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TSN Raptors Reporter

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MEXICO CITY - Although they're preparing for a much higher level of competition than they faced in Puerto Rico, where they went an undefeated 4-0 in exhibition play, Team Canada can't be fully sure of what lies ahead in Mexico City.

After all, their opponents might have a competitive advantage when it comes to scouting.

Broken up into two groups, 10 teams will compete for two spots in next summer's Rio Olympics when the FIBA Americas Championship opens next week. While the Canadians may not know an awful lot about their opponents, the book is out on them.

Most teams feature a small handful of NBA players, at best. There may not be as much intel, not as much tape available on the rest of their players. Many of the other coaches withhold their roster and injury updates until just before they're obligated to release that information. Their advantage could very well be the element of surprise.

Canada does not have that luxury. Eight of their 12 players have NBA experience under their belt. They're known commodities with scouting reports available at the click of a button. They've also set the bar high for themselves after winning their first Tuto Marchand Cup in San Juan last week. There's nowhere to hide, not that they're looking to blend in.

"Teams are going to start to ramp it up," head coach Jay Triano said following an afternoon practice on Saturday, the team's first since arriving in Mexico City. "And also I believe we have a little bit of a target on our backs. We're a team that went 4-0 in that tournament, so people are going to be gearing up and giving us they're best shot."

"We have to be prepared for that, we can't rest on any kind of laurels that we have, or any good feeling that we have about where we are. We've got to keep getting better."

The four teams Canada faced in exhibition will be competing at the upcoming Olympic qualifying event, but they could each look very different when and if they were to match up again. Dominican Republic rested 10-year NBA veteran Francisco Garcia, who has burned Canada in the past, while Puerto Rico was without injured former NBAer Renaldo Balkman and welcomed back a rusty J.J. Barea (the Mavs guard was suspended for the first two games of the tournament). Argentina didn't flip the switch until the fourth quarter, finally getting physical and utilizing some of the dirty tricks that they've picked up over many successful years playing on the world stage. This time around, the Argentines may be out for blood when they open against Canada on Tuesday.

"I mean, I don't know if we played one team that played their whole lineup in that tournament," Celtics centre Kelly Olynyk said. "So you expect to see guns a-blazing, they're going to be throwing everything they have at you. You know, after winning that tournament, we're the team to beat now."

"I think everybody got a taste of what other teams are going to be, what they're going to do offensively, what they're going to do defensively, so now it becomes a little more technical," Triano added. "The grind, we had four games in four days, we're going to have to do that twice with just a day in between, so it becomes a bit of a mental grind as well. So, how are we going to handle that, how are we going to handle the change in location?"

"We found a way to be very good in Puerto Rico, but all that doesn't matter. Today is a brand new day, this is a brand new tournament and it starts in a couple of days and we've got to be prepared for that."

Olynyk on the mend

After sitting out of the final three games of exhibition, Olynyk returned to court Saturday and was able to participate in roughly 80 per cent of practice, according to Triano.

The team's starting centre injured his left knee in the fourth quarter of their first tuneup game last Sunday when one of Argentina's players went under the screen he was setting and came down on his leg. The seven-footer had to be helped off the floor and hobbled to the bench where he received treatment.

Fortunately for Team Canada, and the Celtics, it looked worse than it was.

"I thought he looked good," said Triano. "I think he's still a little bit tender, a little bit sore. We'll monitor it over the next couple of days and hopefully he's ready to go, but he's made great progress thanks to our support team."

"I'm definitely getting better each day," Olynyk echoed. "I wasn't doing this back on Tuesday, Wednesday [or] Thursday. So that's definitely a positive sign."

Last week, Triano had said they expect to have Olynyk back for the first game of the FIBA Americas. On Saturday they sounded a little less optimistic, although their hope is he'll be ready to go. It will depend on how he feels after getting some work in over the coming days.

"I'm just taking it one day at a time," said the 24-year-old. "We'll see what happens. If I'm ready, I'm ready but I don't want to be detrimental, I want to help the team. So when I'm ready I'll be back out there."

"We had eight days of training camp in Toronto. I played the first game. I mean I missed three games, that's not really a huge deal. I definitely think I'll be able to get back out there. It's not like I forgot how to play basketball."