FIBA Americas Championship - Bonner and Magloire Onboard!

Canada opens today against Mexico who lost their opener 81-66 to host Puerto Rico. They then face Virgin Islands who also dropped their opener 88-62 to Uruguay.

This represents a chance for Canada to get off to a winning start but it also means that their opponents will be looking to right their ships and stay alive in terms of advancing through the rounds.

Today's game vs. Mexico is carried on theScore at 4:00 p.m.

Also tomorrow vs. Virgin Islands also at 4:00 p.m.

Looks like Canada's first game is a cake walk against Mexico. The score heading into the 4th quarter is 78-33 for the Canucks! Good shooting display by the guards in English and Rautins from what I've seen. Joel Anthony looks like he's in NBA shape dominating the paint but overall, Mexico is just playing poorly...and that's a understatement!

Final Score...95-40 Canada over Mexico. A 3pt explosion by the Canucks shooting 60% from beyond the arc. Just a great shooting performance by everyone who got touches basically. Mexico really stunk up the gym!

As John Wooden use to say (I think it was Wooden)... and I paraphrase... 'your never as good as you look... and your never as bad as you look.'

WoW... nice start. Can't count on shooting like that again. Games will only get tougher. Hope they don't go as cold as they were hot!.

But in reality... what was most impressive... was Canada's defense.

In the last few years Mexico has proven to have a potent offense. Play "D" like that in every game and they should find themselves in Turkey next summer.

Canada faces Virgin Islands today at 4:00 (live on theScore). Virgin Islands is 0-2 so far so this may be another relatively easy one for our boys.

Having the bye early and facing easier competition at least gives us the opportunity to build some positive momentum.

There are sterner tests ahead!

Very true coach! I actually feel that a lot of these teams in the Americas Tourney are missing a lot of players? It doesn't seem like the calibre of play is what it usually is. If we get this next win, then the guys momentum will most definetly have them ready for the real competition.

Our pool is pretty soft. The skill level and conditioning of ther Mexicans was pathetic!

Puerto Rico and Uruguay will be competitive games. Wins will typically carry over to the next round.

Argentina is very watered down. Scola is their only big name I believe. They may still get in the mix however. They can never be disregarded.

Brazil, Dominican and Venezuela are all good teams in the other pool.

I know that four go to the Worlds but I seem to recall seeing somewhere that a fifth team might get a shot. Maybe a qualifying tournament? Or maybe I was hallucinating.

Coach... five teams will represent the Americas... top four from this tourney and USA (for winning Gold medal at Olympics)

I looked at the Arg. squad... only Scola and Prigioni were names I recognized... rest are mid level Euro players... but like you said... probably solid players and can never count them out.

Canada up by 20 against Virgin Islands 79-59 in the fourth with 2 minutes remaining. Another solid game against another weak team...but I must say the Canucks are playing well as a team.

Again... great defense... great team defense... very few breakdowns... they seem very organzied.

But the tournament starts tomorrow... playing Uruguay is just a totally different brand of basketball... it's like rugby rules on a basketball court... they're always tough and physical and efficient.

Then PR on Sunday.

[quote="knowthegame"]Canada up by 20 against Virgin Islands 79-59 in the fourth with 2 minutes remaining. Another solid game against another weak team...but I must say the Canucks are playing well as a team.[/quote]

I agree great balance throughout the lineup.

But as petro says the tournament begins today. They have to face a rested Puerto Rico tomorrow so today's game is critical.

When they go to the next round wins will be very hard to come by so having another win in their pockets after today would be huge in terms of making the semi-finals and qualifying for the Worlds.

so i am assuming that the US is not playing cuz they are already qualified? anyways good looking start for the canucks.

Yes U.S. has an automatic bid for their Olympic gold medal as petro posted above.

Good game today against Uruguay. It could have gone either way. Young and Anthony were all over the boards. A couple of bonehead plays by Andy Rautins down the stretch, trying to force the issue with his own offense. Still a nice performance by the guys.