FIBA World Cup Discussion (Aug. 25-Sep. 10)

Post #261 » by **Klomp** » Wed Sep 6, 2023 5:55 pm

younggunsmn · Post #262 » by **younggunsmn** » Wed Sep 6, 2023 8:18 pm

2 more games for Ant and NAW to avoid injury.

NAW looks bigger in the upper body in those videos.
Still not sold on his shooting stroke, but he definitely could be primed for a bigger role this year.
Good get by TC and good job on the player development side too accentuating a player's strengths and helping him find the right role.

It looks like he carried some of that over to his team Canada play with his defense and being a good team offensive player instead of looking for his own shot.

minimus · Post #263 » by **minimus** » Wed Sep 6, 2023 9:35 pm

younggunsmn wrote:NAW looks bigger in the upper body in those videos.

I remember that last year he was not able to stop Spencer Dinwiddie drives in one game, because Dinwiddie looked bigger and stronger. If NAW can add 5-7 lbs of functional muscles without losing quickness, he will be even more versatile defender.

shrink · Post #264 » by **shrink** » Fri Sep 8, 2023 12:48 pm

Germany starting off hot by not letting Schröeder shoot.

He was 4-for-TWENTY-SIX last game against Latvia!

kidfozzy · Post #265 » by **kidfozzy** » Fri Sep 8, 2023 2:35 pm

Death by Reaves’ defense and Hali’s ankle being broken ughhhh.

jpatrick · Post #266 » by **jpatrick** » Fri Sep 8, 2023 3:29 pm

Whoever put this team together, not good. You have one real center that plays and while he’s great defensively, he can’t rebound. You have no PF. If you want to play small, fine, but get a 6’10” wing to play that spot that can defend/rebound. McDaniels would have really helped this team.

And Reaves and Brunson are really good but the disciplined teams just hunted them, much like what will happen in the NBA playoffs. I hated that Team USA switched everything, made it so easy for Germany to get whoever they wanted matches up on Reaves to take one-on-one.

And Ant is an absolute star. This game he was team’s best rebounder, scorer, and maybe defender.

TimberKat · Post #267 » by **TimberKat** » Fri Sep 8, 2023 5:58 pm

With this one comment from Kerr before the game with Germany - it sums up the most valuable learning experience for Ant : “The challenge is to figure out when to attack and when not to. And we're gonna need both,” Kerr said, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

How did Ant do in that progress today? I will add some comments later tonight when I have the chance to watch the full game.

Post #268 » by **Calinks** » Fri Sep 8, 2023 6:11 pm

I thnik we will always struggle as long as we don't have bigs who can compete. Its a huge disadvantage in the international scene. Several teams have tougher, bigger guys. We have pushed those guys out of the league.

Dalvin · Post #269 » by **Dalvin** » Fri Sep 8, 2023 8:13 pm

Everybody got the US vs Canada matchup they wanted. Just not for gold though :lol:

Dewey · Post #270 » by **Dewey** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 12:39 am

TimberKat wrote:With this one comment from Kerr before the game with Germany - it sums up the most valuable learning experience for Ant : “The challenge is to figure out when to attack and when not to. And we're gonna need both,” Kerr said, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

How did Ant do in that progress today? I will add some comments later tonight when I have the chance to watch the full game.

I’m not a Kerr fan… he always has a a way to deflect his own accountability. Here is he all about Ant and he washes his hands free of any loss.

FrenchMinnyFan · Post #271 » by **FrenchMinnyFan** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 1:59 am

Calinks wrote:I thnik we will always struggle as long as we don't have bigs who can compete. Its a huge disadvantage in the international scene. Several teams have tougher, bigger guys. We have pushed those guys out of the league.

Absolutly agree. USA have struggle all tournament rebounding. JJJ was not good at all, Kessler did not play much. And Kerr decision tl put Banchero at 5 was another mistake. Overall it's good to see that real team with chemistry are better teams that team build around name only.

TimberKat · Post #272 » by **TimberKat** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 2:09 am

Dewey wrote:
TimberKat wrote:With this one comment from Kerr before the game with Germany - it sums up the most valuable learning experience for Ant : “The challenge is to figure out when to attack and when not to. And we're gonna need both,” Kerr said, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

How did Ant do in that progress today? I will add some comments later tonight when I have the chance to watch the full game.

I’m not a Kerr fan… he always has a a way to deflect his own accountability. Here is he all about Ant and he washes his hands free of any loss.

The quote is after Italy where Ant only score 3 points but US won big but before the Germany game. About getting/needing most out of Ant. It's not about why US lost to Germany

TimberKat · Post #273 » by **TimberKat** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 2:14 am

FrenchMinnyFan wrote:
Calinks wrote:I thnik we will always struggle as long as we don't have bigs who can compete. Its a huge disadvantage in the international scene. Several teams have tougher, bigger guys. We have pushed those guys out of the league.

Absolutly agree. USA have struggle all tournament rebounding. JJJ was not good at all, Kessler did not play much. And Kerr decision tl put Banchero at 5 was another mistake. Overall it's good to see that real team with chemistry are better teams that team build around name only.

Skill bigs always beat skill smalls - wasn't that a quote from Finch interview? US players are more talented but doesn't develop the all around game as well as Europe players especially when it comes to team play concepts.

Post #274 » by **Domejandro** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 6:34 am

I wish we could have seen Anthony Edwards slot into a supporting role. I feel like that would have been more beneficial to his development than being a dedicated chucker on the team.

minimus · Post #275 » by **minimus** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 6:41 am

After watching US national team in FIBA I want Edwards to play always with two capable perimeter defenders. Watching Reaves, Brunson (and Hali at some degree) attacked in mismatches and postups was a frustrating. Fortunately McDaniels and NAW might be the answer at least for the next season.

Also I feel like EVERY European national team, even small Latvia is AUTOMATIC when guards/wings see a big in postup having size or position advantage OR when a big sees an open shooter on perimeter. I wish our MIN players learn this. This FIBA tournament has shown that even an elite talent can't beat this combination of neural connections and skills.

minimus · Post #276 » by **minimus** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 1:37 pm

Yeah, Latvia national team is everything I want MIN team to be: smart, disciplined, well coached, even tough, despite being undersized. They move the ball well, they shoot the ball well.

jpatrick · Post #277 » by **jpatrick** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 3:27 pm

Domejandro wrote:I wish we could have seen Anthony Edwards slot into a supporting role. I feel like that would have been more beneficial to his development than being a dedicated chucker on the team.

I get what you’re saying, but I disagree. His role here will be the same as on Team USA, alpha. What he needs to learn is what his teammates and Kerr talked about, better at knowing when to move the ball in that role, not be a ball stopper, and when to take over. I don’t think being a role player helps with that maturation.

Not that he’s Jordan but MJ had to go through a similar maturation over several years.

Team USA didn’t lose because of offense with Ant being the Alpha, they lost because of team construction. They had zero rebounding. None. And they relied heavily on players that got absolutely hunted on defense, Brunson and Reaves.

Post #278 » by **Klomp** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 4:40 pm

Calinks wrote:I thnik we will always struggle as long as we don't have bigs who can compete. Its a huge disadvantage in the international scene. Several teams have tougher, bigger guys. We have pushed those guys out of the league.

I think it's also worth saying though that the USA has almost never had that type of big in surplus. This isn't something new.

2000: Mourning was the only center
2004: Cs were Okafor and Stoudemire
2008: Howard and Bosh
2012: Chandler and Davis
2016: Cousins and Jordan
2020: Adebayo and McGee

But I do think we'll see some better bigs on the Olympic roster. This group was just so young...I am honestly satisfied being in the third place game. The youth will get bigger and stronger. In 4 years, Kessler will probably be a defensive force in FIBA.

We probably won't see as many guys from this year be featured on the Olympic team as we thought early on, I think that's what we saw more than anything else. Ant should be in the main rotation (Kerr might finally get him as the 6th man he wanted?) but I bet most other carry-overs will be DNP-CDs next year.

Post #279 » by **Klomp** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 5:38 pm

The thing this group lacked more than maybe anything is a defensive identity on the perimeter. As good as Ant is, he can't be the best or second-best defender while also being asked to carry the load offensively.

fattymcgee · Post #280 » by **fattymcgee** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 10:58 pm

Domejandro wrote:I wish we could have seen Anthony Edwards slot into a supporting role. I feel like that would have been more beneficial to his development than being a dedicated chucker on the team.

He did slot into a supporting role a lot of the time and then when team USA got down he would start taking over. He was off the ball a lot throughout this tournament. I think he should've been on the ball more but passing it out more often when they doubled. Using his "gravity" to get assists or hockey assists.