Golden generation need to earn their spurs
Andrew Wiggins and Canada’s other young stars still have it all to prove
They’re billed as the golden generation of Canadian basketball, an era of hard court artists who’ll put the nation on the fast-track to Olympic glory.
Yet the hoops wunderkinds, including several participants in the third game of the 2015 NBA Canada Series on Wednesday night at Canadian Tire Place between the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves, must still emerge from the chrysalis if Canada is to actually qualify for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro by winning one of three world last-chance tournaments next summer.
That includes NBA rookie of the year and Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins, an utterly phenomenal athlete who averaged 16.9 points per game in his inaugural pro season, but then was a virtual no-show in Canada’s two critical losses at the recent FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament, particularly an ugly, timid 79-78 loss to Uruguay in the must-win semifinal.
Then there’s Raptors point guard Cory Joseph, the 29th pick of the 2011 draft, a role player who saw limited minutes for the San Antonio Spurs for four seasons before signing with Toronto as a restricted free agent in July, and who then delivered a somewhat mercurial performance at FIBA Americas, during which he oscillated between savvy attacking guard and gawking defender with a tendency to reach.
Finally, there’s the puzzling riddle of Anthony Bennett, who went from starter on the national team in the opening FIBA matches to bit player as the tournament progressed, as the standard knocks against his game — “defends no one,” and “lacks confidence,” – re-emerged. The NBA’s top pick in the 2013 draft, he was traded to the Timberwolves, periodically injured and then suffered the shocking indignity of being waived, before being offered a last chance to resurrect his career when the Raptors inked him a oneyear contract in September.
They’re part of a record 14 Canadians now in the NBA, a group that also includes Wiggins’ brother Nick, who toiled at Wichita State and is now looking to make the cut when the Timberwolves trim their active roster to the maximum 13 players.
What aspects of their game do the trio believe they need to develop if they’re to actually help Canada’s golden generation make the Rio games?
“Everything,” Wiggins told reporters. “You’re always trying to perfect your game. You know, I’m so young. I still have a lot of raw talent, things I still need to get better at. … I’m going to try to do everything I did last year and do it better this year.”
Wiggins said after the Timberwolves morning shootaround that he needs to work on “shooting, ball handling, trying to get better, try to just expand everything. I see myself as a pretty good on-the-ball defender. I need to get better off the ball, all the other stuff.”
Joseph said he needs to improve his perimeter shooting and ball distribution skills.
Joseph had rather insightfully noted after one of the FIBA losses that he needed to improve his leadership skills. Asked how that might be accomplished, Joseph said that’s a product of familiarity with both a team’s systems and the capabilities of its players. “Then, as the point guard, being able to be the extension of the coach on the court, you know, that means just understanding everything he wants from the team. As the point guard, you gotta put everybody in the right places, make the right calls, know the time and score.”
More experience and “consistent” minutes should only help to hone those skills, Joseph added.
Bennett defiantly attributed his past NBA woes primarily to injury. “I’ve been hurt ever since I’ve gone into the league,” he said. “I’m just trying to go out there and just prove to everybody that I can play.”
With Toronto opting to rest allstar Kyle Lowry, Joseph and Bennett started for the Raptors in the pre-season tilt at the Candian Tire Centre.
The worst, and the best, of the Canadian trio was quickly evident. Joseph and Bennett combined for a sloppy turnover but then set one another up for treys, while the fleet Wiggins notched an athletic runout slam for Minnesota. Neither Wiggins nor Joseph saw action in the second quarter, while Bennett notched several critical defensive boards, and two late treys, as the Raptors built a 54-43 lead.
All saw their minutes reduced, or eliminated, in the often-listless second half, in which Minnesota rallied for an 89-87 win before 15,522 fans. Bennett had the biggest impact on the game with 10 points, eight boards and three steals in 23 minutes of play. Wiggins scored 11, nabbed two boards and dished three assists, while committing four turnovers, in his 23 minutes, while Joseph scored five and dished three assists in 17 minutes, all in the first half.
Raptors coach Dwayne Casey said both Joseph and Bennett need to familiarize themselves with the Raptors terminology and sets, on both ends of the floor, and like all others, improve all aspects of their game.
Asked if Bennett is suffering from a lack of confidence, Casey said that “with him, for so long, he’s played with that albatross of being the No. 1 pick. I think that’s one thing that we’ve tried to have him do: Come home. Relax. Play basketball. Have fun.”
Timberwolves interim coach Sam Mitchell said Wiggins needs to work on every facet of his game. “He’s still a young player but we’re pleased with how hard he’s working.
“He just needs to get better. They all need to get better. When they’re young, they have everything to get better at.”
You’re always trying to perfect your game. I’m so young. I still have a lot of raw talent, things I still need to get better at.