Tactics and team spirit yet again key for modest Canadians

Teams in Canada’s group may not be trembling with fear at the thought of facing the Canadians, but nor should they take them lightly. Chemistry, tactical intelligence and a massive dose of their famous team spirit are what they will rely on in Turkey.

Canada continue to be a team in transition and one that sticks to their principles. They are pretty much forced to consider that one of the biggest legends in world basketball no longer plays. Just don’t expect this hungry young team to feel sorry for themselves now that veteran Steve Nash has given up on wearing the Maple leaf on his chest.

Under the leadership of Leo Rautins, Canada are beginning to slowly but surely punch above their weight as the head coach continues to oversee a programme of bringing in fresh-faced players and moulding a hard-nosed team with a workmanlike and defensive ethic.

This has served them well in the last couple of years and anyone who doesn’t subscribe to the mantra of Rautins can consider themselves no longer part of the team – no matter who they are or how big their reputation. Just ask Sacramento Kings center Samuel Dalembert. He was thrown out of the National Team programme in 2008 by Rautins after his attitude failed to match the standards laid down by the coach. It pretty much cost them their place at the 2008 Olympics but unity, chemistry and a common goal rule the roost in the Canadian locker room.

Canada can only get wins one way and that is no longer through a marquee and highly-talented individual like Nash. Instead, Rautins has got this team really playing for each other and this is a group that continues to evolve – even being in Turkey for this Championship is a clear indication of their progression.

In fact, while Canada will enter as something of underdogs compared to a lot of other nations in the tournament, there is a quiet confidence about the team and that would have been increased further had Rautins been successful in getting NBA duo Matt Bonner and Jamaal Magloire to Turkey.

Even though both options ended up being exhausted and unsuccessful, Canada are a gutsy team that continues to throw young players into the fray and sticks to its guns when it comes to a basketball programme that has demanded patience and belief. To achieve their vision, Rautins has utilised class acts and experienced players like Jermaine Anderson and more recently defensive kingpin Joel Anthony of the Miami Heat.

Most pleasing of all, the younger players – and not least the coach’s own son and new New York Knicks player Andy Rautins – are getting better and better. With each tournament, their influence is definitely increasing. The biggest blow for Rautins comes via the absence of star man Carl English - a genuine contender for MVP status in any game, who will now sit out the tournament due to an injury as is also the case with forward Jesse Young.

The Turkish experience is simply the latest chapter in what is proving to be a long, but hopefully fruitful journey for Canadian Men’s basketball. After all, it’s a decade since the team hit the ‘heights’ with seventh spot at the 2000 Olympics and progression to the latter stages would be a genuine shock.

But be warned. Canada are not beyond creating shocks. This is evidenced by the fact they surprised an NBA laden Domincan Republic team in the FIBA Americas Championship last year to punch their ticket and reach the World Championships for the first time since 2002. It has went some way to burying the hurt of missing out last time when they failed to qualify in 2006 – for the first time since the 1960’s.

With a superb team chemistry, system that suits their players and a collective spirit that will probably not be bettered anywhere else in the tournament, a lack of depth in terms of quality and talent might not be as much of a hurdle as you might expect .