FIBA World Cup [USA vs. TUR: 9/3, 8:30 AM EST (ESPN+)]

[SHAQATTACK]

Pop gonna send Brown back to CBS all fixed and ready for prime time.

[nickagneta]

I can't help but think that Brad Stevens has zero problem with 4 of his top 5 players spending extended off-season time playing and learning under Gregg Popovich.

It would be the equivalent of Brown's coach, Freddie Kitchens, sending Baker Mayfield, OBJ, Myles Garrett and Nick Chubb to spend a month and a half of the off-season training, playing and learning under Bill Belichick.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I can't help but think that Brad Stevens has zero problem with 4 of his top 5 players spending extended off-season time playing and learning under Gregg Popovich.

It would be the equivalent of Brown's coach, Freddie Kitchens, sending Baker Mayfield, OBJ, Myles Garrett and Nick Chubb to spend a month and a half of the off-season training, playing and learning under Bill Belichick.

Not to mention Kerr, Brown, Wright, and a host of other quality coaches.

[footey]

The change in perspective will be invaluable. Not to mention melding with Kembra.

Watching them play, they seem to be growing up in front of us. It is very cool to see.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Watching the game, you know what they were missing last night? Someone who could hound opposing guards that are shooters? Smart could have made that game a blowout early in the second stalling the Aussie offense further.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

As far as the rotations went, it looked to me like everyone got similar minutes in the first and second half, except Middleton and Barnes, who each got one half. Middleton had a couple pretty bad turnovers late in the game and generally looked not active on defense.

Surprising because everyone seemed to think they were sure-fire to make the team.

Middleton looks out of shape pretty bad. Would not be surprised if he went home with a "sore knee."

Full game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCO5axdyJr0

[Who]

The centers are depressing. Especially Brook Lopez.

They are like the international centers. Slow limited defenders, subpar rebounders. Hang out at the three point line. Stagnant on offense. Want to play like Steve Kerr.

USA used to destroy teams with defensive quickness, turnovers and rebounding.

Depressing to see the team go away from that.

[footey]

The centers are depressing. Especially Brook Lopez.

They are like the international centers. Slow limited defenders, subpar rebounders. Hang out at the three point line. Stagnant on offense. Want to play like Steve Kerr.

USA used to destroy teams with defensive quickness, turnovers and rebounding.

Depressing to see the team go away from that.

Turner looked good. His best game so far.

[Surferdad]

NBATV has Game 1 Replay tomorrow 10 PM EST right before Game 2 vs AUS at midnight

For those of us who like to sleep, the replay of Game 2 is on Saturday at 8:00PM.

[JBcat]

The centers are depressing. Especially Brook Lopez.

They are like the international centers. Slow limited defenders, subpar rebounders. Hang out at the three point line. Stagnant on offense. Want to play like Steve Kerr.

USA used to destroy teams with defensive quickness, turnovers and rebounding.

Depressing to see the team go away from that.

I was thinking this too, but when you start to scan the league we don’t have a ton of American born centers.  Players like like Embiid, Towns, Vucevic, Ayton and Adams aren’t from here, and players like Drummond and Davis have already played USA basketball a handful of times.  Maybe we are just in a weird phase, and the likes of Wendall Carter,  JJJ, and our own Robert Williams will be part of the next generation of USA centers. Ha

[Sophomore]

The centers are depressing. Especially Brook Lopez.

They are like the international centers. Slow limited defenders, subpar rebounders. Hang out at the three point line. Stagnant on offense. Want to play like Steve Kerr.

USA used to destroy teams with defensive quickness, turnovers and rebounding.

Depressing to see the team go away from that.

Turner looked good. His best game so far.

Yeah. If we are planning to trade a wing to rebalance the roster, he’s a guy I have my eye on.

[rondofan1255]

Point of clarification: There was a report in Australia this week that Gregg Popovich had formally named Kemba Walker, Donovan Mitchell and Marcus Smart as Team USA captains. But I am told it is NOT an official thing — Pop merely meant he is leaning on those guys for leadership

Team USA typically does not take the formal step of naming captains though they are required to designate one before games as a matter of @FIBA protocol

https://twitter.com/thesteinline/status/1164932972665102336?s=21

[PhoSita]

Just finished watching the replay. Gotta agree with others and not agree with Pho, Brown looked much better at playmaking and passing in this game than Tatum. And Brown may have played some of the best defense on the team yesterday.

Again, I want to emphasize that I liked what I saw from Brown overall.  His overall effectiveness doing other things is what makes it stand out all the more to me when he occasionally attempts to iso and it just doesn't work.

Stepping back from that, my point is that I hope Brown focuses on developing the quick, fluid parts of his game instead of trying to work on the Jimmy Butler power-wing aspects of his game.

[Mike Pemulis]

Are all 4 of our players definitely on the team? Have all the cuts been made?

[saltlover]

Are all 4 of our players definitely on the team? Have all the cuts been made?

Smart will be on if he’s healthy.  He’s started to practice, but we’ll see if he makes it in a game in the next week.  Derrick White is there in case Smart can’t get healthy (or someone else gets hurt).