USA Basketball Team

[Hal14]

Kerr has LeBron, KD and Tatum on his team, yet he started Booker at the 3.

Other weirdness flows from that.

It's not that weird. USA has been playing LeBron at the 4 quite a bit during exhibitions and games. And KD has been out with an injury, so that's why he didn't start - they were easing him back in there.

Oh and the team won the game by 26..over a good Serbia team, led by the best player in the world (Jokic) so I wouldn't complain about the rotations..

(Note that Kawhi was originally selected for the team as well.)

Why is that relevant now? It seems like the team really likes having White, which gives them not 1 but 2 elite POA defenders who can pressure the opposing PG 94 feet, distribute the ball and hit open shots.

It's a nice balance to have both of them (white, Jrue) in the back court with the other guards being more offensive minded who can at times be a liability on D (Hali, Curry).

[ConstableGeneva]

I've thought about it and listened to Kerr's explanation. Nah, this is some absolute bullsh*t - it's time to put some respect on Tatum's name. Guy is an NBA champion (the reigning one in his prime), only American on the first team NBA, was the #2 option 4 years ago on the Olympic team as a 22 year old.

You want to give LBJ and Curry their minutes for the last time, fine do what you have to (KD too but he is actually the team USA GOAT so he can play whenever). That's three guys, Tatum is the most plug and play superstar in the league you find him a spot after that.

I don't think that is Kerr's thought process. When he is putting his rotation together, he's not thinking about "oh, this guy was an american on this all-NBA team, or that guy has made 10 all-star teams or this guy won a championship or that guy won an MVP".

None of that stuff enters his thought process. None of it is relevant because those accolades were accomplished in a completely different context, on a completely different team.

All he's probably basing it off his the training camp the team had, the scrimmages vs the Select team, the exhibition games and the practices. That's it. And he's looking at which of his players played well in those games/practices, which players didn't play so well, which players have shown really good chemistry with other players (he mentioned in 1 interview that Bam and AD have been playing off each other really well in practices) and looking at what tangible on court skills/attributes each player brings to the table which they have been showing as part of the team, since the team's training camp began.

If that's the case, why is Embiid playing (starting even)?

[Hal14]

I've thought about it and listened to Kerr's explanation. Nah, this is some absolute bullsh*t - it's time to put some respect on Tatum's name. Guy is an NBA champion (the reigning one in his prime), only American on the first team NBA, was the #2 option 4 years ago on the Olympic team as a 22 year old.

You want to give LBJ and Curry their minutes for the last time, fine do what you have to (KD too but he is actually the team USA GOAT so he can play whenever). That's three guys, Tatum is the most plug and play superstar in the league you find him a spot after that.

I don't think that is Kerr's thought process. When he is putting his rotation together, he's not thinking about "oh, this guy was an american on this all-NBA team, or that guy has made 10 all-star teams or this guy won a championship or that guy won an MVP".

None of that stuff enters his thought process. None of it is relevant because those accolades were accomplished in a completely different context, on a completely different team.

All he's probably basing it off his the training camp the team had, the scrimmages vs the Select team, the exhibition games and the practice. That's it. And he's looking at which of his players played well in those games/practices, which players didn't play so well, which players have shown really good chemistry with other players (he mentioned in 1 interview that Bam and AD have been playing off each other really well in practices) and looking at what tangible on court skills/attributes each player brings to the table which they have been showing as part of the team, since the team's training camp began.

If that's the case, why is Embiid playing (starting even)?

Idk, I haven't been keeping up with all the games, scrimmages and stuff. And none of us have seen all the practices and scrimmages vs the Select team so hard to say.

But if Embiid has been bad, maybe he'll get benched the next game? Only 3 bigs on the team though so you kind of have to play all of them..

At least vs Serbia, Kerr probably figured that size-wise, he's our best matchup vs Jokic..

[shackles10]

I've thought about it and listened to Kerr's explanation. Nah, this is some absolute bullsh*t - it's time to put some respect on Tatum's name. Guy is an NBA champion (the reigning one in his prime), only American on the first team NBA, was the #2 option 4 years ago on the Olympic team as a 22 year old.

You want to give LBJ and Curry their minutes for the last time, fine do what you have to (KD too but he is actually the team USA GOAT so he can play whenever). That's three guys, Tatum is the most plug and play superstar in the league you find him a spot after that.

I don't think that is Kerr's thought process. When he is putting his rotation together, he's not thinking about "oh, this guy was an american on this all-NBA team, or that guy has made 10 all-star teams or this guy won a championship or that guy won an MVP".

None of that stuff enters his thought process. None of it is relevant because those accolades were accomplished in a completely different context, on a completely different team.

All he's probably basing it off his the training camp the team had, the scrimmages vs the Select team, the exhibition games and the practices. That's it. And he's looking at which of his players played well in those games/practices, which players didn't play so well, which players have shown really good chemistry with other players (he mentioned in 1 interview that Bam and AD have been playing off each other really well in practices) and looking at what tangible on court skills/attributes each player brings to the table which they have been showing as part of the team, since the team's training camp began.

I don't buy it. He's definitely looking at Lebron, Steph, and KD and saying "I have to play them" no matter how they fit in, how their camp looks or any of that. In the case of KD even he's hurt and missed all of that so can't go based on anything but history and not chemistry he's seen in camp or practice. He's doing the same for Embiid obviously based on the fact that he's been horrid and still starting. That's 40% of the 10 who played. Add even just AD in there so you have a 2nd big man (to cover up for the one who's been terrible) and half of the rotation is set before he even considers all of those camp/practice related things. To say "All" he's basing it on ignores 50% of the roster being set before camp even began for those observations to occur.

[Hal14]

In the case of KD even he's hurt and missed all of that so can't go based on anything but history and not chemistry he's seen in camp or practice.

Well Kerr said that with KD, since he's been out for awhile with an injury, the game vs Serbia he wanted to get him in there get him eased back into the lineup.

Makes sense. Get him back out there, shake off the rust.

And as for Embiid, size-wise he's probably our best matchup vs Jokic so made sense to start him in the last game vs Serbia.

Again, it's hard for me to complain too much about rotations, when we won by 26 over a good team, led by the best player in the world.

It's just one game - Kerr said Tatum will play in the next one..

[bfchs123]

I've thought about it and listened to Kerr's explanation. Nah, this is some absolute bullsh*t - it's time to put some respect on Tatum's name. Guy is an NBA champion (the reigning one in his prime), only American on the first team NBA, was the #2 option 4 years ago on the Olympic team as a 22 year old.

You want to give LBJ and Curry their minutes for the last time, fine do what you have to (KD too but he is actually the team USA GOAT so he can play whenever). That's three guys, Tatum is the most plug and play superstar in the league you find him a spot after that.

I don't think that is Kerr's thought process. When he is putting his rotation together, he's not thinking about "oh, this guy was an american on this all-NBA team, or that guy has made 10 all-star teams or this guy won a championship or that guy won an MVP".

None of that stuff enters his thought process. None of it is relevant because those accolades were accomplished in a completely different context, on a completely different team.

All he's probably basing it off his the training camp the team had, the scrimmages vs the Select team, the exhibition games and the practices. That's it. And he's looking at which of his players played well in those games/practices, which players didn't play so well, which players have shown really good chemistry with other players (he mentioned in 1 interview that Bam and AD have been playing off each other really well in practices) and looking at what tangible on court skills/attributes each player brings to the table which they have been showing as part of the team, since the team's training camp began.

I don't buy it. He's definitely looking at Lebron, Steph, and KD and saying "I have to play them" no matter how they fit in, how their camp looks or any of that. In the case of KD even he's hurt and missed all of that so can't go based on anything but history and not chemistry he's seen in camp or practice. He's doing the same for Embiid obviously based on the fact that he's been horrid and still starting. That's 40% of the 10 who played. Add even just AD in there so you have a 2nd big man (to cover up for the one who's been terrible) and half of the rotation is set before he even considers all of those camp/practice related things. To say "All" he's basing it on ignores 50% of the roster being set before camp even began for those observations to occur.

Bingo - that's my whole point now, Tatum as the current in-his-prime NBA champion is on the you do not bench tier. Never in a million years would Steph get benched, nor Lebron, nor KD (and I actually agree with this, optics would not look good - as they do not right now with Tatum).

Whether we like it or not there is a hierarchy with these types of things and it's ridiculous and shameful that any of Booker, Ant, Bam, or even our guards are in the conversation to DNP JT. When we lift #19 next year Kerr will look like even more of a clown

[Fencer reregistered]

Kerr has LeBron, KD and Tatum on his team, yet he started Booker at the 3.

Other weirdness flows from that.

It's not that weird. USA has been playing LeBron at the 4 quite a bit during exhibitions and games. And KD has been out with an injury, so that's why he didn't start - they were easing him back in there.

Oh and the team won the game by 26..over a good Serbia team, led by the best player in the world (Jokic) so I wouldn't complain about the rotations..

(Note that Kawhi was originally selected for the team as well.)

Why is that relevant now? It seems like the team really likes having White, which gives them not 1 but 2 elite POA defenders who can pressure the opposing PG 94 feet, distribute the ball and hit open shots.

It's a nice balance to have both of them (white, Jrue) in the back court with the other guards being more offensive minded who can at times be a liability on D (Hali, Curry).

My point is that, rightly or wrongly, the minutes given to natural combo forwards are not commensurate with the talent of combo forwards available. And one of the big drags on those total minutes is using a guard rather than a combo forward at SF.

Tatum, LeBron, Durant and Kawhi have all been considered SFs for much of their respective careers, even if PF is now their more common position.

[shackles10]

In the case of KD even he's hurt and missed all of that so can't go based on anything but history and not chemistry he's seen in camp or practice.

Well Kerr said that with KD, since he's been out for awhile with an injury, the game vs Serbia he wanted to get him in there get him eased back into the lineup.

Makes sense. Get him back out there, shake off the rust.

And as for Embiid, size-wise he's probably our best matchup vs Jokic so made sense to start him in the last game vs Serbia.

Again, it's hard for me to complain too much about rotations, when we won by 26 over a good team, led by the best player in the world.

It's just one game - Kerr said Tatum will play in the next one..

It does make sense to play KD and let him shake off the rust as he's a great player who can fit into any lineup. The problem is it also makes sense to play Tatum and let him shake off the rust if Kerr thinks there is some as he's a great player who can fit into any lineup. Kerr was either oblivious to this being an issue in 2024 media times (a bad look) or it's more than this going on beneath the surface.

We did win by 26, but we could have won by 26 without any of the top 10 guys missing a game when guys like JT and Hali are the replacements. Especially when Jokic didn't take over the game.

[BK_2020]

Let's be honest if KD and Tatum were both on the Celtics and only one was allowed to start, KD is starting.

[shackles10]

Kerr has LeBron, KD and Tatum on his team, yet he started Booker at the 3.

Other weirdness flows from that.

It's not that weird. USA has been playing LeBron at the 4 quite a bit during exhibitions and games. And KD has been out with an injury, so that's why he didn't start - they were easing him back in there.

Oh and the team won the game by 26..over a good Serbia team, led by the best player in the world (Jokic) so I wouldn't complain about the rotations..

(Note that Kawhi was originally selected for the team as well.)

Why is that relevant now? It seems like the team really likes having White, which gives them not 1 but 2 elite POA defenders who can pressure the opposing PG 94 feet, distribute the ball and hit open shots.

It's a nice balance to have both of them (white, Jrue) in the back court with the other guards being more offensive minded who can at times be a liability on D (Hali, Curry).

My point is that, rightly or wrongly, the minutes given to natural combo forwards are not commensurate with the talent of combo forwards available. And one of the big drags on those total minutes is using a guard rather than a combo forward at SF.

Tatum, LeBron, Durant and Kawhi have all been considered SFs for much of their respective careers, even if PF is now their more common position.

It'd also be one thing if Booker was someone who played bigger for his size or a real dawg on defense but he's been a sieve and picked on as much or more than Curry and gets lost on screens and gives up lots of backdoor cuts (a play ran more internationally so far it seems than he's used to in the NBA).

[Triple7]

I'm unreasonably upset about Tatum not playing. Not only does it not make sense from a basketball perspective, but politically speaking, Tatum has given up multiple summers for the National team. He's sacrificed his body for the team since the age of 16 or 17. Plenty of these guys have declined invitations in the past for various reasons, and Tatum has always stepped up.

Looking forward to team USA's recruitment pitch for the next international competition.

USA Basketball has almost 4 years of grovel time to mend fences with Tatum and Brown ahead of the next Olympics.

The chance that either will play more international ball before then, however, seems very slim.

Nah. Tatum won’t play in the olympics as long as Kerr is the coach. He really **** up big time. Even if he plays him the rest of the way, the damage had been done. Good luck recruiting stars to play in 4yrs. I’m pretty sure Ant and Book can’t carry a team on their own. Guys like Bam, Jrue and White are role players. They should have invested in the future by doing JT good.

[cloverleaf]

Kerr has LeBron, KD and Tatum on his team, yet he started Booker at the 3.

Other weirdness flows from that.

It's not that weird. USA has been playing LeBron at the 4 quite a bit during exhibitions and games. And KD has been out with an injury, so that's why he didn't start - they were easing him back in there.

Oh and the team won the game by 26..over a good Serbia team, led by the best player in the world (Jokic) so I wouldn't complain about the rotations..

(Note that Kawhi was originally selected for the team as well.)

Why is that relevant now? It seems like the team really likes having White, which gives them not 1 but 2 elite POA defenders who can pressure the opposing PG 94 feet, distribute the ball and hit open shots.

It's a nice balance to have both of them (white, Jrue) in the back court with the other guards being more offensive minded who can at times be a liability on D (Hali, Curry).

Booker played well. C's fans, like most fans, tend to be heavy homers.

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

[Bar Fight]

There's gonna be so much pressure on JT to play well tomorrow. Imagine the backlash if he completely sucks lol. Not to mention he might get benched again.

[Parliament10]

Also in post #2.

[shackles10]

Let's be honest if KD and Tatum were both on the Celtics and only one was allowed to start, KD is starting.

Possibly, but I bet Tatum wouldn’t get a DNP-CD either.

[Homerclease]

I've thought about it and listened to Kerr's explanation. Nah, this is some absolute bullsh*t - it's time to put some respect on Tatum's name. Guy is an NBA champion (the reigning one in his prime), only American on the first team NBA, was the #2 option 4 years ago on the Olympic team as a 22 year old.

You want to give LBJ and Curry their minutes for the last time, fine do what you have to (KD too but he is actually the team USA GOAT so he can play whenever). That's three guys, Tatum is the most plug and play superstar in the league you find him a spot after that.

I don't think that is Kerr's thought process. When he is putting his rotation together, he's not thinking about "oh, this guy was an american on this all-NBA team, or that guy has made 10 all-star teams or this guy won a championship or that guy won an MVP".

None of that stuff enters his thought process. None of it is relevant because those accolades were accomplished in a completely different context, on a completely different team.

All he's probably basing it off his the training camp the team had, the scrimmages vs the Select team, the exhibition games and the practices. That's it. And he's looking at which of his players played well in those games/practices, which players didn't play so well, which players have shown really good chemistry with other players (he mentioned in 1 interview that Bam and AD have been playing off each other really well in practices) and looking at what tangible on court skills/attributes each player brings to the table which they have been showing as part of the team, since the team's training camp began.

This is absolute nonsense.

Jayson Tatum has paid his dues with the Olympic program and was one of the key players on the 2020 team, second in scoring behind Durant iirc. If it was going off of anything on court, Joel Embiid wouldn’t play a single minute. This is either beef between Kerr and Tatum, or backlash due to Jaylen Browns beef with Grant Hill.

[Homerclease]

Let's be honest if KD and Tatum were both on the Celtics and only one was allowed to start, KD is starting.

Strange point, seeing as neither man started last game

[Hal14]

Jayson Tatum has paid his dues with the Olympic program and was one of the key players on the 2020 team, second in scoring behind Durant iirc.

That was 4 years ago. A lifetime ago. Not very relevant to the 2024 olympics. This year's Olympic squad is very different. It's not a better, deeper team. And Tatum's 3 ball is struggling right now (0% from 3 during the exhibition games, 26% during the NBA finals).

Plus tatum was not with the team for the start of camp, and missed the first 2 practices.

If it was going off of anything on court, Joel Embiid wouldn’t play a single minute.

Embiid probably got the start yesterday because size-wise, he was our best matchup vs Jokic. It worked out well, since USA won by 26 over a good Serbia team, led by the best player in the world (Jokic).

Also, Kerr mentioned that AD and Bam have developed good chemistry on the court during practice. So perhaps he likes that combination coming off the bench, with Embiid starting..

This is either beef between Kerr and Tatum, or backlash due to Jaylen Browns beef with Grant Hill.

Jaylen Brown's beef with Grant Hill? Woah, that seems like a big time reach. You honestly think Kerr would bench Tatum, because of some "beef" (seems to be hyperbolic to call it that) between JB and Grant Hill? Really seems like a reach there.

I mean, Jrue and White played and they're teammates with JB too, so it doesn't add up. If anything, (if we're going off anecdotal conspiracy theories) Grant Hill would be advocating for Tatum to get more playing time than the other Celtics players since both him and Tatum are former Duke players..

It's been 2 days since the game vs Serbia. Surely, we can move on from this

I'm as big a Celtics fan as the next guy, but we don't have to be biased homers here..

[Homerclease]

Jayson Tatum has paid his dues with the Olympic program and was one of the key players on the 2020 team, second in scoring behind Durant iirc.

That was 4 years ago. A lifetime ago. Not very relevant to the 2024 olympics. This year's Olympic squad is very different. It's not a better, deeper team. And Tatum's 3 ball is struggling right now (0% from 3 during the exhibition games, 26% during the NBA finals).

Plus tatum was not with the team for the start of camp, and missed the first 2 practices.

If it was going off of anything on court, Joel Embiid wouldn’t play a single minute.

Embiid probably got the start yesterday because size-wise, he was our best matchup vs Jokic. It worked out well, since USA won by 26 over a good Serbia team, led by the best player in the world (Jokic).

Also, Kerr mentioned that AD and Bam have developed good chemistry on the court during practice. So perhaps he likes that combination coming off the bench, with Embiid starting..

This is either beef between Kerr and Tatum, or backlash due to Jaylen Browns beef with Grant Hill.

Jaylen Brown's beef with Grant Hill? Woah, that seems like a big time reach. You honestly think Kerr would bench Tatum, because of some "beef" (seems to be hyperbolic to call it that) between JB and Grant Hill? Really seems like a reach there.

I mean, Jrue and White played and they're teammates with JB too, so it doesn't add up. If anything, (if we're going off anecdotal conspiracy theories) Grant Hill would be advocating for Tatum to get more playing time than the other Celtics players since both him and Tatum are former Duke players..

It's been 2 days since the game vs Serbia. Surely, we can move on from this

I'm as big a Celtics fan as the next guy, but we don't have to be biased homers here..

Matchup? Lmao. We’re team USA. Other teams match up against us. Not the other way around.

Tatum being a cornerstone of the last team is 100% relevant to this years team. He earned his place. Period.

If you don’t think politics have played a role in team USA since pros were allowed to play, then frankly you aren’t qualified to be having this discussion. Nobody says Tatum and White when discussing the Celtics, or Tatum and Jrue. It’s Tatum and Brown, and Tatum has gone to bat for JB in public more than a few times since winning the title. Call it a reach if you want, because I think your entire post was reaching, coming up with excuses for Kerr how he benched a guy who’s been all NBA first team 3 times, came in 4th in MVP voting and already has success at the international level. It’s quite frankly indefensible and reeks of politics.