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59 minutes ago, BGleas said:

Outside of Durant, this is a pretty likeable team. Not the most talented the US has fielded, but Lillard, Tatum, Beal, LaVine, etc., are all likeable guys. 

Yeah....I'm not going to lie....I have no clue who is even on the team other than the couple you mentioned. I know in years past it was Lebron, KD, Carmelo, Westbrook etc etc...so maybe some figures that were polarizing. I don't get hating on this team that is suppose to represent the country. Heck I don't like a lot of the women on the USWST but I don't root against them. 🤷‍♂️

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1 hour ago, BGleas said:

I think for Steph it has largely been timing. In 2012 he was still ascending and had only played 26 games that season because of ankle issues. 

In 2016 he had just come off two Finals appearances in a row and that tough Game 7 loss to Cleveland right before the Olympics. 

I know other guys (LeBron specifically) have played even after long playoff runs, but some guys prioritize rest, especially when banged up. 

Not sure why he isn't playing this time, especially given that he had off from March through Nov in 2020. 

I know in 2016 he also had an MCL sprain against Houston which clearly effected him the rest of that playoff run....including the finals against the Cavs which was why he was so limited and couldn't shake his defenders that series. As far as this year goes....who knows. I mean winning an olympic gold medal when you are on basically the most loaded roster ever isn't really something to brag about etc. Add COVID and all the other stuff he is doing in the media now with his endorsements etc he probably just doesn't want to take that time away from his family after the condensed year we just had. Hard to say....also he is entering a contract year...so there is that to worry about until he get's his extention.

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1 hour ago, dgambill said:

Yeah....I'm not going to lie....I have no clue who is even on the team other than the couple you mentioned. I know in years past it was Lebron, KD, Carmelo, Westbrook etc etc...so maybe some figures that were polarizing. I don't get hating on this team that is suppose to represent the country. Heck I don't like a lot of the women on the USWST but I don't root against them. 🤷‍♂️

I dont know, I think that 2012 team with LeBron, Wade, Carmelo, Chris Paul, Durant and Kobe as the elderstatesman was probably our best and most fun Olympic team since The Dream Team. 

That was a super likeable and ultra talented group. 

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50 minutes ago, BGleas said:

I dont know, I think that 2012 team with LeBron, Wade, Carmelo, Chris Paul, Durant and Kobe as the elderstatesman was probably our best and most fun Olympic team since The Dream Team. 

That was a super likeable and ultra talented group. 

That was basically before Lebron and the LEDISION, Durant and his move to the Warriors...and basically the modern twittersphere where we got to know what these guys really think and thus the public fallout when their personal beliefs/ideas melted into public's perception of them. Agree amazing team of some of the most talented basketball players IN THEIR PRIME we've seen.....92 Dream team wasn't in their prime for their best players even if it was the greatest ever assembled.

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4 hours ago, dgambill said:

That was basically before Lebron and the LEDISION, Durant and his move to the Warriors...and basically the modern twittersphere where we got to know what these guys really think and thus the public fallout when their personal beliefs/ideas melted into public's perception of them. Agree amazing team of some of the most talented basketball players IN THEIR PRIME we've seen.....92 Dream team wasn't in their prime for their best players even if it was the greatest ever assembled.

Imagine if they were in their prime. They were already winning by something ridiculous like 40pts on average. 

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34 minutes ago, Zlinedavid said:

Imagine if they were in their prime. They were already winning by something ridiculous like 40pts on average. 

Oh no doubt…but the competition was much more inferior for teams outside the US back then compared to now. Almost every team qualified has multiple nba players on them…the quality is definitively better world wide today then 30 years ago. That said the Dream team was hardly playing max effort…not even really trying hard.

Edited by dgambill
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It's always interesting to me, how for example you would never give the ball the Paddy Mills in crunch time of an NBA game, but in the Olympics he's like going one-on-one breaking down Kevin Durant and carrying Australia. 

Just using him as an example, as there are plenty of other guys from other countries where this happens. 

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1 minute ago, BGleas said:

It's always interesting to me, how for example you would never give the ball the Paddy Mills in crunch time of an NBA game, but in the Olympics he's like going one-on-one breaking down Kevin Durant. 

Just using him as an example, as there are plenty of other guys from other countries where this happens. 

Yep and I know I haven’t watched every minute but Tatum looks REALLY rusty…and he totally fell asleep on defense there. We have plenty of scorers out there…wonder why not put another defensive specialist in there.

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2 minutes ago, dgambill said:

Yep and I know I haven’t watched every minute but Tatum looks REALLY rusty…and he totally fell asleep on defense there. We have plenty of scorers out there…wonder why not put another defensive specialist in there.

Pop changed the starting lineup tonight and it seemed to work well. He started Jaremi Grant and Draymond for Tatum and Bam. 

With Lillard, Beal, Durant and Tatum that was a lot of of guys that needed the ball, and Tatum was a little redundant with Durant. 

But, we're back to those 4 guys together in crunchtime and it doesn't seem to be working. 

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Just now, BGleas said:

Pop changed the starting lineup tonight and it seemed to work well. He started Jaremi Grant and Draymond for Tatum and Bam. 

With Lillard, Beal, Durant and Tatum that was a lot of of guys that needed the ball, and Tatum was a little redundant with Durant. 

But, we're back to those 4 guys together in crunchtime and it doesn't seem to be working. 

Yeah I’m not hating on Tatum…just not his best game. I obviously like Tatum.

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Just now, dgambill said:

Yeah I’m not hating on Tatum…just not his best game. I obviously like Tatum.

I didn't think you were. I agreed with the move to separate he and Durant. 

Tatum was the one guy of the "Big 4" that played well versus Nigeria. 

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Doesn't sound like the U.S. is am overwhelming favorite for gold.

I get it...just exhibition games, but literally, the U.S. was 54-2 in exhibition games prior to the current 0-2 streak.  I wouldn't even call them a lock for the podium after the last two games.  Every team will be giving them their best.

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34 minutes ago, FKIM01 said:

Doesn't sound like the U.S. is am overwhelming favorite for gold.

I get it...just exhibition games, but literally, the U.S. was 54-2 in exhibition games prior to the current 0-2 streak.  I wouldn't even call them a lock for the podium after the last two games.  Every team will be giving them their best.

I think they get it together. A lot of rust..a lot of standing around watching guys go 1-1. Pop can do better than this. And losing should motivate guys to listen. Might be best thing for them. I still not happy with the makeup of the team though. They miss Holiday defense. I think they could use some more of that. Maybe a Smart or similar type that can lock down…guys like Lillard and Beal and Booker and Lavine just too redundant imo. I’m sure @BGleas and other nba experts might know a better makeup but something doesn’t look right at the moment.

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7 hours ago, FKIM01 said:

Doesn't sound like the U.S. is am overwhelming favorite for gold.

I get it...just exhibition games, but literally, the U.S. was 54-2 in exhibition games prior to the current 0-2 streak.  I wouldn't even call them a lock for the podium after the last two games.  Every team will be giving them their best.

 Going back to the  2019 World Cup Team USA has lost four of its past five games. They have also lost two in a row to the Aussies, if they want to win the gold they have a lot of work to do.

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30 minutes ago, FKIM01 said:

Didn't someone recently post about this game and how the NBA came back and whipped the Olympic team the next game after one of the college guys trash talked Bird?  

No actually if I remember correctly Bob Knight never lost an exhibition with that Olympic team. I think you are talking about a world championships team or another one because Knight never lost any of those official exhibitions nor in the olympics with that team. I remember the story you said and maybe someone will remember the year and team. The game above the Olympic team destroyed Bird and the Allstars by 15.

 

edit: here you go… http://www.apbr.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3237

Edited by dgambill
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8 hours ago, dgambill said:

No actually if I remember correctly Bob Knight never lost an exhibition with that Olympic team. I think you are talking about a world championships team or another one because Knight never lost any of those official exhibitions nor in the olympics with that team. I remember the story you said and maybe someone will remember the year and team. The game above the Olympic team destroyed Bird and the Allstars by 15.

 

edit: here you go… http://www.apbr.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3237

One glaring mistake in that link....the games were in Los Angeles, not Montreal.

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