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With the NBA season just getting underway, we asked TSN hoops experts Jack Armstrong, Josh Lewenberg and Duane Watson a few burning questions about the year ahead. Today we asked: with so many new Canadian players entering the NBA and Andrew Wiggins on the way, where is Canada as a basketball nation and what are the next steps for the National team? Jacks take: It is really cool to watch the emergence of the sport of Basketball across Canada. Ive seen it happen on two different levels over the past 25+ years, first as an NCAA Division 1 Coach at Niagara for 10 Years and then for the past 15+ as a broadcaster in Canada. The Best is yet to come. The exposure to the sport is top-shelf and kids are getting better instruction and coaching than theyve ever had. The key will be the loyalty of the Canadian players to play for their country and succeed at the international level. There are lots of expectations now and with that comes the pressure. A strong fundamental base and demands on playing the game as a team will be paramount. There are Lots of talented young players emerging on the scene at the same time which is great yet a concern as well. These guys need to know how to sacrifice for the greater good and not allow the narrow-minded selfishness of youth to overtake whats good for the team. Who will be the winning veteran examples for them? Talent only gets you so far. Team play, toughness, role definition, maturity, selflessness and smarts will be the factors that have to become more and more evident each day. The potential is there -- now there must be a willingness to lay it all on the line and represent your nation with no strings attached and do it the right way for the right reasons. Im fascinated to see how it will all work out. Watsons take: The talent has already established itself, now its a matter of nurturing and developing it. Canada is a top five basketball country in terms of talent, however the mens global ranking at 25th in the world, by FIBA isnt far off. They havent been able to compete and win as a country, failing to qualify for the World Cup at the FIBA Americas this summer. Not to say they wont, but this "golden era" exists more on the NBA court than the international one. Excluding the US, Canada boasts the second most players in the league after France. With the season tipping off on Tuesday night, Cory Joseph (Spurs), Kelly Olynyk (Celtics), Joel Anthony (Heat), Tristan Thompson (Cavaliers), Steve Nash (Lakers), Robert Sacre (Lakers), Andrew Nicholson (Magic), and No. 1 draft pick Anthony Bennett (Cavaliers) were all on NBA rosters. Thats an unprecedented number of Canadians in the league. The Canadian team needs to develop chemistry, the bulk of the players are not only new to the program, but most are new to international basketball. Furthermore, they havent really played together, and while it may not happen in Rio at the Olympics, the players are committed and the program is definitely headed in the right direction. On the NBA court, the Canadian invasion will continue and its quite likely a Canadian will be playing in the All-Star Game in Toronto in 2016. Lewenbergs take: "This really is the golden age of Canadian basketball," Steve Nash famously proclaimed just as the Senior Mens National Team got set to embark on its first test in Venezuela this summer. Despite feelings of renewed optimism and legitimate signs of positive growth in the tournament, the FIBA Americas ended in familiar disappointment for Canada. However, as Nash and company have reminded us, this is just the beginning. It goes without saying now, because it has been said so many times in recent months, Canada is further along as a basketball nation than it has ever been. Entering his third year in the NBA, Tristan Thompson has exceeded all expectations with the Cavs, Cory Joseph cracked the playoff rotation in San Antonio last spring and Andrew Nicholson is poised for a breakout sophomore season with the Magic. Then there are Anthony Bennett, Kelly Olynyk and Andrew Wiggins who have played in zero NBA games and have yet to suit up for the Canadian senior team. And thats not to mention the rest of the countrys collegiate talent and young players turning heads north of the border every day. Nash was wrong, or exaggerating for effect. This isnt the golden age of Canadian basketball, not yet. But its coming and its not far off. Oakland Athletics Pro Shop . Cammalleri suffered a concussion in the Flames 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The 31-year-old forward did not travel with the team to Carolina. Athletics Jerseys China . The Italian side scored twice in a four-minute span in the second half to defeat former stars from S. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/.ca. Kerry, I hope you address Ron MacLeans comment during the second intermission of Game 4 in Montreal-Tampa series. Basically, he suggested that the NHL should not have used a referee from Quebec, following the Game 3 disputed non-goal, because the referee could be biased towards Montreal. Chris Bassitt Jersey . So it was understandable if he was a little shaky early in his return to the Texas Rangers rotation. He spent most of the outing searching for his best stuff, but still managed to shut down the struggling Minnesota Twins offence. Athletics Jerseys 2019 . This is not some token job for a prominent, popular former player. All of those areas need a lot of work, so Molitor is going to be busy. "Hes certainly got a history and knowledge and a high baseball IQ," general manager Terry Ryan said.Jim Popp wont have to go very far to check in on his first round CFL draft pick. With Popp caring for his wife who is recovering from a shark bite suffered in Hilton Head, South Carolina, Universite de Montreals David Foucault has done the general manager the favor of choosing a team just 20 minutes away for his NFL free agent tryout. “Thats the calculated risk we take,” admittted Popp of Foucaults decision to work out with the Carolina Panthers. “Im going to try to sneak in and see if I can watch him a little bit.” CFL agent Darren Gill calls the 6-foot-7 Foucault “electrifying,” with “stud freak athletic ability,” adding, “people gravitate to him and his sense of humour." Gill also confirmed Foucault -- who would have had the no. 1 NFL combine vertical jump for O-linemen-- drew interest from the Miami Dolphins along with several other NFL clubs. “What were comfortable with is he grew up an Alouette fan, he always wanted to be an Alouette and hes from our home town,” Popp said. “Hes one of the best players in the draft and we know if he doesnt stick in the NFL hell be happy to come to us.” The fact the no. 5 selection overall is a lifelong Alouettes fan whose favorite player is Anthony Calvillo is only a bonus. With the retirements of Andrew Woodruffe and Scott Flory, the Als still feel they have time to groom him at guard, with the succession plan to ultimately keep the tackle position Canadian, which currently remain the undisputed domains of Josh Bourke and Jeff Parrett. While defense was the Alouettes strength in 2013, co-ordinator Noel Thorpe has to be pleased three of the teams next four selections were invested on the defensive side, including 10th overall pick Andrew Lue of Queens, a possible Mike Edem clone. “Hes very physical, puts his hands on receivers,” Popp said. “We think he can have an impact immediately on special teams and can move around from corner to halfback and possibly to ‘Will or Sam linebacker.” Looking for talent in the middle and late rounds is a Popp speciality, and oncee again the only architect the Alouettes have known since their rebirth in 1996 is pleased with his third and fourth round picks.dddddddddddd “I call him ‘Quadzilla,” Popp said of James Tuck, a fourth rounder from York. “He has massive thighs. He may be able to play defensive end or linebacker for us.” Tuck has already realized a life-goal, becoming the first Lion since CFL veteran Ricky Foley (coincidentally the D-lineman who concussed Anthony Calvillo) to be drafted. “Im ecstatic, I cant even measure,” Tuck gushed over the phone soon after receiving a call from the Alouettes. “Foleys been pretty inspirational, taking me aside at spring workouts, showing me little things,” Tuck said. An admitted Argos fan in the past, Tuck has also trained with James Yurichuk.“I look up to him. Hes got a high motor and I like to think I have one as well.” Popps annual sleeper may be third round selection Jeff Finley from the University of Guelph. “Hes the ‘Klassen of this draft,” insisted the GM. “Michael Klassen took it to the next level for us last year and we really feel Finley is that guy.” Last November, Finley was cheering against the Als in their playoff loss to the Ti-Cats. Hed met several, including Henry Burris and as a St. Catherines, Ontario-native was a longtime Hamilton supporter. Finley promises to be a quick study on Alouette culture thanks to fellow Gryphon alums Ryan Bomben and Jake Piotrowski. Finleys defensive co-ordinator at Guelph was Kevin MacNeill, a former Alouette, who was with the team for all of three days on a free agent tryout. “I dont think I even had a cup of coffee,” MacNeill chuckled. But Finleys work ethic is no joke. “Hes extremely physical, quick and hardworking.” McNeill mentioned. Finley should also be a quick study since hes a science student studying advanced anatomy. “He knows his way around a cadaver,” revealed MacNeill. With that being the case, getting his hands on live quarterbacks should be no problem. ' ' '