U.S.A. Olympic Basketball

[Roy H.]

Tatum highlights from yesterday's game v Nigeria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gifRRXH1dxM

That missed layup at the end of the game was costly.

I do like that he’s in the closing lineup.  No team should be able to stop Durant, Tatum and Lilliard.

[Goldstar88]

Team USA vs Australia tonight(07/12)at 08:00pm ET.

Game is on NBCSN

[18isGREATERthan72]

Any thoughts on Tatum being in the post game presser with Pop?  It was Tatum and Pop.  Could this be Tatum being rewarded for showing up for FIBA last time?  Is USAB trying to make Tatum the face of USA Basketball moving forward?

[Ed Monix]

I hope that FIBA look at replicating the same rules soccer has for Olympic selection;

‘Teams participating in the men's competition are restricted to under-23 players (born on or after 1 January) with a maximum of three overage players allowed.’

This strategy is perfect as it takes the decision out of the players hands. I’m sure most stars don’t want to do multiple games, but I’m sure due to sponsor pressure they have to.
 
With the under 23 rule, talented youth get an opportunity that they use to have, before 1992, in showcasing their skills and raising their profile. By also allowing 3 over age selections, nations can select players who can mentor the young team and it also help late blooming talent, whom would otherwise not qualify for the under 23 rule.

[Goldstar88]

Any thoughts on Tatum being in the post game presser with Pop?  It was Tatum and Pop.  Could this be Tatum being rewarded for showing up for FIBA last time?  Is USAB trying to make Tatum the face of USA Basketball moving forward?

Thoughts....Pop loves him some Jayson Tatum. 

The last time Gregg Popovich had Jayson Tatum in his USA basketball rotation, the Celtics forward sprained his left ankle on the last play of an overtime win over Turkey and missed the last six games of competition in the 2019 World Cup.

“We were hugely disappointed when he got hurt, let me put it that way,” the U.S. men’s Olympic coach said during a Tuesday Zoom conference. “He was going to be our go-to-guy, and he was just finding his legs so-to-speak “

He is, in the San Antonio coach’s estimation, a far different player from the one he first coached.

“Not totally confident, not realizing maybe how good he could really be at both ends of the floor,” Popovich said of the Tatum of two years ago. “Probably a concentration on offense, like most NBA players when they come in. During that time to now, under Brad’s tutelage, he’s become more of a two-way player, he’s way more confident, he’s developed more skills. On top of that he’s more aggressive and knows he can dominate people. So he’s much different coming into this situation than before.

[Goldstar88]

Totally forgot about Dante Exum... #5 overall draft pick and a complete bust.

[gouki88]

Totally forgot about Dante Exum... #5 overall draft pick and a complete bust.

Such an unbelievably injury-prone player. Plays all 82 games his rookie season, misses the entire next season, and is basically shot forever.

[PAOBoston]

Australia has a pretty solid roster

[liam]

Australia has a pretty solid roster

They look good.

[PAOBoston]

Patty Mills just cooking Durant was not something I expected. Lol.

[Goldstar88]

Wow...

[liam]

Patty Mills just cooking Durant was not something I expected. Lol.

The USA has all those scorers and can't score more than 83 points?

[liam]

Too many cooks, not enough soup!

[Kiorrik]

Patty Mills just cooking Durant was not something I expected. Lol.

The USA has all those scorers and can't score more than 83 points?

It's a different game almost entirely.

Way fewer fouls called. Way rougher defence.

Think 80's or 90's ball.

[liam]

Patty Mills just cooking Durant was not something I expected. Lol.

The USA has all those scorers and can't score more than 83 points?

It's a different game almost entirely.

Way fewer fouls called. Way rougher defence.

Think 80's or 90's ball.

Granted but they have some of the best shooters in the world. 83 points is weak for those guys.