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National Post
National Post
27 Jul 2024


NextImg:Team Canada won - barely - and didn't look great doing so against Greece

On the first Saturday of the Summer Olympics, there was Canadian angst, Canadian celebration, and a little of both in a basketball win that didn’t leave a great first impression.

This was the beginning for Summer McIntosh, ostensibly the end for the women’s soccer team and in between a reason to get excited and to doubt the first Olympic men’s basketball game in 24 years.

In other words, Canada was all over the place — with no real hope left for the penalized soccer team, a fine beginning for young Summer the Swimmer and a gulp, a win, barely, by Team Canada, the basketball team with all this talent and after Saturday too much reason for doubt.

Team Canada barely hung on for an 86-79 win over Giannis Antetokounmpo and Team Greece and in so many ways looked like a team that wasn’t particularly well prepared, smart or organized or on top of their skills — especially considering the expectations of this group heading into the Games.

The win was a win. That was all right. It wasn’t a lot better than all right. Three Canadians — Dillon Brooks, Lu Dort, Dwight Powell — all fouled out. Jamal Murray, the NBA champion, wasn’t particularly sharp for Canada. The brilliant Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander had a decent game, especially late, but nothing close to what he’s capable of.

Maybe only R.J. Barrett played to the level expected of him — and for Canada to be a factor in this tournament, it is going to have a play a whole lot better than Jordy Fernandez’s team played against Greece.