The 2014 womenB次元官网网址檚 world basketball championship was a coming out party for Canada. The Canadians roared past France and China in the elimination round in Turkey, finishing fifth in Lisa ThomaidisB次元官网网址檚 world debut as the teamB次元官网网址檚 head coach.
B次元官网网址淭hat 2014 worlds was really a huge moment for us,B次元官网网址� Thomaidis said. B次元官网网址淚t was a bit of a B次元官网网址榟ere we areB次元官网网址� kind of moment, like weB次元官网网址檙e coming on the scene and making people stand up and take notice.B次元官网网址�
The four years since their best world championship finish in 28 years have seen Canada solidify its spot among the worldB次元官网网址檚 top teams, and on Saturday, Canada tips off the World Cup in Tenerife, Spain ranked a program-high fifth.
B次元官网网址淚 think we probably took some teams by surprise at that point in time,B次元官网网址� Thomaidis said. B次元官网网址滲ut 2014, not too many expectations, and 2018 I would say thereB次元官网网址檚 quite a few expectations.B次元官网网址�
Indeed, Canada has been mentioned as a legitimate medal contender. The teamB次元官网网址檚 target is to win a quarterfinal game, a step the Canadians have not been able to take since the teamB次元官网网址檚 bronze at the 1986 world championships.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a far different team than took the floor four years ago. Several veterans retired after CanadaB次元官网网址檚 heartbreaking seventh-place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Several young players such as Kia Nurse, Nirra Fields and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe have injected a big dose of athleticism. Once known as a strong defensive team, theyB次元官网网址檝e allowed Canada to push the pace on both ends.
B次元官网网址淲e were holding our own (in 2014) with the past style of play, we were very disciplined at both ends of the floor, we werenB次元官网网址檛 playing with a very fast pace, but we were disciplined and we were locked in defensively,B次元官网网址� Thomaidis said. B次元官网网址淚n terms of personality, in terms of style of play, weB次元官网网址檙e quite different from that 2014 team. Trying to play much more up-tempo, trying to extend our defence, and having some dynamic players on the roster certainly changed the way weB次元官网网址檝e been able to play, so thatB次元官网网址檚 been fun.B次元官网网址�
The Canadians open the 16-country tournament versus No. 20 Greece on Saturday, then play South Korea (No. 16) on Sunday, and France (No. 3) on Tuesday.
Canada is taking no team lightly. The World Cup is B次元官网网址渟uch a tough competition,B次元官网网址� Thomaidis said.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no easy games, so it is tough to do well in this tournament, as it should be, itB次元官网网址檚 the world championships. Teams that do well have to string together a number of very very solid games, and thereB次元官网网址檚 no chance to get through if youB次元官网网址檙e not playing really well. And that really applies to us. When weB次元官网网址檙e good, we can be pretty good. When weB次元官网网址檙e not playing well, we can be beat by anyone. So thatB次元官网网址檚 sort of the challenge that weB次元官网网址檙e faced with right now.B次元官网网址�
Canada faces a Greek team thatB次元官网网址檚 led by 39-year-old Evina Maltsi, a former WNBA player and Eurobasket MVP. Greece, said Thomaidis, can B次元官网网址渞eally ride the emotion, and put together a very strong game.B次元官网网址�
The Canadians expect their stiffest test to come against archrival France, which dispatched Canada in the quarterfinals at the Rio Olympics. The two met in a friendly last week, the French fighting off a fourth-quarter rally to beat Canada 72-68. Neither country though showed its full hand.
B次元官网网址淭hey looked like they had a pretty small playbook B次元官网网址� they really are just kinda playing with you, and seeing what youB次元官网网址檙e doing,B次元官网网址� Thomaidis said. B次元官网网址滻 imagine that next time we play them it will be quite different in terms of the actions that they run, and the number of minutes each player gets and things like that. WeB次元官网网址檒l see.B次元官网网址�
The 46-year-old Thomaidis was a longtime assistant to Allison McNeill before McNeill retired in 2013. SheB次元官网网址檚 also a five-time Canada West coach of the year and two-time U Sports national coach of the year with the University of Saskatchewan.
ThomaidisB次元官网网址檚 professional playing career was cut short by a chondral fracture of the patella and femur while playing in Greece.
B次元官网网址淯nfortunate and unlucky, but at the same time super lucky,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址滺ad that not happened, I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be in coaching.B次元官网网址�
https://www.kelownacapnews.com/sports/canada-mens-basketball-to-play-china-in-b-c-next-month/
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Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press
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