Point Guard Questions Hover Around TK in Canada
Uh-oh.
Tyler Kepkay and his fellow Canadians experienced a power outage while dropping the second of two exhibition games against New Zealand last night, reviving questions about whether superstar Steve Nash might rejoin the team if it qualifies for the Beijing Olympics.
"The guys on the team would love to have him," coach Leo Rautins said. "Jermaine Anderson said he would go pick him up from the airport."
If that were to happen, Anderson probably could drop Kepkay off at the same time. For while The National Post's Eric Koreen notes that Kepkay is the only "true" point guard on the team, the Utah senior is a young backup -- Rautins used two converted point guards ahead of him against the Tall Blacks -- who has little international experience. He probably would be first to get bumped from the 12-man roster if Nash returned.
"Canada lacks a true elite-level point guard to make the offence hum," Koreen concluded after the Canadians shot just 34 percent in the 77-69 loss in Toronto, three days after a 27-point victory over the same team. Team Canada plays Lebanon tonight before heading to Germany for two more exhibitions ahead of its final Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece.
Of course, maybe Kepkay will get a shot to make a difference, if Anderson and Andy Rautins (the coach's son) can't get the job done in its upcoming games.
Tyler Kepkay and his fellow Canadians experienced a power outage while dropping the second of two exhibition games against New Zealand last night, reviving questions about whether superstar Steve Nash might rejoin the team if it qualifies for the Beijing Olympics.
"The guys on the team would love to have him," coach Leo Rautins said. "Jermaine Anderson said he would go pick him up from the airport."
If that were to happen, Anderson probably could drop Kepkay off at the same time. For while The National Post's Eric Koreen notes that Kepkay is the only "true" point guard on the team, the Utah senior is a young backup -- Rautins used two converted point guards ahead of him against the Tall Blacks -- who has little international experience. He probably would be first to get bumped from the 12-man roster if Nash returned.
"Canada lacks a true elite-level point guard to make the offence hum," Koreen concluded after the Canadians shot just 34 percent in the 77-69 loss in Toronto, three days after a 27-point victory over the same team. Team Canada plays Lebanon tonight before heading to Germany for two more exhibitions ahead of its final Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece.
Of course, maybe Kepkay will get a shot to make a difference, if Anderson and Andy Rautins (the coach's son) can't get the job done in its upcoming games.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 10:57 AM |
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