Canada blazes through “Group of Death” to go 3-0

A balanced offensive approach, while suffocating on defence, propels Canada past Spain in 88-85 win to go undefeated in Group A. 

In the final game of group play for the men’s program, Team Canada faced a desperate Team Spain, who were in a win-or-go-home situation. Canada, the 9.5-point favourite, aimed to achieve an undefeated 3-0 record in the group round robin. Meanwhile, Team Spain was fighting for their Olympic lives.

Having beat Greece, but losing to Australia, Spain was still in a position to earn themselves a spot in the quarterfinals. If they won over Canada, they’d be 1st in the group, but if they lost, they’d be 4th and knocked out. Canada was certainly going to be in for their toughest match, their biggest test yet, as the number two ranked FIBA team in Spain, was not going to go down easily.

Canada stays strong on defence

The opening ten minutes showcased the high stakes for both teams, resulting in tight offensive play. Spain came in to the third game of group play after putting up 68 threes in the initial two games.

Canada did a good job defending in the first quarter as they were making Spain uncomfortable beyond the arc. Spain only connected on 2 of 11 3-point attempts in the opening quarter. One of which was a four point play, but like we have seen for the entire tournament, Canada’s defence was strong in the opening 10 minutes and the first frame closed in a 19-19 tie.

The second quarter saw a more relaxed and free-flowing offense from Team Canada as the initial anxiety dissipated. The Canadian second unit, particularly the backcourt, stepped up. Andrew Nembhard hit a crucial three-pointer to open the scoring for Canada, sparking a team, 30-point quarter.

Guards Jamal Murray and Andrew Nembhard made significant contributions off the bench, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 13 points at the break. Spain would go to zones, and different looks to get Shai off his game, but he was more or less unbothered. After the first half, Team Canada led by eleven, 49-38 after finding their groove on offence in the second.

Defensively, Canada continued making it hard for Spain to get their threes off, however, offensive rebounds and second-chance points from Spain’s size inside posed some challenges.

Entering the second half with an 11-point lead, Canada faced a low-scoring third quarter, collectively scoring only 32 points. The lead was then reduced to 8 points, with Canada up 64-56 going into the final quarter. Team Spain, fighting for their Olympic lives, showed resilience and kept the game close, and kept Canadians nervous, the entire game.

After a closing three minutes that felt like the length of a full game for Team Canada fans, RJ Barrett knocks down a crucial, clutch three-pointer and pushed Canada ahead 85-80 with 38 seconds remaining. Despite Spain getting it to a one-possession game, clutch shot making from Barrett and Nembhard, along with free throws from Gilgeous-Alexander, secured the win for Team Canada, 88-85.

Second Unit Offense steps up

Team Canada relied heavily on the scoring of RJ Barrett and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to get past Australia and Greece. Though both were efficient scorers again against Spain, Jamal Murray and Andrew Nembhard provided a much-needed offensive boost off the bench.

Murray showcased his playmaking ability with six assists in 16 minutes, while Nembhard had his best game of the Olympics with 18 points on 8/10 shooting. Nembhard was even crucial down the stretch, making a significant impact in the fourth quarter. Their effective play off the bench was crucial in lifting Canada past Spain.

Continued Defensive Dominance

Canada’s defense continues to impress. The team’s suffocating defense frustrated Spain on many possessions, forcing shot clock violations, securing 5 steals, and causing 15 turnovers.

Head Coach Jordi Fernandez and his staff executed excellent game planning, needing no adjustments as Canada’s defense shut down Spain’s three-point shooting, limiting them to 28% after they had nearly 40% in their first two games.

The perimeter defense, led by Dillon Brooks and Lu Dort, was instrumental in Canada’s victory and will be vital for the remainder of the Olympics.

Implications of the Win for Team Canada

With their win over Team Spain, Canada completed their sweep of the toughest group in the tournament. Already advanced to the quarterfinals, this undefeated record puts Canada in a favourable position for the knockout stage.

Going undefeated in Olympic group play is a special and difficult achievement, especially with the high level of international talent in todays game. Canada’s victories over Greece and two top-five FIBA-ranked teams, Spain and Australia, demonstrate their elite status in international basketball.

However, the job is far from over. Team Canada still faces a challenging road ahead to secure a medal. Their undefeated record positions them well for favourable matchups in the knockout stage, but the remaining group games will determine Canada’s path forward.

We will have to wait and see how the rest of the standings shake out to know who Canada will be facing in the quarterfinal and beyond.

Overall, the run for Team Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games thus far, has been successful, and been very fun to watch and follow.

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Up Next for Canada Basketball:

Women’s 3x3: Saturday August 3rd, 11:30am, vs Azerbaijan

Women’s 5x5: Sunday August 4th, 7:30am, vs Nigeria

Men’s 5x5: Tuesday August 6th, TBD