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Remarkable comeback keeps Olympic dream alive

MICHAEL GRANGE

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 1:24 PM EST 16/07/08

Canada erases 19-point hole late to outlast Korea 79-77; Dalembert fails to show up after falling out with coaches ...Read the full article

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  1. Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: Big comeback win that should hopefully get this team back on track. The Koreans must be absolutely stunned.

    WTF is going on with Dalembert? I don't think he was the only one that was called out in their disappointing first result. Interesting to see what comes of it. Perhaps he was just out late at the Greek clubs and was too wasted to make the game.
  2. Big Cayman from South Toronto, Canada writes: How can anyone be excited about this? They almost lost to Korea! How will this team go anywhere without Dalembert, and what's his problem, and what's up with Rautins? What a farce.
  3. Garry S from Canada, Canada writes: Dalembert's Canadian citizenship should be revoked!
  4. E W from Canada writes: Calm down, Garry S. This isn't the first time the Canadian coaches/administration have alienated a highly-skilled NBA player (Nash, anyone?) and I suspect it probably won't be the last. I wouldn't jump down Sam Dalembert's throat until all the facts are known.
  5. Johnny B Good from Canada writes: Rautins is a schmuck. I remember listening to a Raptors commentary earlier this year with him talking about how the likes of Dalembert, Magloire and Nash should play for Team Canada to gain more experience for their own good. These are NBA players who make millions, and if Rautins did call out Dalembert after the other night's loss, then Team Canada is getting what it deserves. There is concern in the US camp that their roster is too small? Just hope that Canada doesn't lose their only flicker of hope at Beijing, even if it means a early elimination to super underdog Iran.

    Jay Triano should be the coach of this team, plain and simple. Canada's cream of the crop have no respect for Rautins. He hardly holds respect among his listeners.
  6. Allan Wexler from Canada writes: With or without Dalembert; with or without Nash - if we can't demolish Korea, then there is something very wrong. We send about 50 kids to the US who play NCAA basketball each year and it's hard to believe that with some of those players and the best college players in Canada that we have so much trouble with a team such as Korea. Even Slovenia was short several of their stars when they killed Canada. Mike Katz should be the coach of the Canadian team. He has never had his due at the national level except as an assistant against the original dream team. The chemistry here is not good, for reasons that I can't explain.
  7. Nolan K from Canada writes: Honestly, Korea has a far superior basketball program in comparison to Canada's. Their country actually loves basketball, unlike our hockey only nation.
    So, we should be happy that we beat them, not embarrased that we almost lost to them. Look at our team. If a guy like Sam D is the "star", we suck. Plain and simple. I mean, the guy has no offence, everyone knows it but him. He may be an NBA player, but he is one of the worst shooters on the team.
  8. John P from Canada writes: Always a touchy issue when it comes to national teams because it's purely voluntary. Puts Rautins in a tough spot because of how AWFUL Dalembert was yesterday. NBA or no NBA he was the worst Canadian on the floor and poor decision making made him look even worse..... but what does Rautins do? Politely ask him to play better? Politely remind him that we're going to lose if he keeps jacking long 2's from the top of the key?
  9. The Nuts from Yourmomshouse, Canada writes: Nolan K ----- Exactly.
  10. John P from Canada writes: Nolan K,

    Korea regularly loses to countries like Qatar and Lebanon who both field Canadian rejects in their starting line-ups. Despite competing in the 2nd easiest qualification region in the world (Asia), the last major tournament they qualified for was the 98 worlds when they got blown to pieces and finished dead last.... Tell me again why we should be happy to beat them? Just because they like the sport doesn't mean a thing. There are several countries in Asia where basketball is huge yet the national teams are a complete joke. Korea have been garbage forever and anything less than a blowout against them is failure.
  11. Al B from Canada writes: NOlan K, Canada 'hockey only nation'? That's one sad excuse to explain Canada's failure in most team sports. How come the Swedes with a lot less population can field a potent hockey team and a competitive soccer team? How can Greece be such a power in basketball and also can field a competitive soccer team? To say that S Korea is some sort of a mecca for basketball is crazy. Never heard of a S Korean player in my entire life.
  12. Celine Brown from Canada writes: Steve Nash should be there instead of watching baseball and counting his millions.
  13. Eric Zubert from Sudbury, Canada writes: WTF is going with the national program is the bigger question. Call me bias or overly optimistic but shouldn't our team be a little more competitive and not have to scratch and claw back to win games against "powerhouses" like Korea and try to win "last minute" entries into the Olympics?

    I think it starts from the coaching staff and Leo Rautins is not the man for the job. Jay triano seamed for better suited overall for the players and overall team philosphy.

    Team Canada Basketball should be better than this!
  14. Greg King from Ottawa, writes: I can't wait until Dave Smart takes over and coaches this team. He's an intense coach who keeps his players accountable and gets them to buy into a system (defense first) which is probably easier with a university team compared to an Olympic team where they may have a small number of practices prior to tournaments, but I have no doubt he would still succeed.
  15. John Stewart from Victoria, Canada writes: Incredible game. Canada came back from an absolutely huge deficit in the last two minutes to win. It was a scrambly and very determined effort. Superiority on the boards, particularly on defense is what won it.
    They won't beat Croatia or Puerto Rico playing like that however. Nor will Canada see a three point shooting exhibition like the Koreans put on. Totally and completely unconscious three shooting and lest you start to think poor defense out there - a huge number of NK's threes came from a distance that would have been well outside the NBA three line. When you include Team Canada coaches not being able to keep their best player happy, it was truly a bizarre game overall.
  16. Jerome J from Canada writes: rautins is smug and arrogant, i dont know why people/media that players dont wanna play for him, he isnt even qualified to be a coach, let alone a broadcaster, this country has such low standards for basketball, that they'll just hire a media mouthpiece instead of a real coach, canada basketball = operation meltdown

    all aboard the sinking ship.

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