COMPETITION HEATING UP AT SENIOR MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING CAMP
Last Updated: June 28, 2008
By Simon Yau, basketball.ca
TORONTO — There was a collective gasp in the gym as Joel Anthony and his 6’9”, 245-pound frame came crashing in a heap to the floor.
“You OK?” asked Canadian Senior Men’s National Team assistant coach Mike Malone, approaching the prone NBA star cautiously.
Anthony got up slowly and jogged back up the court without a word. There was a palpable relief in the Adidas Practice Court as the Canadians returned to their scrimmage as if nothing had happened.
Scares such as the one that occurred with Anthony during Team Canada’s Monday practice are part and parcel of playing basketball. What may not be so expected however is the frequency of those scares, as Canada’s Senior Men head into the heart of an intense training camp that has just under 20 players remaining, all trying to earn a spot on a roster of just 12.
The numbers crunch has not been lost on the players, and the result is one of the most highly competitive National Team training camps that observers have seen in a while.
“Guys are playing hard, obviously we’re still in a tryout mode, so guys are playing to make the team … but the intensity's been great,” agreed Senior Men’s Team Head Coach Leo Rautins. “Guys are working really hard at both ends of the floor and playing unselfishly. Everybody’s making the extra pass and buying into what we’re doing. It’s been good.”
Perhaps nowhere is the competition becoming more evident than in the battle for the backup point guard position, arguably the one spot on the squad that is still there for the taking.
Incumbent guard Ryan Bell of Ottawa remains in the mix, but British Columbia native Tyler Kepkay has also played well in his first National Team training camp, putting the onus on Rautins and his staff to make a difficult decision.
“Guys want to make this team and guys want to get better individually, so everyone’s going pretty hard,” said Bell after the session. “I just have to keep playing my game, rebounding, take care of the ball, make open shots when I get them, create a little bit and do whatever they ask me to do basically.”
“Everybody knows what’s on the line and what’s at stake right now,” agreed Kepkay, who plays for the University of Utah Utes. “Everybody’s just playing hard trying to get ready.”
Rautins gave no indication which way he's leaning when asked about the pair, seeming genuinely undecided where he stands on the issue.
“Tyler has played very well in this camp -- he’s done a lot of things that you want to see a point guard do,” said the head coach. “Ryan has the experience of being here, he has size at his position so you get a bit of a advantage on the defensive end and rebounding, so it comes down to the chemistry with both, and we’re certainly in no rush to make that decision.
“In 2005 we were trying to find 12 guys to put on the floor, and here we’re in a situation where we have to make a tough decision,” continued Rautins. “There are guys here who in a normal year would have no issue being on the team, and now it’s a tough call, so that’s where you want the program to be, where you’re making tough decisions every time.”
NOTES:
Samuel Dalembert was sporting a sleeve on his wrist Monday, but said it was only some minor soreness…Rowan Barrett was in street clothes, given the day off by the coaching staff to rest…former NBA All-Star Steve Mix said his goodbyes after making his annual summer trip to coach Team Canada’s forwards and centres.
TORONTO — There was a collective gasp in the gym as Joel Anthony and his 6’9”, 245-pound frame came crashing in a heap to the floor.
“You OK?” asked Canadian Senior Men’s National Team assistant coach Mike Malone, approaching the prone NBA star cautiously.
Anthony got up slowly and jogged back up the court without a word. There was a palpable relief in the Adidas Practice Court as the Canadians returned to their scrimmage as if nothing had happened.
Scares such as the one that occurred with Anthony during Team Canada’s Monday practice are part and parcel of playing basketball. What may not be so expected however is the frequency of those scares, as Canada’s Senior Men head into the heart of an intense training camp that has just under 20 players remaining, all trying to earn a spot on a roster of just 12.
The numbers crunch has not been lost on the players, and the result is one of the most highly competitive National Team training camps that observers have seen in a while.
“Guys are playing hard, obviously we’re still in a tryout mode, so guys are playing to make the team … but the intensity's been great,” agreed Senior Men’s Team Head Coach Leo Rautins. “Guys are working really hard at both ends of the floor and playing unselfishly. Everybody’s making the extra pass and buying into what we’re doing. It’s been good.”
Perhaps nowhere is the competition becoming more evident than in the battle for the backup point guard position, arguably the one spot on the squad that is still there for the taking.
Incumbent guard Ryan Bell of Ottawa remains in the mix, but British Columbia native Tyler Kepkay has also played well in his first National Team training camp, putting the onus on Rautins and his staff to make a difficult decision.
“Guys want to make this team and guys want to get better individually, so everyone’s going pretty hard,” said Bell after the session. “I just have to keep playing my game, rebounding, take care of the ball, make open shots when I get them, create a little bit and do whatever they ask me to do basically.”
“Everybody knows what’s on the line and what’s at stake right now,” agreed Kepkay, who plays for the University of Utah Utes. “Everybody’s just playing hard trying to get ready.”
Rautins gave no indication which way he's leaning when asked about the pair, seeming genuinely undecided where he stands on the issue.
“Tyler has played very well in this camp -- he’s done a lot of things that you want to see a point guard do,” said the head coach. “Ryan has the experience of being here, he has size at his position so you get a bit of a advantage on the defensive end and rebounding, so it comes down to the chemistry with both, and we’re certainly in no rush to make that decision.
“In 2005 we were trying to find 12 guys to put on the floor, and here we’re in a situation where we have to make a tough decision,” continued Rautins. “There are guys here who in a normal year would have no issue being on the team, and now it’s a tough call, so that’s where you want the program to be, where you’re making tough decisions every time.”
NOTES:
Samuel Dalembert was sporting a sleeve on his wrist Monday, but said it was only some minor soreness…Rowan Barrett was in street clothes, given the day off by the coaching staff to rest…former NBA All-Star Steve Mix said his goodbyes after making his annual summer trip to coach Team Canada’s forwards and centres.
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