2024 Olympics

[A Future of Stevens]

The anti-Celtic:

Anthony Edwards on fit with his future HOF [Olympic] teammates: ?I?m still the No. 1 option?They got to fit in around me, that?s how I feel.?

Yeesh.  On that roster he?ll be lucky to get off the bench.

I was listening today to an old interview I downloaded with Jameer Nelson, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson. It was done around the time of the last Team USA. They were all amazed at Anthony Edwards and how he became "the guy" on that team. So quickly & completely. Everyone was deferring to him. They all saw him as the supreme talent on that Team USA.

Ant should have this confidence coming in. He has earned it.

If it was the 2022-23 World Cup team, I can see why he was the guy:

https://www.usab.com/teams/5x5-mens-world-cup/roster

That would explain why we came in 4th in that tourney. Not much scoring outside Edwards and Brunson. I'm not sure Paolo was a true blue scorer at that point. Big difference between now and last year I am sure.

[Amonkey]

Lots of strong teams not playing. Slovenia, Latvia, Bahamas, Lithuania... It's interesting how deep a World Cup of Basketball would be.

[ozgod]

Lots of strong teams not playing. Slovenia, Latvia, Bahamas, Lithuania... It's interesting how deep a World Cup of Basketball would be.

Didn't they just have one in 2023? USA came 4th if I recall, after losing to Canada. Germany beat Serbia to win it.

https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/groups

[Donoghus]

The Cooper Flagg highlights against Team USA squad are pretty impressive. A sample

https://x.com/yahoosports/status/1810425745937993812?s=46&t=cFAQIuWEg12FaJRo2itehw

[Who]

Josh Lewenberg. Canada?s Olympic roster is set : Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk, Lu Dort, Dwight Powell, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Andrew Nembhard, Trey Lyles, Khem Birch, Melvin Ejim

That is an impressive roster for Canada

G: J Murray, A Nembhard
G: SGA, NAW
F: RJ Barrett, Dort
F: Dillon Brooks
C: K Olynyk, D Powell, T Lyles, K Birch

I don't know who Melvin Ejim is. A bit disappointed Zach Edey isn't there. A huge body in the middle.

I saw a quote from SGA talking about playing with Jamal Murray. SGA said it is his job to drive and J Murray's job to shoot. I was watching a game from the 1976 Finals a while ago. Heinsohn said they traded Westphal because he was a shooter and so too was Jo Jo White. They were too similar. They needed a driver to give the offense dribble penetration. So they opted for Charlie Scott. To give the offense better balance. A driver and a shooter. Dynamic guard play.

You gotta like the defensive forwards Dort & D Brooks. Then RJ Barrett. Can go big with Olynyk shifting to PF. If Z Edey was there, that would be doubly interesting. Maybe not big enough with Z Edey. All those centers are all on the smaller side. D Powell and T Lyles are undersized centers with the body of a PF but without skill-level of a PF.

Nembhard and NAW off the bench. Great bench.

[Surferdad]

Where can I catch USA vs. Canada tonight? ESPN and NBATV seem to be covering the Cali SL.

Edit: What is FS1?

[Celtics2021]

Where can I catch USA vs. Canada tonight? ESPN seems to be covering the Cali SL.

Edit: What is FS1?

Fox Sports 1.  There is also Fox Sports 2.

[Surferdad]

Where can I catch USA vs. Canada tonight? ESPN seems to be covering the Cali SL.

Edit: What is FS1?

Fox Sports 1.  There is also Fox Sports 2.

I figured. The weird thing about my Comcast/xfinity package is that I can watch some pre-recorded FS1 events, but I can?t find the broadcast channel. EDIT: Found it. Channel 1208 in Boston area. Game starts at 10:30pm

[Birdman]

I?m surprised that Bronny wasn?t name as a replacement for Leonard 😂😂😂

[W8ting2McHale]

Josh Lewenberg. Canada?s Olympic roster is set : Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk, Lu Dort, Dwight Powell, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Andrew Nembhard, Trey Lyles, Khem Birch, Melvin Ejim

That is an impressive roster for Canada

G: J Murray, A Nembhard
G: SGA, NAW
F: RJ Barrett, Dort
F: Dillon Brooks
C: K Olynyk, D Powell, T Lyles, K Birch

I don't know who Melvin Ejim is. A bit disappointed Zach Edey isn't there. A huge body in the middle.

I saw a quote from SGA talking about playing with Jamal Murray. SGA said it is his job to drive and J Murray's job to shoot. I was watching a game from the 1976 Finals a while ago. Heinsohn said they traded Westphal because he was a shooter and so too was Jo Jo White. They were too similar. They needed a driver to give the offense dribble penetration. So they opted for Charlie Scott. To give the offense better balance. A driver and a shooter. Dynamic guard play.

You gotta like the defensive forwards Dort & D Brooks. Then RJ Barrett. Can go big with Olynyk shifting to PF. If Z Edey was there, that would be doubly interesting. Maybe not big enough with Z Edey. All those centers are all on the smaller side. D Powell and T Lyles are undersized centers with the body of a PF but without skill-level of a PF.

Nembhard and NAW off the bench. Great bench.

Pretty solid even without Andrew Wiggins and KO is team captain. I wonder if Memphis asked Edey to spend his time getting ready for his rookie NBA season?

[ozgod]

Josh Lewenberg. Canada?s Olympic roster is set : Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk, Lu Dort, Dwight Powell, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Andrew Nembhard, Trey Lyles, Khem Birch, Melvin Ejim

That is an impressive roster for Canada

G: J Murray, A Nembhard
G: SGA, NAW
F: RJ Barrett, Dort
F: Dillon Brooks
C: K Olynyk, D Powell, T Lyles, K Birch

I don't know who Melvin Ejim is. A bit disappointed Zach Edey isn't there. A huge body in the middle.

I saw a quote from SGA talking about playing with Jamal Murray. SGA said it is his job to drive and J Murray's job to shoot. I was watching a game from the 1976 Finals a while ago. Heinsohn said they traded Westphal because he was a shooter and so too was Jo Jo White. They were too similar. They needed a driver to give the offense dribble penetration. So they opted for Charlie Scott. To give the offense better balance. A driver and a shooter. Dynamic guard play.

You gotta like the defensive forwards Dort & D Brooks. Then RJ Barrett. Can go big with Olynyk shifting to PF. If Z Edey was there, that would be doubly interesting. Maybe not big enough with Z Edey. All those centers are all on the smaller side. D Powell and T Lyles are undersized centers with the body of a PF but without skill-level of a PF.

Nembhard and NAW off the bench. Great bench.

Pretty solid even without Andrew Wiggins and KO is team captain. I wonder if Memphis asked Edey to spend his time getting ready for his rookie NBA season?

I'd say there was a fair bit of pressure applied.

[blink]

Josh Lewenberg. Canada?s Olympic roster is set : Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk, Lu Dort, Dwight Powell, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Andrew Nembhard, Trey Lyles, Khem Birch, Melvin Ejim

That is an impressive roster for Canada

G: J Murray, A Nembhard
G: SGA, NAW
F: RJ Barrett, Dort
F: Dillon Brooks
C: K Olynyk, D Powell, T Lyles, K Birch

I don't know who Melvin Ejim is. A bit disappointed Zach Edey isn't there. A huge body in the middle.

I saw a quote from SGA talking about playing with Jamal Murray. SGA said it is his job to drive and J Murray's job to shoot. I was watching a game from the 1976 Finals a while ago. Heinsohn said they traded Westphal because he was a shooter and so too was Jo Jo White. They were too similar. They needed a driver to give the offense dribble penetration. So they opted for Charlie Scott. To give the offense better balance. A driver and a shooter. Dynamic guard play.

You gotta like the defensive forwards Dort & D Brooks. Then RJ Barrett. Can go big with Olynyk shifting to PF. If Z Edey was there, that would be doubly interesting. Maybe not big enough with Z Edey. All those centers are all on the smaller side. D Powell and T Lyles are undersized centers with the body of a PF but without skill-level of a PF.

Nembhard and NAW off the bench. Great bench.

Melvin Ejim is a former Iowa State Cyclone forward from a number of years ago.  He was a great player in the big 12 while at Iowa State. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46FuTBdLaEc

That 2014 Iowa State team was loaded, Melvin played with Monte Morris (Suns), George Niyang (Cavs), Matt Thomas (former Raptors), Abdel Nader (former Celtics, Thunder, Suns), Bryce Dejean-Jones (former Pelicans), Naz Mitrou-Long (former Jazz, Pacers), Deonte Burton (former Thunder, Kings).  A lot of those guys didn't last long in the league but that is a high % of guys that at least earned a shot.

[Who]

The NBA's youtube channel has the warm up games online, full games, for both France and USA.

I am watching one of France's games to see this twin towers lineup of Wemby & Gobert. France using a full court pressure here with Wemby picking up full court and pressuring the ball-handler (PF) and what is more = he looks good doing it. Crazy a guy that big can move like that. He looks like KG.

A couple of beautiful passes by Wemby to Gobert as well. A high low pass. A short roll and no look bounce pass. Nice.

That twin towers defensive combo should be great in FIBA without a defensive 3 seconds. They should be able to seal off the paint completely.

I have read that France's guards are poor and will likely doom them in games against quality opponents.

[Who]

France

G: Strazel, Albicy
G: De Colo, Maledon
F: Coulibaly, Fournier
F: Wemby, Yabusele
C: Gobert, Lessort

Nic Batum was not playing in this game (vs Turkey). Not sure if he will be starting or coming off the bench. They also have Ntilikina at guard and some guy named Cordinier on the wing.

Neither of the PGs have impressed thus far. Both small guards defensively. Not doing much offensively.

I don't know who Lessort is (backup center) but the commentators said he was the starting center on the Euroleague Champions. So he is likely a solid player.

Edit: Batum checked in against Turkey. He was one the last players to come off the bench. Along with Ntilinka. Batum was playing at PF alongside Wemby at C in the second unit.

[Who]

France cut Ousamane Dieng from OKC and Killian Hayes from their team.

Man, Killian Hayes can't even make the cut on a French National team struggling with bad guard play. His career was DOA - dead on arrival.