Photo via FIBA website
Canada’s men’s basketball team defeated Lebanon with a score of 128-73 in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. It was a balanced effort but RJ Barrett and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were the stars of the game for Canada, with Barrett scoring 17 points and Gilgeous-Alexander contributing 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Canada’s defense was strong throughout the game, holding Lebanon to just 73 points.
In the first quarter, Canada took an early lead with a score of 29-13. They continued to dominate in the second quarter, outscoring Lebanon 37-17. By halftime, Canada had a comfortable lead. In the second half, Canada continued to play well, scoring 62 points and holding Lebanon to just 43 points.
The win over Lebanon is a positive sign for Canada’s men’s basketball team, which has been underperforming to the country's high expectations in recent years. The team has a deep and star-studded roster that includes NBA players such as RJ Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Kelly Olynyk. The team now has even higher expectations for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup after 2-0 and is aiming to bring home Canada’s first-ever medal from this tournament.
Canada’s success in the tournament can be attributed to their strong defense and balanced offense. In their first two games of the tournament, they have held their opponents to an average of just 69 points per game while scoring an average of 111.5 points per game. The team has also been sharing the ball well, with multiple players contributing to their overall success. Canada had 9 players score double figures in the blow out victory.
The win over Lebanon is also significant because it shows that Canada is no longer in the passenger seat but is now driving the car. The team is taking a more proactive
approach to their games and is playing
with confidence and determination. With their strong performance in the tournament so far, it will be interesting to see how they fare in future games. I believe aside from the loaded roster, the new Bench Boss, Jordi Fernandez has been really getting a lot out of the Canadian boys. FIBA has had a microphone in the huddles and being able to hear the whole team's buy-in and engagement when he speaks is oh so promising.
In conclusion, Canada’s men’s basketball team defeated Lebanon with a score of 128-73 in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The win is a positive sign for Canada’s team, which has one more match in Group H vs. Latvia. With their deep and star-studded roster, strong defense, and balanced offense, it'll be an exciting time to lock into Canada basketball as a fan. Of course you'll need to stock up at your local No Frills on coffee due to the early start but trust me, with the boys clicking like this, it's worth the wake up call.
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