There is still plenty on the line in Friday’s group stage finale against Spain.
Canada’s men’s basketball team is through to the quarterfinals, but there is still plenty on the line in Friday’s group stage finale against Spain.
Canada beat Greece by seven and then Australia by 10, despite trailing at the half, and can clinch top spot in Group A either by beating Spain, or by losing by seven points or fewer, coupled with an Australia win over Greece.
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While Canada will have to beat excellent teams in order to medal, it can help itself by finishing first and decreasing the odds of facing the mighty United States before the gold-medal game.
Host France and defending FIBA World Cup champion Germany have already advanced. The USA would advance and wrap up first place in Group C with a win over South Sudan later Wednesday. World Cup silver medalist Serbia rebounded from an ugly loss to the U.S. by beating Puerto Rico on Wednesday.
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Serbia defeated Canada last summer with a spot in the gold-medal game on the line, even without three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and will again be a difficult matchup should Canada face them again down the line.
If Germany beats France and Team USA keeps rolling, Germany and the Americans likely will be the top two teams based on wins and point differential moving forward. The top two teams face the two worst remaining finishers in the quarterfinals on Tuesday and would not meet until the gold-medal game.
Canada still has a shot at facing one of the weakest sides in the quarterfinals and, if France beats Germany and Canada beats Spain, things get pretty interesting. Both France and Canada would be 3-0 and they go into their last group stage match with nearly identical point differentials (+17 for Canada, +16 for France).
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The third- and fourth-best group stage finishers will be placed with one of the top-two finishers for the knockout round, meaning a meeting with a power like the U.S. would come early. A loss there would mean at best a shot at a bronze medal.
Confused yet?
Of course, Canada would be wise to focus on the task at hand, Spain, and not on trying to map out next week.
It sounds like they are doing just that.
“It doesn’t feel good (yet) because we know we have one more (group) game,” RJ Barrett told reporters in Lille after the win over Australia. “Spain, we beat them to qualify last year, so we know that they’re going to give us their best shot, and we’ve got to be ready for that.”
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“They have a lot of experience,” Canada head coach and Jordi Fernandez said of Spain, his home country. “They’re a group that played together for a long time. They know every single trick. They showed it today (in a win over Greece) and obviously, we’ll be ready.
“We’re excited to play them. We’re up for the challenge … After we get a little bit of rest, then we’re going to lock in,” he said.
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Spain, a powerhouse since the turn of the millennium, is trending downward, with only one NBA player on the roster at this point, but this is never a side to be taken lightly. Coached by former Raptors assistant Sergio Scariolo, who has led Spain to all kinds of podiums, this is always a crafty, determined side.
They might not be No. 2 in the world in FIBA’s rankings anymore on merit, but they will be a tough opponent for Canada.
It’s clear where Fernandez’s loyalties lie.
“It is just another game for me. Obviously, I bleed Canadian and I’m all for Canada,” Fernandez told reporters. “Those are the interest of my people right now. Obviously, I have a lot of respect for Spain. I know the coach well and the program. They’re awesome, great people.
“But at the end of the day, they’re the rival. We’re playing here in the Olympics to make all the Canadians proud of the way we play.
“Right now the only thing we see is a rival in front of us.”
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