Five points: Canada and the Raptors find answers
Anthony Bennett’s confidence is growing; Luis Scola’s game shows no sign of slowing
There were many questions to answer heading into the lone tuneup event before the FIBA Americas men’s championship that starts in Mexico on Monday.
Heading into the final day of the Tuto Marchand Cup in San Juan, Puerto Rico, here are some answers:
DWIGHT POWELL
Canada still has one cut to make before its roster is finalized for the Olympic qualifier next week, and there are major questions on who might go.
If coach Jay Triano wants to keep three point guards, there is a surplus of versatile wings who can play either spot and Dwight Powell of the Dallas Mavericks is emerging as one of the steadiest producers.
He has been good on the boards, has averaged about 12 points a game and has shot better than 75 per cent from the foul line while leading the team in free throws attempted.
PHIL SCRUBB
Phil Scrubb, a perennial CIS all-star with the dominant Carleton Ravens program, is one of only two players on the 13-man roster trained in the Canadian university system.
But he is proving to be a more than capable backup for starting point guard Cory Joseph during the first three games of the Marchand Cup.
Scrubb logged 69 minutes in three wins — one of which Joseph sat out — and only had four turnovers against mainly veteran competition.
LUIS SCOLA
Free agent acquisition Luis Scola has been a mainstay of the Argentina national for more than a decade and has been a key player on teams that won Olympic gold in 2004, Olympic bronze in 2008 and a silver at the 2002 world championships.
The long and illustrious career is close to an end for the 35-year-old forward but he is not going quietly. In Argentina’s first two games in Puerto Rico, he averaged about 20 points and nine rebounds a game.
ANTHONY BENNETT
Anthony Bennett is still trying to find his niche in the NBA after being the first overall pick in 2014 and the one thing he’s been searching for with the national team is increased confidence.
If he doesn’t have it going into the Olympic qualification tournament, he may never find it.
Continuing the inspired play he showed during the Pan American Games in Toronto, Bennett has averaged nearly 14 points and seven rebounds a game and, most importantly, did not foul out of one.
BRADY HESLIP
One of the prerequisites of any good international team — and a key Triano talked about long before the tournament began — is good outside shooting.
The shorter three-point line in FIBA events puts a premium on longdistance shooting and Triano wanted to load up on it if he could.
It has worked so far as backup guard Brady Heslip, whose calling card is his ability to shoot, leads the tournament in three-pointers made through three games.