Canada counting on chemistry for winning formula
Familiarity breeds sense of confidence for veteran players
Team Canada hopes familiarity and experience will pay dividends at the upcoming FIBA World Cup.
With a number of the country’s top talents absent, Canada will be leaning on its chemistry, compatibility and international resumes to succeed.
Luckily, key players like Cory Joseph and Kelly Olynyk have been on the court together since they were kids, and others like Melvin Ejim, Brady Heslip,
Phil Scrubb and Kevin Pangos have spent plenty of court time together over the years.
Twelve of the players gathered here for training camp in Toronto only one summer ago and competed alongside each other either in scrimmages or in friendlies against China.
“It definitely helps,” the veteran Joseph said of having familiarity with your teammates.
“We learn a lot quicker. Obviously, you know, we haven’t played together in some time, some of us, ( but) guys like me, Kelly and Melvin, one day, like yesterday, that’s all we needed, now we’re back on track,” Joseph said.
“We’re coming along quick. We’ve all either played with each other at one point in time or we’ve all watched each other’s games.”
Not surprisingly, Joseph, who signed a lucrative free agent deal with the Sacramento Kings last month, pairs particularly well with Olynyk, the big man from the Miami Heat.
“Kelly has a very high (basketball) IQ and I would like to think I do, as well. So it’s very easy to play with guys like (that),” he said. “You don’t have to waste no more energy out there than we have to, because he gets it. We’ve been playing together forever now, and our games fit each other and suit each other.”
Canada’s kids are all right. That’s the word from head coach Nick Nurse and some of his veteran players like ex-Raptor Joseph.
The national team is only a couple of days into camp, preparing for some exhibition games heading into next month’s FIBA World Cup in China, but some of the most youthful participants have already made their mark.
That includes 21-year-old Oshae Brissett, a former Syracuse star who has a training camp invite with his hometown Toronto Raptors, and Andrew Nembhard, a 19-year-old who is about to embark on his second season with the Florida Gators.
“Nembhard is a surprise to me,” Nurse said on Tuesday after practice.
“I’ve seen him, so I shouldn’t be that surprised. He’s been really good,” Nurse said.
Given the team projects to be a bit light at the wing, Nurse said both Nembhard and Brissett could play out of position at small forward should they make the cut.
Nembhard will get a chance to show what he can do in “meaningful minutes” against Nigeria in Toronto on Wednesday and in Winnipeg on Friday.
HIGH PRAISE FOR EJIM
It still surprised many that Ejim has never got an NBA shot, but it’s clear he’s highly valued by the Canadian program.
“Melvin, he’s hard work and energy,” Nurse said. “You never really know what you’re going to get. He’s kind of an X-Factor type of guy. I like him. I’ve liked him for a long time. He went to Iowa State. That always helps, too. I favour him a little bit,” said a joking Nurse, an Iowa native.
Ejim said he’s looking forward to Wednesday’s game (7 p.m. at Ryerson’s Mattamy Centre) and Friday’s contest in Winnipeg.
“Every time you get an opportunity to play in Canada, it’s great. Family, friends, country, support, it’s amazing. Growing the sport, it’s great, and I think for us, it’s good to just kind of learn by playing games,” Ejim said.
“Practice is great, but once you get out and you’re competing against other people, you know what to do, that’s when you really grow and you learn as a team.”