Team USA Basketball 2024

[Who]

Tatum should simplify his game.

He is struggling with his passing. He is trying to play like he does with the Celticsas as a facilitator. But the court is different in International Basketball. The shorter three point line changes angles and timing. Guys have struggled with this in the past. Particularly guys who are not great passers more learned passers through NBA repetition. Tatum & D Booker.

I'd like to see Tatum concentrate on being a scorer, defender & rebounder. Forget about the playmaking. Play more like Melo or Durant. Just score. Look for your shot. Be aggressive.

Another example would be someone like Charles Barkley. He was a playmaker in the NBA but he didn't bother much with that for Team USA. He just attacked the rim. He knew nobody could stop in International Ball. He knew he would have opportunities from all the attention others received. He played more direct. Be direct. Be aggressive.

Anthony Edwards has been impressive. Ant and LeBron have been the two leaders of the team thus far. Which is incredibly impressive when you think Ant has been more of a leader than Steph Curry, Embiid, Tatum & D Booker.

Ant is playing with this aggressive mentality. He is looking to attack. Attack, Attack, Attack. No passivity.

[Who]

It is amazing that LeBron is the best player on Team USA. He is almost 40 years old. 39 years and 200+ days old. It is crazy that he is still the best player there.

It is also danging of the talent base the US has. Most of the top players in the NBA now are foreigners like Jokic, Luka, Giannis and Embiid although Embiid is playing for Team USA.

Even when you go to an old MJ in the late 90s. He was the best player but you still had great players elsewhere. Shaq would be a dominant force on the team. Duncan, KG and Grant Hill would play high level ball. Payton, Kidd.

That LeBron is doing as well as he is on this team is both praise of him individually but danging of the rest of Team USA.

[Moranis]

It is amazing that LeBron is the best player on Team USA. He is almost 40 years old. 39 years and 200+ days old. It is crazy that he is still the best player there.

It is also danging of the talent base the US has. Most of the top players in the NBA now are foreigners like Jokic, Luka, Giannis and Embiid although Embiid is playing for Team USA.

Even when you go to an old MJ in the late 90s. He was the best player but you still had great players elsewhere. Shaq would be a dominant force on the team. Duncan, KG and Grant Hill would play high level ball. Payton, Kidd.

That LeBron is doing as well as he is on this team is both praise of him individually but danging of the rest of Team USA.

Lebron would be the best player on every team except Serbia and maybe Greece.  He is just really good in short spurt tournaments like this.  He can't do it night in and night out in the NBA anymore, but for a couple of weeks when he knows he has a couple months off after, he can and does still go full bore and in those scenarios he is still among the handful of best players in the world.

[Who]

Anthony Edwards uses his body so well in those PnRs. Nobody else on Team USA, outside of LeBron, uses their body this well off the dribble.

Devin Booker doesn't do it. Tatum doesn't do it. Steph doesn't have the size or muscle. Neither does Haliburton. Jrue & D White have the size but neither has the skill level creation wise.

How smart and how physical Ant is stands out from the rest of the perimeter talent on show for Team USA. He is an exciting player. He has that Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady vibe about him.

[Who]

In the 5 warm up games, Tatum was 3rd highest in turnovers at 2.2 turnovers per game. Embiid and LeBron were the only two higher both at 2.6 turnovers per game.

Tatum had the lowest points per game of the trio. LeBron at 14.2ppg, Embiid at 10.4ppg, and Tatum at only 6.4ppg. Both LeBron and Embiid had positive AST:TOV ratio. LeBron 3.6apg to lead the team. Embiid tied 3rd at 2.8apg. Tatum with 1.6apg. So the lowest points of the trio and the lowest assists of the trio while averaging almost as many turnovers.

Tatum has been disappointing.

It is strange to see a player in his prime and at his peak who has just led his team to the Championship struggle in this environment. He has probably been the 8th-10th best player on the team so far.

Even stranger after Tatum played so well on Team USA a few years ago. He was the 2nd best player on that team after Durant.

[scaryjerry]

In the 5 warm up games, Tatum was 3rd highest in turnovers at 2.2 turnovers per game. Embiid and LeBron were the only two higher both at 2.6 turnovers per game.

Tatum had the lowest points per game of the trio. LeBron at 14.2ppg, Embiid at 10.4ppg, and Tatum at only 6.4ppg. Both LeBron and Embiid had positive AST:TOV ratio. LeBron 3.6apg to lead the team. Embiid tied 3rd at 2.8apg. Tatum with 1.6apg. So the lowest points of the trio and the lowest assists of the trio while averaging almost as many turnovers.

Tatum has been disappointing.

It is strange to see a player in his prime and at his peak who has just led his team to the Championship struggle in this environment. He has probably been the 8th-10th best player on the team so far.

Even stranger after Tatum played so well on Team USA a few years ago. He was the 2nd best player on that team after Durant.

Hes been in a slump for months in my opinion?.Jaylen brown rightfully won both championship mvps and to be perfectly fair we had the easiest path in nba history?Tatum was simply average the entire playoffs. Probably his worst playoff run I?ve seen from him ironically. Jrue has been the most important Celtic on the Olympic team.

[SHAQATTACK]

Lebron is difficult to be on a team with , specially one with so many great offensive players. He looks like he ball hogs too much dribbling around like Rondo . So all these guys that are used to shooting can?t get going because LeBron acts like a one man team.

I hate his effect on basketball , I don?t care if they win gold , he still ruins the game .

[Donoghus]

Today's starters

Jrue
Steph
Booker
Lebron
Embiid

[chicagoceltic]

I am torn: Embiid is my least favorite basketball player in the world so I enjoy how bad he has looked recently but I hate that he is this bad and is hurting Team USA.

[celticinorlando]

This team USA rendition plays like it?s a regular season game in November

[Donoghus]

I am torn: Embiid is my least favorite basketball player in the world so I enjoy how bad he has looked recently but I hate that he is this bad and is hurting Team USA.

I just don't get Kerr.

[Goldstar88]

Terrible start for team USA.

[A Future of Stevens]

I don't think Booker and Embiid are the answers at the 3 and 5.

[A Future of Stevens]

Booker has responded to my criticism well

[radiohead]

Now that KD is back, has Kerr relegated JT to deep bench status?