Team USA basketball began their quest for the gold with a 120-65 blowout of Canada in an exhibition game in Las Vegas. Dwyane Wade looks to be recovered from his injuries, and Carmelo Anthony continues to play well under international rules, but there’s not a lot to be learned from this game. Canada sucks. Chris Sheridan of ESPN broke down Team USA’s defensive performance, and early on it looks like giving up uncontested shots and lack of size are the team’s weaknesses. Team USA will play Russia and Lithuania next week which will give us a better read on the squad.

Team USA, Canada, video, youtube

It’s hard to imagine a two time MVP that’s known for dropping dimes being called selfish, but that’s exactly what’s happening to the Phoenix Suns Steve Nash. The criticism isn’t coming from his teammates or coaching staff, it’s straight outta Canada. Some of our homies to the north have a problem with Nash skipping out on Canada Basketball.

But clearly there is large contingent of people who feel strongly about Nash’s decision not to play for Canada. There are roughly two camps: the first are those who look at the 10 or so summers he did play and figure he’s earned the right to say no. The second, and smaller group, figure he’s shirking his duty to his country and the sport in this country and he should be there, end of story, often citing the examples of Gretzky, Yzerman and Lemieux doing just that on the hockey side, late in their careers, possibly to their detriment.

I could make the argument either way, but I’m in the Steve Nash has earned the right to say no group. The people that feel Nash is being disloyal to Canada claim he used Canada Basketball to promote Steve Nash. First as a hungry up and coming kid, and again as an NBA vet.

Later, when Nash was in the NBA, the national team offered even more. While he was getting overlooked in Phoenix and booed in Dallas, he would come back to Canada in the summers and be reminded what it was like to be a key cog again and what it was like to have success on the basketball court again.

I understand where the people that want Steve Nash to play for Canada Basketball are coming from. He’s at the height of his game, and he would make Canada a legit team. The downside to this is the wear and tear on Steve Nash’s body. It can’t be a coincidence that Steve Nash’s first MVP season came after the summer he decided to rest, and Larry Bird challenged the NBA’s white players.

Nash is no traitor. Courtesy of Globe and Mail

Tags: Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns, NBA, Canada, Larry Bird