The Canadian men’s senior basketball team came one step closer to a World Cup berth on Monday night, defeating Team Panama 106-50 in Panama City to improve to a perfect 8-0 in World Cup Qualifying. It was the largest margin of victory for the Canadians in this qualifying cycle, improving their overall margin of victory to a whopping +266 through eight games. While they were unable to technically qualify during this window, the Canadians have all but guaranteed themselves a place in next summer’s World Cup.
It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. At least this wasn’t the impression Team Canada officials signaled when they released a 14-man “summer core” filled with 11 NBA players back in May of this year — players who were supposed carry the torch for the senior team during the summers while they were off from NBA duties. Instead, only five NBA players played in the first game of this window in a win over Argentina, and with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Cory Joseph all leaving the team for a personal matter, the Canadians were with only two NBA players in Kelly Olynyk and Dwight Powell for their win over Panama.
On one hand, it would have been nice to see the entire “summer core” play meaningful games together and build chemistry on the court. But that was always going to be a pipe dream considering the complications of NBA contracts and the relative unimportance of these games. That chemistry-building will have to come in training camp, which almost everyone attended.
Instead, with all but two NBA players out, we got to witness a glimpse of the burgeoning basketball depth that this nation has outside of the NBA — players who compete at the highest level of European Basketball and who have been suiting up for Canada for a long time. While Olynyk and Powell were stellar once again for Team Canada, with Olynyk finishing with a game-high 18-points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and Powell looking as mobile as ever as a rim protector and rebounder, it was the depth of the Canadians that made this game so one-sided.
We see you, @KellyOlynyk. 💦#FIBAWC | @CanBball pic.twitter.com/fPip7JqjDw
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 30, 2022
Pangos got the start for Gilgeous-Alexander, and while he’ll never be as flashy as a scorer, he ran the game with a similar style and poise, constantly getting into the teeth of the defense before finding shooters and relocating beyond the arc himself, finishing with 17-points (5/7 from three), 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
“He certainly knows the FIBA game,” Nick Nurse said of Pangos during training camp in Victoria last week. “…And he’s a very good player in that style. What does that mean? Well, he understands the tempo. He understands the full-court pressure. He understands the physicality. He’s very good at making reads and he’s a true point guard that will run the team, make the right plays, and then will score just enough to keep you honest.”
Phil Scrubb got the start for Alexander-Walker, while Ejim started again in his well-earned starting small forward role, and the two of them were responsible for setting a tone on the defensive end from the start, combining for 8 steals on the night, which allowed the Canadians to get out on the run again Panama, where they made it look easy — like they were the Dream Team finishing every transition opportunity they created, ending with 25 fast break points on the night.
Robertson came off the bench and immediately provided a spark by hitting back-to-back threes, Bell-Haynes successfully ran the team when Pangos was on the bench, and Edey looked the best he has since joining the senior team, finishing with 15-points on 5/9 shooting with 7 rebounds, displaying elite footwork and a soft touch around the basket. He struggled in the fourth quarter when more of the offense ran through him with the bench, but when the starters found him under the basket or in stride towards it, he made Panama pay for their lack of size.
Nick Nurse unleashed Zach Edey. 💪⛓️
15p/7r/1s, 5/9 FG, 5/8 FT, 23 MIN
🇨🇦 #Canada vs. 🇵🇦 #Panama #FIBAWCQ #FIBA #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/LmsxhTB87j
— blank (@ejsilvaBB) August 30, 2022
In the last game of the qualifying window, away from home, in the middle of summer, with relatively little on the line, the Canadians could have easily come out and given a casual effort against a subpar Panama squad, hopping to win on talent alone. Instead, they came out with an intensity and defensive focus that we are beginning to grow accustomed to with this organization, no matter who starts and who is available to play and who isn’t.
That’s a credit to coach Nurse, but it’s also a credit to the Team Canada veterans who have been there from the start, jumping at every opportunity to represent their country — guys like Phil and Thomas Scrubb, Ejim, Pangos, and Robertson, who begun cultivating team chemistry and culture before the coach and most of the NBA players signed on.
Canada has the skill, the depth, and the chemistry to compete with anyone. Now it’s just a matter of putting it all together in time for next summer’s World Cup.
