SAN JUAN

After three games here in (mostly) sunny Puerto Rico, Canada’s starting shooting guard and power forward (in the absence of Kelly Olynyk) were averaging a combined 6.3 points per game. Andrew Nicholson, of the Orlando Magic, had managed a paltry three points — total.

Yet, head coach Jay Triano opted not to kick his players while they were down, rather, he pointed out the positives they have been providing.

“I think both those guys are offensive weapons for us. We don’t really judge offensive play as much as we do the energy and effort at the defensive end of the floor,” Triano said.

“I think offence is something is going to come and go, but I give both of those guys credit because they’re really buying into what we’re doing on the defensive end of the floor and they’ve been very good that way.”

Stauskas and Nicholson had also been contributing 4.7 rebounds a game and Stauskas had been especially good defensively.

“I’m not concerned with Nik at all, I’m actually really pleased with what he’s done,” Triano continued.

“I think his energy at the defensive end and his length at the defensive end has caused a lot of guys problems. The international game is full of two guards that can really move and really shoot the basketball. And I’ve been more than happy with the way that he’s guarded. If his offence is struggling it might be because he and I have put a huge emphasis on his defensive play. But good shooters don’t lose it. He’s going to find his rhythm and I’m pleased with what he’s done so far.”

Stauskas was confident he’d bounce back.

“I’ve been playing basketball my whole life, so a few days where I’m struggling, it’s frustrating sometimes, but I’ve been practising my whole life, so I’m confident I’ll bounce back,” he said at shootaround on Wednesday.

But the return to form didn’t come later that evening. Stauskas missed a couple of wide open shots and went 0-for-3 in the first half.

However, Nicholson bounced back in a major way, breaking out for 11 of Canada’s 38 first-half points against Puerto Rico. Nicholson missed only one of his five attempts and drilled 3-of-4 from deep, while hauling in four boards, second only to Melvin Ejim’s six in the half.

Now, the trick will be getting everyone going at the same time.

“We know that they can both score the ball and we feel that if we’re a good defensive team, that will keep us around long enough to have different guys step up and make shots,” Triano said.

“We don’t expect everyone to be good offensively every game, but we do need to start building some confidence in the guys. They’re not alone, I don’t think our offence is really flowing right now. I think we’re going to need a couple days to work on it, but I like our energy and the effort we’re playing with at the defensive end of the floor for sure.”

Canada’s play in Puerto Rico was a bit of a 180 from what the silver-winning group did in Toronto at the Pan Am Games. That squad had a lethal offence, but its lapses defensively gave Triano and his staff fits at times.

This group is more of a throw-back to the stingy defensive Canadian teams of the recent past. The difference is, on paper, there is a lot more offensive ability on hand than ever before.

The progress didn’t come on Wednesday — Canada only managed 38 points on 32% shooting in the first half against a gritty bunch from Puerto Rico, with starters not named Nicholson going just 5-for-22 from the field.

Triano had been hoping that the first morning shootaround of the tournament for his team would lead to better efficiency on Wednesday, but that wasn’t the case.

With the most important part of the summer now just days away from commencing in Mexico, for Canada, there remains much work still to be done.

NO RISKING OLYNYK

SAN JUAN — Canada continues to play it safe with starting centre Kelly Olynyk.

The Boston Celtics player was held out of a third straight tuneup game on Wednesday after suffering a left knee injury earlier in the week when an opponent went through a screen to clip him.

Asked at shootaround by the Toronto Sun whether Olynyk would be ready to go for next week’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Mexico City, head coach Triano replied, “I’m confident, yes.”

Triano doesn’t expect Olynyk to be behind when it’s time to re-integrate with his teammates because he knows the systems well.

“Kelly’s basketball IQ is extremely high. He stepped into practices when we were with the Pan Am team and it was easy, it was fluid. I think his ability to pick up what we’ve done, his basketball IQ is high so he’s watched everything we’ve done, he’s itching to get out there. We’re just being precautionary with him right now because this (tournament) doesn’t really mean anything compared to when the games start next week.”