2024 Olympic BASKETBALL Thread (Pt. 2: Let the Games Begin!)

[durden_tyler]

Any particular reason Tatum didn't play?

LeBron and KD are better than him and Kerr is trying to build rhythm and chemistry.

I’d add Ant is also a tier above him. And White while not necessarily better, he plays his role better. Tatum goes iso too many times trying to get his and that’s not something USA needs with all these better scorers around

Tatum AND Embiid actually. Kerr will pull that trigger depending on the QF matchup. Both can feast against SS and PR for the meantime just so they can get the positive Olympic experience and confidence not shaken too much.


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[DarkAzcura]

LeBron and KD are better than him and Kerr is trying to build rhythm and chemistry.

I’d add Ant is also a tier above him. And White while not necessarily better, he plays his role better. Tatum goes iso too many times trying to get his and that’s not something USA needs with all these better scorers around

I don’t know that Any is overall better than Tatum yet, but he definitely is better in the role team USA is filling.

I feel like it’s pretty obvious to everyone not named Simmons and the people in Boston why Tatum doesn’t play.

I would love to know the last time they took one of the top options from a previous gold medal team with largely the same roster outside LeBron and Curry, and then not play said player at all. Oh, and he’s one of the most important players team USA needs to keep showing up for the next 8-10 years if they want to keep up with the world. Why would he show up in the future after this? This isn’t Tatum’s first Olympics. You don’t yank minutes around like that.

[CobraCommander]

Tatum and Brown should defect to Serbia

[eyeatoma]

Why are people crying about Tatum getting a DNP? He played big minutes in the exhibition games and we almost lost to South Sudan. He plays zero minutes today and team USA was absolutely dominant.

Celtics fans think that becuase they won a chip, all of their players **** smell like roses.

[ForeverTFC]

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Tatum is better than Booker at literally everything and has great previous Olympic experience. Oh well, motivation for mvp and repeat next season

Booker is the better shooter/scorer which is really what they need out of that role. Tatum’s appeal is an all around game but there’s better all around players and more lethal discrete skill set on this team.

That doesn’t make any sense. Tatum won Olympic gold as second option.

It makes perfect sense. There are better 2nd options on this iteration of the team. And others are being used as a specialist, and they are better than Tatum at that one specific thing they’re being asked to do.

[levon]

If I'm gonna be honest, the guy with the most specious starting case is Steph. He hasn't gone nuclear thus far and I actually think the bench needs him more as a ballhandler. If you had Steph come off the bench, Tatum would make sense at the 4.

[Patches Perry]

Devin Booker played the 2nd most minutes behind LeBron at 26 minutes. I think Booker's ability to seamlessly fit in as a 3&D roleplayer is a large reason why Tatum didn't get any minutes. Perhaps it's simply a matter of Booker playing very good basketball and playing off of "the big dogs" really well.

[California Gold]

24 people voted for Canada on this poll? The **** is wrong with people.

And? Some of us are rooting for team Canada

And? I missed the part where the poll asked who you’re rooting for.

[Godfather13]

Lol, he's not getting MVP.

Tatum MVP is hilarious fr

We can bet your account on it as well

Deal! But I dont need your account deleted cos of the comedy you bring to the people, so I need XBox Ultimate 1 year instead

[NyKnicks1714]

I get he's not a great fit, but I think Kerr needs to play Tatum for the optics. Is giving him 10 minutes a game ever going to result in a loss when the team would have won otherwise? I really doubt it.

[durden_tyler]

I'm honestly shocked that so many people in this thread think Booker is a better player than Tatum

Does not matter at this point. Better player =/= better fit. The great coaches decides to go with the latter and that’s always a great decision.


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[eyeatoma]

ROFL!

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[eyeatoma]

K, even I found this funny...

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[ForeverTFC]

I’d add Ant is also a tier above him. And White while not necessarily better, he plays his role better. Tatum goes iso too many times trying to get his and that’s not something USA needs with all these better scorers around

I don’t know that Any is overall better than Tatum yet, but he definitely is better in the role team USA is filling.

I feel like it’s pretty obvious to everyone not named Simmons and the people in Boston why Tatum doesn’t play.

I would love to know the last time they took one of the top options from a previous gold medal team with largely the same roster outside LeBron and Curry, and then not play said player at all. Oh, and he’s one of the most important players team USA needs to keep showing up for the next 8-10 years if they want to keep up with the world. Why would he show up in the future after this? This isn’t Tatum’s first Olympics. You don’t yank minutes around like that.

You just answered your own question. LeBron and Curry have taken over the team and others are better in a supporting role than Tatum.

[CobraCommander]

If I'm gonna be honest, the guy with the most specious starting case is Steph. He hasn't gone nuclear thus far and I actually think the bench needs him more as a ballhandler. If you had Steph come off the bench, Tatum would make sense at the 4.

Kerr making excuses for playing Green and excuses not to play Tatum…. One is an actual good teammate and this is going to be bad PR and Kerr knows it .

This is disrespectful

[azcatz11]

I get he's not a great fit, but I think Kerr needs to play Tatum for the optics. Is giving him 10 minutes a game ever going to result in a loss when the team would have won otherwise? I really doubt it.

Exactly. It’s not like it was a close game. It’s a strange situation

[durden_tyler]

You guys really think USA can drop games in this group and point dif will matter? Come on

The top 3 teams in each group are likely ending up 3-0 so tiebreak for the Top 2 (won’t be part of the QF draw).

France beating say Japan by 50 pts and then Canada defeating Spain and/or Australia by 30 or something can skew those Top 2 (assuming US takes SS and PR lightly and wins just by 10 points or less).


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I’ll take the L. 3 losses in a row for me

i wish i faded you on that Canada pick. LOL


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[AleksandarN]

How does it feel to be constantly wrong? Lmao. And yes, Wemby is all the difference

When has he been the difference maker with France? What are their record this year? How did France do against Serbia. Man you are easy work.

We will see buddy. When France ends up with silver, can’t wait to see the meltdown

You have nothing to back up what you say other than “trust me bro”. Obviously you are trolling because no one can be this ignorant and have this lack of knowledge to be posting what you are posting. Either way you are easy work son.

[durden_tyler]

Tatum and Brown should defect to Serbia

i think Serbia passes. LOL


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[CobraCommander]

ROFL!

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Yeah good job Kerr - man it’s like Kerr doesn’t understand humans