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

[ChillyWilly]

If it isn't the Olympics I just don't care. Apparently neither do the majority of the best players in the world. I honestly wish none of the Celtics players had wasted their time with this and were instead home training and working on improving their games.

Let's just hope none of guys get seriously hurt playing in this completely meaningless tourney.

Sounds like 4 of our Celtics are really enjoying this experience. I don't think this can be simulated in working out back home. I'm glad they all made it and bonding before the season starts.

[footey]

I am totally into watching these games because we have 4 Celtics on the team, and haven't been able to watch our guys since exit from playoffs last spring.   I also enjoy watching international ball, and how NBA players' styles try to adapt to it.

[Csfan1984]

If it isn't the Olympics I just don't care. Apparently neither do the majority of the best players in the world. I honestly wish none of the Celtics players had wasted their time with this and were instead home training and working on improving their games.

Let's just hope none of guys get seriously hurt playing in this completely meaningless tourney.

Sounds like 4 of our Celtics are really enjoying this experience. I don't think this can be simulated in working out back home. I'm glad they all made it and bonding before the season starts.

I agree the bonding is a help.

I also think that Mitchell and other good players get to bond with the C's players. One never knows if one of those players may move to our franchise.

[blink]

I am totally into watching these games because we have 4 Celtics on the team, and haven't been able to watch our guys since exit from playoffs last spring.   I also enjoy watching international ball, and how NBA players' styles try to adapt to it.

I agree with everything you wrote.  It has been really fun watching our guys be involved in international bb.

[ozgod]

Zero discussion of this tournament??

Where is the chat?

Probably the timezone had something to do with it 

I am totally into watching these games because we have 4 Celtics on the team, and haven't been able to watch our guys since exit from playoffs last spring.   I also enjoy watching international ball, and how NBA players' styles try to adapt to it.

Same here, I'm totally into it. Enough to sign up for ESPN+. Been watching the replays 

I like basketball in general, I love the fact that we have 4 Cs on the team and I'm all for Team USA. Living overseas in Europe and Australia opened my eyes to how strongly other countries get behind their national teams, we just don't do is as much here in our country unfortunately.

Haven't watched all the games, but I saw USA v Czech Rep, Serbia v Philippines and Australia v Canada. The Serbs are looking pretty solid. Just the chemistry they've built over years of playing together. Man they have a huge team (size wise) I think half of them are 6-10 or taller. It will be a challenge for us with our lone quality big in Myles Turner if we come up against them. Australia I think we can take care of business if we play them again.

[Roy H.]

If it isn't the Olympics I just don't care. Apparently neither do the majority of the best players in the world. I honestly wish none of the Celtics players had wasted their time with this and were instead home training and working on improving their games.

Let's just hope none of guys get seriously hurt playing in this completely meaningless tourney.

Sounds like 4 of our Celtics are really enjoying this experience. I don't think this can be simulated in working out back home. I'm glad they all made it and bonding before the season starts.

I agree.  If it were one or two Celts, I may agree with KGK.  But, with four guys, it really allows bonding and further chemistry building, particularly with a new guy in Kemba.

[ozgod]

If it isn't the Olympics I just don't care. Apparently neither do the majority of the best players in the world. I honestly wish none of the Celtics players had wasted their time with this and were instead home training and working on improving their games.

Let's just hope none of guys get seriously hurt playing in this completely meaningless tourney.

Sounds like 4 of our Celtics are really enjoying this experience. I don't think this can be simulated in working out back home. I'm glad they all made it and bonding before the season starts.

I agree.  If it were one or two Celts, I may agree with KGK.  But, with four guys, it really allows bonding and further chemistry building, particularly with a new guy in Kemba.

What would be awesome is if Pop played all 4 of them at the same time. 

[Csfan1984]

If it isn't the Olympics I just don't care. Apparently neither do the majority of the best players in the world. I honestly wish none of the Celtics players had wasted their time with this and were instead home training and working on improving their games.

Let's just hope none of guys get seriously hurt playing in this completely meaningless tourney.

Sounds like 4 of our Celtics are really enjoying this experience. I don't think this can be simulated in working out back home. I'm glad they all made it and bonding before the season starts.

I agree.  If it were one or two Celts, I may agree with KGK.  But, with four guys, it really allows bonding and further chemistry building, particularly with a new guy in Kemba.

What would be awesome is if Pop played all 4 of them at the same time. 

He might have. I know he played 3 together a few times.

[ChillyWilly]

Theis 12pts 8rbs 5stl 6/16 against Dominica

[KGs Knee]

If it isn't the Olympics I just don't care. Apparently neither do the majority of the best players in the world. I honestly wish none of the Celtics players had wasted their time with this and were instead home training and working on improving their games.

Let's just hope none of guys get seriously hurt playing in this completely meaningless tourney.

Sounds like 4 of our Celtics are really enjoying this experience. I don't think this can be simulated in working out back home. I'm glad they all made it and bonding before the season starts.

I agree.  If it were one or two Celts, I may agree with KGK.  But, with four guys, it really allows bonding and further chemistry building, particularly with a new guy in Kemba.

I hope they aren't in the process of forming their own little clique, separate and apart from the rest of the team.

Brown and Tatum, in particular, would have been better served being in the gym working on the weaknesses in their games instead of playing in meaningless exhibition games.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I hope they aren't in the process of forming their own little clique, separate and apart from the rest of the team.

Brown and Tatum, in particular, would have been better served being in the gym working on the weaknesses in their games instead of playing in meaningless exhibition games.

It's pretty well-documented a young player playing in FIBA basketball against physical competition can help the player to take a leap in confidence and impact in the NBA.

I'd say that "reps" getting shots up against 5'10'' unathletic trainers are far less useful.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

This game has been reffed terribly so far. USA getting screwed. Refs kept Turkey in the game in the first quarter.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Pop is trying to keep two strategies in tension.
1. Play the guys who are playing aggressive and smart on defense.
2. Play guys who are in rhythm offensively.

Right now, it seems like he focuses on 1, which means a lot of rotations, which is also at the expense of 2.

It's probably a good strategy, but its worth noting if they can't figure out how to be elite offensively.

[johnnygreen]

Not only do you have to pay a streaming service to watch this, but I'm also finding it difficult to just get a score. Thank you ESPN+ for making the 2019 FIBA World Cup feel irrelevant.

[footey]

Myles Turner lone US standout in first half.