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

[footey]

Wow, this one I missed; will watch replay on NBA TV tonight at 8.

[Somebody]

Just finished watching.

People are sleeping on Brown for this year. At this point, I would bet way more money that Brown has a breakout, All-Star year this year than I would Tatum. They were on polar opposite ends of the "who played well for Team USA today?" question. Brown looked fantastic and he has been the best defender on the team the last 3 games. He went like 8-11 for 19 points to lead the team. Tatum was awful yesterday and couldn't hit the side of a house with a shot. I think he was like 1-10 or 2-11.

I also think Pops likes Brown. No evidence, just, Brown was the guy San Antonio was after from Boston when looking to trade Kawhi and Pops seems to be giving Brown more run than some other, maybe more established players. Of course, it appears Brown has earned that run. He is playing great.

Agreed. Brown looks electric and much more polished.

[The Oracle]

I didn't see the game. Any notes from someone who did? I'm especially interested in hearing about some of the better 5-man units. 

Boxscore notes:
- Brown was the leading scorer
- Lopez and Plumlee combined for 12 minutes. Turner played 20. That means team USA played 8 minutes with no center.
- Middleton was 0-8
- Tatum struggled, but got up shots 2-11
- Everybody played a relatively even amount. That probably won't happen when the game matter.

Canada brought in Owen Klassen (who I have never heard of) after Olynyk dropped out who is the only center on their roster.  He came off the bench for them and fouled out in 6 minutes.  Khem Birch (6'9) and Kyle Wiltjer (6'10) are the only other big men they have.  Their guards and wings are also undersized.  I would draw very little good from this game as team USA performed pretty poorly against an opponent they should dominate.

The most entertaining part of the game was probably the last 6 minutes when the Aussie crowd decided that Brook Lopez was now their hero and began incessantly chanting his name.  The camera kept showing him on the bench and the crowd would go nuts.  Lopez and the rest of team USA also played into it and Popovich inserted him for the last minute to appease the crowd.

[ozgod]

I didn't see the game. Any notes from someone who did? I'm especially interested in hearing about some of the better 5-man units. 

Boxscore notes:
- Brown was the leading scorer
- Lopez and Plumlee combined for 12 minutes. Turner played 20. That means team USA played 8 minutes with no center.
- Middleton was 0-8
- Tatum struggled, but got up shots 2-11
- Everybody played a relatively even amount. That probably won't happen when the game matter.

Canada brought in Owen Klassen (who I have never heard of) after Olynyk dropped out who is the only center on their roster.  He came off the bench for them and fouled out in 6 minutes.  Khem Birch (6'9) and Kyle Wiltjer (6'10) are the only other big men they have.  Their guards and wings are also undersized.  I would draw very little good from this game as team USA performed pretty poorly against an opponent they should dominate.

The most entertaining part of the game was probably the last 6 minutes when the Aussie crowd decided that Brook Lopez was now their hero and began incessantly chanting his name. The camera kept showing him on the bench and the crowd would go nuts.  Lopez and the rest of team USA also played into it and Popovich inserted him for the last minute to appease the crowd.

Watched the game, that was hilarious 

As for the game, they have plenty of work to do, they turned the ball over a lot. A better team would have made them pay but they won at least. Jaylen had a solid game but like the last couple of games against Aus he still has these occasional brain fades, like throwing the ball over the sideline or making a casual pass. Marcus looked better but not quite fit. Kemba played within himself. JT had some moments. As for the non Celtics, I still don't understand why we have Plumlee in there, he was terrible again.

On another note, it was funny to listen to the Aussie commentator (I think his name is John Casey) criticizing Team USA for turning the ball over via shot clock violation on the last play of the game, with 20 sec to go. I guess it's only in the US where teams take it easy and either dribble the clock out or take a half hearted shot when they are up 20. Having lived in Aus for a few years earlier in my life it doesn't matter what the sport, it's considered disrespectful to take it easy on the opponent, it's seen as patronizing. Teams would be trying to score even if they were already up 50 with 10 sec to go  it's the same in Europe. Funny how different cultures view those things.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Those who watched the game, could you verify this: it looked like USA got up about 25 and then put the end of the bench in, resulting in the 16 point win.

[ozgod]

Those who watched the game, could you verify this: it looked like USA got up about 25 and then put the end of the bench in, resulting in the 16 point win.

I believe they were up by 24 with 3 1/2 min to go. I wouldn't say they put the end of the bench in...Mitchell, Middleton, Harris, White and Lopez finished the game. Probably White would be the only end of bencher in that lineup. Canada hit a couple of shots at the end.

It was a somewhat misleading performance, because while it was never really a contest, Canada were terrible, they shot 32% from the floor and 26% from 3. Team USA turned the ball over 19 times and their passing was pretty sloppy. A better team would probably have capitalized more.  They have a lot of work to do but hopefully they will start to gel as the tournament goes on.

[The Oracle]

Those who watched the game, could you verify this: it looked like USA got up about 25 and then put the end of the bench in, resulting in the 16 point win.

That's not really what happened as both teams were trying to keep everyone's minutes down in the last exhibition before the world cup.  Middleton and Mitchell were still playing late.  The U.S. took their foot off the gas and Canada didn't, they made a couple 3 balls late and were pressing full court til the end.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Those who watched the game, could you verify this: it looked like USA got up about 25 and then put the end of the bench in, resulting in the 16 point win.

That's not really what happened as both teams were trying to keep everyone's minutes down in the last exhibition before the world cup.  Middleton and Mitchell were still playing late.  The U.S. took their foot off the gas and Canada didn't, they made a couple 3 balls late and were pressing full court til the end.

Gotchya. Although I will say that Middleton looks like a bench player for this team.

[nickagneta]

Just saw this stat for team USA's 1st 4 exhibition games.

Jaylen Brown is the team's 3rd highest scorer behind Kemba and Mitchell with 11.8 PPG on 20 of 28 shooting(71.4%).

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Just saw this stat for team USA's 1st 4 exhibition games.

Jaylen Brown is the team's 3rd highest scorer behind Kemba and Mitchell with 11.8 PPG on 20 of 28 shooting(71.4%).

His D has been really good too. IMO he has been the overall best player. Sure, he makes mistakes but he has been consistently good. People harp on his brain farts while overlooking the mess of others and forgetting that JB is still a youngin too, only 22yo. I know Kemba will probably get best player votes but he can't defend or doesn't. He has been good though.

[headcase]

 https://clutchpoints.com/team-usa-news-gregg-popovich-encouraged-by-myles-turner-jaylen-browns-performances/

Popovich on JB:

“Jaylen, he’s just a hard-nose player. He understands what has to be done. He doesn’t care about anything, except playing with his teammates, winning, playing aggressively all the time, and he’s consistent in that regard. He does it all the time. He’s confident in his shot. He’s tough underneath. So, he’s been one of our more consistent players, along with Myles.”

[DefenseWinsChamps]

https://clutchpoints.com/team-usa-news-gregg-popovich-encouraged-by-myles-turner-jaylen-browns-performances/

Popovich on JB:

“Jaylen, he’s just a hard-nose player. He understands what has to be done. He doesn’t care about anything, except playing with his teammates, winning, playing aggressively all the time, and he’s consistent in that regard. He does it all the time. He’s confident in his shot. He’s tough underneath. So, he’s been one of our more consistent players, along with Myles.”

Wow. That's high praise. I really like Jaylen Brown. He seems to have the right attitude and wants to play the right way. He deserves team and individual success. Hope he gets it.

[Silky]

https://clutchpoints.com/team-usa-news-gregg-popovich-encouraged-by-myles-turner-jaylen-browns-performances/

Popovich on JB:

“Jaylen, he’s just a hard-nose player. He understands what has to be done. He doesn’t care about anything, except playing with his teammates, winning, playing aggressively all the time, and he’s consistent in that regard. He does it all the time. He’s confident in his shot. He’s tough underneath. So, he’s been one of our more consistent players, along with Myles.”

I have said it more than once in this thread

Jaylen is a pops' type player.

He wanted him specifically in a kawhi deal. Jaylen plays on both ends. Smart. Plays hard. Pops loves him

[td450]

Conventional wisdom has always been that Tatum is the one with more upside, and that is understandable because he could become an all NBA level guy. But we tend to discount just how much of a physical advantage Brown has over the average NBA player. He really is a top 10 athlete in the NBA, and as he progresses skills and experience wise, that athleticism and strength is going to become much more obvious. Small improvements in skills can open things up for him much more than the average player.

[Csfan1984]

It will be interesting seeing the lineups Pop uses. Kemba, Mitchell, Brown, Tatum, and Turner seem like the best five but mixing play types seem the way to go. Like Lopez with that group gives spacing but you lose defense and rebounding. Middleton is more experienced as a player and can get hot shooting it so maybe you slot him at PF and move Tatum to the SF spot but in that case you lose Brown's D. I feel Tatum is a better catch and shoot guy than Brown when he is focused on quick strikes but if he tries doing too much he just gets sloppy so maybe you do keep Brown. If you move Brown to the starters you lose aggressive play off the bench.

So many pluses and negatives how would you guys do it right now as far as starters and rotations?

I start a physical team given its Fiba with Kemba, Mitchell, Brown, Middelton, Turner. Allowing the bench to be more option focused types of defense vs offense. This way you have guard defense=Smart, shooting=Harris, or pace=White. Options for fowards scoring=Tatum or defense=Barnes. Options at C is more size=Lopez or more mobility=Plumlee.

Again looking forward to what you guys would go with and seeing what Pop does.