst for Jay Triano at FIBA Americas in 2013 was spoiled for choice this time around, guiding a Canadian team with multiple options offensively. Figuring out how to create for his teammates while pushing the pace to his liking can’t be an easy thing.
“I think he’s been doing a great job getting the guys involved,” said Team Canada assistant general manager Rowan Barrett before the game. “His assist-to-turnover ratio is phenomenal and his role is somewhat different this time around at this moment just because there are so many players.
“And the intelligence of Cory and the selflessness of Cory, he’s been willing to give up to his teammates. But in tournaments like this you’re going to need players to step up at certain moments and we believe he can do that, he’s shown that he can and I’m sure when that opportunity affords itself he’ll be ready to step in.”
Call this a dress rehearsal for what will surely be some bigger and more pressing games to come, but the Canadian win hinted at exactly how potent this lineup can be when they flow.
While Venezuela may not be Argentina, they are a cut above Cuba who Canada blew out on Wednesday. Their average age is 28.25, exactly five years older than Canada and they seemed a team peaking at the right time. They finished a tour of Europe with a two-point loss to Spain and thumped always pesky Puerto Rico on Wednesday night to arrive for the game undefeated.
And they have no trouble putting their opponents on the floor or slapping wildly at every loose ball or grabbing and holding Canadian cutters.
But this time Joseph threw the first punch. Several times in the game’s opening minutes he turned the corner on his man or simply bulled his way into he paint with forceful extra dribbles and once there expertly dropped the ball off for teammates smart enough to cut behind the defence, with Kelly Olynyk – who had also been just a hair off his game – the early beneficiary.
“I was trying to be aggressive, getting into the paint, make decisions for my teammates, get everybody going,” said Joseph. “I was able to find Kelly a lot early. A couple of times for [Anthony Bennett]. I was able to get in there and try to find the open man.”
Does he feel better about his game?: “It’s coming along. It’s still not fully there yet. As long as we win, I don’t care.”
The rest of the team seemed to get the cue. Wiggins (13 points, four assists) put the ball on the floor and found teammates, although he’ll need to trim down his five turnovers. Anthony Bennett (10 points, 10 rebounds) cleaned the glass and started Canada’s transition game. Olynyk had his best outing, adding six assists to his 14 points and eight rebounds, though again his five turnovers will need to be improved. In all things began falling into place, the final piece being Nik Stauskas’s missing jump shot. He stepped into his first shot with confidence, then another on his way to 16 points and 4-of-5 three-point shooting.
“I’ve been struggling my last couple of games, even in San Juan (in exhibition play) I was having a hard time getting the ball to go in and today was just a confidence booster seeing the ball go in a few times,” said Stauskas. “All of our guys, Cory, Andrew they do a phenomenal job getting to the paint, drawing the defence and kicking out and any time I get my feet set I feel like I have a good chance of hitting that shot.”
By the time the first quarter was over Canada was up 25-15 and they didn’t let up, turning their defence up even more to take a 47-28 lead into the half in which they held Venezuela to 10-of-34 shooting, out-rebounded them 24-14 while shooting 17-of-29 themselves, with 14 assists on their 17 field goals.
Venezuela pushed back – it was an 11-point game with six minutes left, well in reach for a prolific three-point shooting team. But Canada stiffened, holding Venezuela to just six points in the final six minutes.
It was a performance with some legs. Venezuela was physical as advertised as they picked up two intentional fouls in the first half, one that sent Dwight Powell hard to floor and ended the night for the promising Canadian power forward who has been perfect coming off the bench; the other was on Joseph, who was sent flying after picking off a cross-court pass and starting his own fastbreak. The early reports for Powell were a bruised elbow.
But perhaps one of the most telling moments of the game came late in the second quarter after Joseph made a rare miscue and got stripped as he ventured too deep into the heart of the Venezuelan defence. Melvin Ejim sprinted back and stopped the initial fastbreak and then Joseph leaped high to block the layup on the secondary break.
No one ever said Joseph was going to be perfect as Canada’s point guard and he doesn’t have to be. But never let it be said that he’s not the type to recognize a momentary lapse and fix it.
The win improved Canada to 2-1 in Group B. They play Puerto Rico on Friday night to finish the opening round, with Joseph and his teammates now having a very good idea of how good a team they can be.