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

[BelgradeNugget]

Re: pretty much all non-Americans treat Olympic basketball and World Cup basketball as the same. I'm skeptical that y'all really know this. I'm sure that among those around you this is true, but I doubt you've done any global surveys. That said, I don't know it not to be the case either.

Pretty much all non americans, oh except the best basketball player in the world, Jokic. He didn't care enough about World Cup to play in it, but he's here in the Olympics. If the best basketball player (and certaintly best non americna player in the world) doesn't take the world cup seriously, why should anyone?


Like imagine Jokic deciding he doesn't want to partake in the NBA playoffs and just decides to sit at home. He would never do that. and he'd never do that for the Olympics either.

NBA players treat Olympic basketball tournament like it is an event where you go to live in an Olympic city for a month, with thousands of hottest, fittest, single, young women around you.

NBA players treat World Cup basketball tournament like it is an event where you go to be surrounded by other basketball players for a month.

I think this is the main difference.

[hugepatsfan]

Tatum will suck it up and be fine, say all the right things. If anything, it's probably a longer term risk to team USA if you just turn him off to playing. He already won gold as a key player last Olympics so it's not like he's still chasing that feeling. He pretty routinely plays deep into the playoffs and with a gold medal in hand as a core player and a sour experience this time around he might just opt out.

Through some combination of age/injury/already checking the box of playing, it wouldn't surprise me if Lebron/Durant/Curry/Holiday/AD/Embiid are all out of the picture in 4 years. We make threads all the time about how USA talent pipeline isn't what it once was. On paper, however expendable Tatum might be on this year's team, he projects to be a pretty important core piece 4 years from now like he was in the last Olympics. So I definitely think there's some ego managing they'll try to do behind the scenes to keep him actually invested vs. just putting on a good face and then being done investing his time in this going forward.

I think this will sting in the short term and Kerr will figure out getting him in more. I doubt he’ll hold a grudge. Especially because it will look like he’s holding a grudge.

However, you do highlight he has good objective reasons to skip it next time. Mainly the mileage and playoff runs by then.

Think they’ll need him. I started a thread about 2028 recently. Just not impressed at all with that projected pool compared to the entire history of US teams back to 1992, and that’s assuming Tatum’s in the fold.

My thing is that if I'm Tatum, I'd just be looking for some peace. Other than Embiid, there really aren't any players of his caliber who get the same hate and online vitriol. And unlike Embiid, Tatum isn't a proud "troll" who invites a lot of it. Guy is just always getting **** on for really no reasons other than not being a little bit better than he is and for not being "cool". Literally the guy is constantly mocked and laughed at by NBA fans for not being that outgoing and for "only" being top 6-10, even 15 whatever people want to argue.

He was a huge part of USA winning gold last time but now by Kerr not playing the Olympics now have turned into a continuation of the NBA fans' ongoing **** on Tatum party. If he plays now, every time he misses a shot they're gonna meme about team USA is costing themselves to appease Tatum. If he plays and dominates they're gonna call him a front runner who can only win on stacked teams. If he doesn't play, they're gonna meme him as being carried by his teammates to wins again. It's a no win situation for him and now that Kerr made this headline move with him there's really no laying low and sliding by for him. It's a "camera on Tatum" type deal now either way.

Tatum's probably more competitive, mentally tougher and just loves playing basketball more than me so maybe he sees it differently, but if I were in his shoes I'd just want a **** break from it. If playing on team USA is going to be made into more ammo for people to disrespect me I'd just stay my ass at home. Especially since he already was a core piece on a gold medal team so it's not like he hasn't experienced that. God bless him for keep putting himself through the ringer like that if he does lol

[The4thHorseman]

Read on Twitter

?t=YfswEjrffu6fDNUb0BIlfg&s=19

[Mamba81p]

Re: pretty much all non-Americans treat Olympic basketball and World Cup basketball as the same. I'm skeptical that y'all really know this. I'm sure that among those around you this is true, but I doubt you've done any global surveys. That said, I don't know it not to be the case either.

Pretty much all non americans, oh except the best basketball player in the world, Jokic. He didn't care enough about World Cup to play in it, but he's here in the Olympics. If the best basketball player (and certaintly best non americna player in the world) doesn't take the world cup seriously, why should anyone?


Like imagine Jokic deciding he doesn't want to partake in the NBA playoffs and just decides to sit at home. He would never do that. and he'd never do that for the Olympics either.

Non-americans keep making this dumb argument, but the history tells us otherwise.
Not only jokic, but Manu, Pau, Tony Parker skipped world cups before but they always played in the Olympics. There are plenty of examples like that.

Some fans outside of US obviously care more about their NT far more then NBA, regardless of the competition, and expect their players to do the same, but that is not a reality in basketball, unlike other sports where NT is the no 1 priority. There are exceptions like Luis Scola, but he is one of the few exceptions.

[CBS7]

Tatum sucks but he's not DNP-sucks

[CBS7]

Jokic was completely neutralized. Embiid did his job.

He played 11 minutes and was arguably our worst player.

And again, for like the fifth time, what does any of that have to do with the notion that Embiid needs to start because he’s an entire offensive system even though he’ll never have that role on this team?

I have stated plenty of times that Embiid is on Team USA for Jokic. Jokic was neutralized and had a ZERO on/off. What's more neutralized than zero?

Bruh lol
Its absolutely hilarious you think Jokic's 0 on/off is a dig at him.

[Larry_Russell]

Team USA just effortlessly beat one of the best teams in the tournament by 20+ and people are saying Kerr shouldn't be coaching?

Tatum not playing is ridiculous. Period.

In no world should bam be getting more mijutes that JT.

LOL, Bam has been one of the most impactful players on the team due to his defense and the flow of the offense of playing AD and Bam together. You clearly have not watched any of the games.

Tatum defense is as good.
Tatum is a vastly superior offensive player.

Do you really think that Bam fits better on the team than the champ? If so you clearly do not understand basketball at all.

[Larry_Russell]

The Hate Tatum gets around here is foolish. And the takes on his game are more so that way.

[God Squad]

Jokic was completely neutralized. Embiid did his job.

He played 11 minutes and was arguably our worst player.

And again, for like the fifth time, what does any of that have to do with the notion that Embiid needs to start because he’s an entire offensive system even though he’ll never have that role on this team?

I have stated plenty of times that Embiid is on Team USA for Jokic. Jokic was neutralized and had a ZERO on/off. What's more neutralized than zero? Jokic was 1 of 6 from three with four turnovers. When a team's perimeter defense is as horrible as Serbia's then there is no need to repeatedly dial up the Embiid package when Durant is cooking.

You don't seem to understand how on/off works. Having a zero on/off when your team loses by almost 30 is good. While Team USA clearly has the better team, in no way can you say "Embiid did his job" when he played 11 mins.

Read on Twitter

[SelfishPlayer]

He played 11 minutes and was arguably our worst player.

And again, for like the fifth time, what does any of that have to do with the notion that Embiid needs to start because he’s an entire offensive system even though he’ll never have that role on this team?

I have stated plenty of times that Embiid is on Team USA for Jokic. Jokic was neutralized and had a ZERO on/off. What's more neutralized than zero?

Bruh lol
Its absolutely hilarious you think Jokic's 0 on/off is a dig at him.

Jokic didn't do enough to beat team USA. He did enough to have his fans blame his teammates for not being good enough. That's a familiar criticism.

[God Squad]

I have stated plenty of times that Embiid is on Team USA for Jokic. Jokic was neutralized and had a ZERO on/off. What's more neutralized than zero?

Bruh lol
Its absolutely hilarious you think Jokic's 0 on/off is a dig at him.

Jokic didn't do enough to beat team USA. He did enough to have his fans blame his teammates for not being good enough. That's a familiar criticism.

You don't seem to understand +/- at all.

[SelfishPlayer]

Bruh lol
Its absolutely hilarious you think Jokic's 0 on/off is a dig at him.

Jokic didn't do enough to beat team USA. He did enough to have his fans blame his teammates for not being good enough. That's a familiar criticism.

You don't seem to understand +/- at all.

1 for 6 from three point line or the four turnovers?

[God Squad]

Jokic didn't do enough to beat team USA. He did enough to have his fans blame his teammates for not being good enough. That's a familiar criticism.

You don't seem to understand +/- at all.

1 for 6 from three point line or the four turnovers?

wtf does that have to do with anything? Legit confused.

[CBS7]

I have stated plenty of times that Embiid is on Team USA for Jokic. Jokic was neutralized and had a ZERO on/off. What's more neutralized than zero?

Bruh lol
Its absolutely hilarious you think Jokic's 0 on/off is a dig at him.

Jokic didn't do enough to beat team USA. He did enough to have his fans blame his teammates for not being good enough. That's a familiar criticism.

Jokic kept a far less talented team EVEN with team USA.
With Jokic on the bench, Serbia scored 3 points.

[CBS7]

Jokic didn't do enough to beat team USA. He did enough to have his fans blame his teammates for not being good enough. That's a familiar criticism.

You don't seem to understand +/- at all.

1 for 6 from three point line or the four turnovers?

He didn't have a perfect game.
He had a decently efficient scoring game (20 points on 15 shots) despite the 1-6 from 3. He had 8 assists and 4 steals despite the 4 turnovers.
In the 9 minutes he didn't play, Serbia scored 3 points.

He kept Serbia in the game while he was on the floor. Game was 81-81 when Jokic played. Team USA had a 0 +/- when Jokic played. Jokic neutralized all of team USA!!!

[God Squad]

You don't seem to understand +/- at all.

1 for 6 from three point line or the four turnovers?

He didn't have a perfect game.
He had a decently efficient scoring game (20 points on 15 shots) despite the 1-6 from 3. He had 8 assists and 4 steals despite the 4 turnovers.
In the 9 minutes he didn't play, Serbia scored 3 points.

He kept Serbia in the game while he was on the floor. Game was 81-81 when Jokic played. Team USA had a 0 +/- when Jokic played. Jokic neutralized all of team USA!!!

He doesn't understand how the stat works. That's why there's a disconnect.

[chudak]

Re: pretty much all non-Americans treat Olympic basketball and World Cup basketball as the same. I'm skeptical that y'all really know this. I'm sure that among those around you this is true, but I doubt you've done any global surveys. That said, I don't know it not to be the case either.

Pretty much all non americans, oh except the best basketball player in the world, Jokic. He didn't care enough about World Cup to play in it, but he's here in the Olympics. If the best basketball player (and certaintly best non americna player in the world) doesn't take the world cup seriously, why should anyone?


Like imagine Jokic deciding he doesn't want to partake in the NBA playoffs and just decides to sit at home. He would never do that. and he'd never do that for the Olympics either.

NBA players treat Olympic basketball tournament like it is an event where you go to live in an Olympic city for a month, with thousands of hottest, fittest, single, young women around you.

NBA players treat World Cup basketball tournament like it is an event where you go to be surrounded by other basketball players for a month.

I think this is the main difference.

I mentioned this somewhere before - the Olympics have an advantage of you being a part of a larger celebration of sports so its a lifestyle thing - not just a national tournament

[DarkAzcura]

Jokic didn't do enough to beat team USA. He did enough to have his fans blame his teammates for not being good enough. That's a familiar criticism.

You don't seem to understand +/- at all.

1 for 6 from three point line or the four turnovers?

You’re really digging yourself in a hole, eh? Seems fun

[Inspektor1312]

Don't know why you people keep responding to an obvious troll.
Posters like that are why the quality of discussion will only continue to go down.

[lambchop]

Team USA just effortlessly beat one of the best teams in the tournament by 20+ and people are saying Kerr shouldn't be coaching?

Tatum not playing is ridiculous. Period.

In no world should bam be getting more mijutes that JT.

LOL, Bam has been one of the most impactful players on the team due to his defense and the flow of the offense of playing AD and Bam together. You clearly have not watched any of the games.

Tatum defense is as good.
Tatum is a vastly superior offensive player.

Do you really think that Bam fits better on the team than the champ? If so you clearly do not understand basketball at all.

His defense isn't as good defending the 5. They needed Bam against Jokic. Tatum, couldn't have filled that void.

He's definitely way better on offense, but it's pretty clear that LBJ, KD and Steph are the ones running the show, while everyone else either has to get theirs with limited shots or fill specific roles, like being a defensive menace or catch and shoot threat. That's why Holiday, White and Booker fit in seamlessly.

That said, I still think team USA has be smart about this moving forward, cause there will be another olympics in 4 years time and it wouldn't be wise to disgruntle Tatum and Haliburton, given that those guys would be expected to leaders of the team by then, though I could still see LBJ filling a sixth man role for the team, if he really feels like it.