Tokyo Olympic Basketball Tournament Discussion

[a-French-Fan]

Well, sad for Slovenia but it was a great game, props to France.

I guess the winner here Will be the NBA considering USA and France rosters.

So I hope Nando De Colo as MVP with a great game for Poirier and Heurtel ^^

[SCTwins]

Gobert had Luka shook on the last 2 or 3 possessions.

I never thought I'd say that, but he locked him up.

[TimRobbins]

Umm have you seen the talent difference?

I have what Luka is doing right now as way harder then Durant.

If the US don’t get the gold comfortably it’s a massive choke job.

Without Durant, the talent difference is far far smaller.

Are you implying that USA minus Durant isn't that much a more talented team than Slovenia? If you are.........

Slovenia's second best player (Tobey) plays in the EuroCup (2nd tier European league), and he was an average player in EuroLeague.

Slovenia's third best player (Cancar) is a bench scrub in the NBA, and never did jack squat in Europe at any level.

Their 4th best player (Dragic) was never more than an average EuroLeague player at his peak, and currently, he's barely even at the level of secondary European leagues.

After that Slovenia's next best players are guys like Blazic, Prepelic......they are EuroCup level players. As in the level below the EuroLeague. They have played in EuroLeague before, and they sucked.

Basically, Slovenia's best players after Doncic..........not one of them is even at the level of being an above average EuroLeague player. Slovenia has very little talent, almost nothing at all other than Doncic. That's why they have to naturalize players, because their talent level is very poor and their depth is very limited.

Don't be fooled by them winning EuroBasket in 2017. They played at home, got help from the refs, and Dragic got on the hottest streak of his life. He never played even 1/4 that good at any other time with the NT or in Europe. That tournament was not indicative of their talent level, even with Dragic.

I mean honestly, I think back to Slovenian teams of mid to late 2000s and they had way more talent then than they do now. Like not even close.

Yeah, Slovenia outside of Doncic is weak, but without Durant, does the US beat France? Is the gap that big?

[Archx]

Every time Luka gets tired he starts jacking up 3s. He took too many and missed often. I suppose it was important for him to have Slovenia medal, but he really needed to work on his conditioning this offseason and his FT shooting. Now it looks like he'll enter the season the same way he was last season, which is still a great player but a flawed one at that. Jokic decided to sit out for Serbia and has been working out all offseason and looks great. His priorities are in the right place, Luka's priorities are not.

Why were Serbs so angry at Nikola then for not wanting to play for their NT? You really can't fault a guy for wanting to play for his country, that's silly...

[Chuck Diesel]

If Luka’s gonna be one of the all time greats but he’s just gotta get in better shape. Not a “hater,” just the truth. Consistently wears down in the 4th quarter of big games. Stay away from that Slovenian cream cake & take note of the work Giannis put in to change his body.

[Catchall]

French Rejection

Read on Twitter

[Pumpkin17]

Well, sad for Slovenia but it was a great game, props to France.

I guess the winner here Will be the NBA considering USA and France rosters.

So I hope Nando De Colo as MVP with a great game for Poirier and Heurtel ^^

Well I am Italian and I hope you guys lose as per tradition but I am coming to France for a couple weeks vacation on the road at the end of the month and It is not the first time so I am actually a big fan I guess beautiful beautiful country my friend, and best of luck!

[Chuck Diesel]

Every time Luka gets tired he starts jacking up 3s. He took too many and missed often. I suppose it was important for him to have Slovenia medal, but he really needed to work on his conditioning this offseason and his FT shooting. Now it looks like he'll enter the season the same way he was last season, which is still a great player but a flawed one at that. Jokic decided to sit out for Serbia and has been working out all offseason and looks great. His priorities are in the right place, Luka's priorities are not.

Why were Serbs so angry...

A question that’s been asked countless times through the centuries.

[TheBullsDynasty]

Fluke game from France in the sense that they shot lights out. Slovenia played meh and it was still a 1 point game. That's crazy. Let's see what the French can do against the ~DR34M T34M~.

[GeorgeGervin]

Well, sad for Slovenia but it was a great game, props to France.

I guess the winner here Will be the NBA considering USA and France rosters.

So I hope Nando De Colo as MVP with a great game for Poirier and Heurtel ^^

I'm sad to see Poirier having such little playing time. I believe he would have done much better than Fall against Slovenia.

[GeorgeGervin]

Without Durant, the talent difference is far far smaller.

Are you implying that USA minus Durant isn't that much a more talented team than Slovenia? If you are.........

Slovenia's second best player (Tobey) plays in the EuroCup (2nd tier European league), and he was an average player in EuroLeague.

Slovenia's third best player (Cancar) is a bench scrub in the NBA, and never did jack squat in Europe at any level.

Their 4th best player (Dragic) was never more than an average EuroLeague player at his peak, and currently, he's barely even at the level of secondary European leagues.

After that Slovenia's next best players are guys like Blazic, Prepelic......they are EuroCup level players. As in the level below the EuroLeague. They have played in EuroLeague before, and they sucked.

Basically, Slovenia's best players after Doncic..........not one of them is even at the level of being an above average EuroLeague player. Slovenia has very little talent, almost nothing at all other than Doncic. That's why they have to naturalize players, because their talent level is very poor and their depth is very limited.

Don't be fooled by them winning EuroBasket in 2017. They played at home, got help from the refs, and Dragic got on the hottest streak of his life. He never played even 1/4 that good at any other time with the NT or in Europe. That tournament was not indicative of their talent level, even with Dragic.

I mean honestly, I think back to Slovenian teams of mid to late 2000s and they had way more talent then than they do now. Like not even close.

Yeah, Slovenia outside of Doncic is weak, but without Durant, does the US beat France? Is the gap that big?

With Durant, does the US beat France?

[BoatsNZones]

How long will it take until Luka forces France to waive the white flag? I’d say halfway through the 3rd.

Apparently Slovenia is the -165 favorite, I’ll take the underdog here though. It would make for a better Final as we know they can beat the US in a small sample. Slovenia has zero chance if they throw a Jrue/KD/Draymond combo on Luka.

BINK: Blocked at the buzzer by the grittier/better team.

[CobraCommander]

If Luka’s gonna be one of the all time greats but he’s just gotta get in better shape. Not a “hater,” just the truth. Consistently wears down in the 4th quarter of big games. Stay away from that Slovenian cream cake take note of the work Giannis put in to change his body.

This is a fact....he wears down and starts firing and missing Bad shots. I hate to say this but that’s a blessing and a curse - a diss and a praise.

Luka a top 10 talent with what appears to be a sub standard work ethic. Luka wasn’t good down the stretch in playoffs or now...but when fresh dude is a pure genius.

It’s crazy to think Luka has massive upside....

What happens when Luka actually takes conditioning seriously....?

[CobraCommander]

Shame that Slovenia wasn't able to take care of business, I was really hoping to watch Luka take team USA to the woodshed.

You can hope for that but the USA is going to win the gold and Luka will never know cause he couldn’t beat France.... gotta take care of business if you want to run with the big dogs Lol


Either way Slovenia get bronze - it will be an amazing run....but pump the breaks on touching the USA

[J_T]

It's so funny how around the board so often somebody will say "there are no Luka haters". This thread here is a prime example of irrational immature hate that some people have towards Luka. Yeah, they try to hide it by adding something nice about him. They try to hide by suggesting what could he be doing "better" - which of course would drive them even crazier, they are losing their minds if Luka is successful.

I think the time has come. We all know that a player can't really be the best player in the league, until he has an army of irrational hate spewers ejaculating their pathetic half trolling half mindless nervous breakdowns all across their keyboards, resulting in what apparently counts as a "post" on an internet forum. Yes, Luka has finally joined the greatest players in the league. The guns are out, the crazies are after him.

[shza]

And because of this FIBA naturalization rule... Joakim Noah was a naturalized player for France! Guys, you can't imagine who is his father for french public... He is a true legend here in France, and Joakim with several years in France as a child, with a father who is a french superstar... Was not considered as a "true french" because passport matters ...

Wow, I actually never knew that Joakim was Yannick Noah’s son. I watched lots of tennis in my youth in the 80s.

[a-French-Fan]

Well, sad for Slovenia but it was a great game, props to France.

I guess the winner here Will be the NBA considering USA and France rosters.

So I hope Nando De Colo as MVP with a great game for Poirier and Heurtel ^^

I'm sad to see Poirier having such little playing time. I believe he would have done much better than Fall against Slovenia.

Don't worry, tall ball will be back Vs USA. You can't learn height :p

[CobraCommander]

It's so funny how around the board so often somebody will say "there are no Luka haters". This thread here is a prime example of irrational immature hate that some people have towards Luka. Yeah, they try to hide it by adding something nice about him. They try to hide by suggesting what could he be doing "better" - which of course would drive them even crazier, they are losing their minds if Luka is successful.

I think the time has come. We all know that a player can't really be the best player in the league, until he has an army of irrational hate spewers ejaculating their pathetic half trolling half mindless nervous breakdowns all across their keyboards, resulting in what apparently counts as a "post" on an internet forum. Yes, Luka has finally joined the greatest players in the league. The guns are out, the crazies are after him.

I think for 22 you couldn’t ask for more. Dude got a country thats never been to the Olympics down to the final seconds against a mainstay in France. Luka is ahead of schedule - anyone’s schedule. But like most 22 year olds he has some things to work on.

I think he is pretty much in uncharted waters at this point- but Americans gonna pull for USA team and Slovenia’s for their guys. Dallas mavs ride and die with Luka...I’m with Beal cause I’m a wiz fan-that’s the nature of fandom.

Last year it was Harden - this year it’s Luka...it will be someone else eventually - but this is where we “spew” the sports talk post barbershops and bars....

[Chuck Diesel]

It's so funny how around the board so often somebody will say "there are no Luka haters". This thread here is a prime example of irrational immature hate that some people have towards Luka. Yeah, they try to hide it by adding something nice about him. They try to hide by suggesting what could he be doing "better" - which of course would drive them even crazier, they are losing their minds if Luka is successful.

I think the time has come. We all know that a player can't really be the best player in the league, until he has an army of irrational hate spewers ejaculating their pathetic half trolling half mindless nervous breakdowns all across their keyboards, resulting in what apparently counts as a "post" on an internet forum. Yes, Luka has finally joined the greatest players in the league. The guns are out, the crazies are after him.

You alright?

[wolfram]

Every time Luka gets tired he starts jacking up 3s. He took too many and missed often. I suppose it was important for him to have Slovenia medal, but he really needed to work on his conditioning this offseason and his FT shooting. Now it looks like he'll enter the season the same way he was last season, which is still a great player but a flawed one at that. Jokic decided to sit out for Serbia and has been working out all offseason and looks great. His priorities are in the right place, Luka's priorities are not.

Luka's priorities are on point. He is already a national hero at 22. Just past month he took Slovenia to first ever Olympics, took us to semifinals among Top 4 teams in the world, achieved 2nd most points at Olympics and 2nd most assists at Olympics in the history of games. I'm sure you think he should be doing cardio and throwing free throws in the gym.