The Canadian and American national men's basketball teams poised to compete for medals at the upcoming Paris summer Olympics played an exhibition match last night in Las Vegas.

Canada started hot holding a 7 point lead after the first quarter due to some solid defensive play and some obvious rust on the US side. Once the second units were in the game the US took over and never looked back. While Canada can boast a very solid starting 5 with SGA, Murray, Barrett, Brooks and Powell, they simply don't have the depth to compete with a US team that is filled with future hall of famers. Canada needed to shoot better from 3 to stay in this game and that simply didn't happen.

The US ended up winning 86-72.

Unless the entire US team gets food poising before the gold medal game or something along those lines I don't see any way they aren't winning gold.

Canada on the other hand has the talent to potentially compete for a medal but will face a treacherous path having to escape by far the most difficult group in the Olympics where they are pitted against Australia, Spain and Greece. So, their future is much less certain. I could see them making a run and potentially vying for a medal but also see them failing to get out of the group stage as they face strong national programs that have played together a lot longer than the few weeks the Canadian team will have under their belt as a unit.

Regardless of the outcome. I am looking forward to the Olympic basketball action and will be cheering on Team Canada.

Sats for all, GR