USA Basketball Team

[phincsfan]

I totally believe that Kerr knew exactly what he was doing by not playing JT. Look at the guys who got DNP's in 20' - McGee, Grant and Johnson . Those are guys deserving of a DNP every now and again. The game was over halfway through the 3rd. JT doesn't need to prove anything anymore. Rest up during the summer and have fun with your kid.

[Fierce1]

I think Ant and JT are in the same tier. But if i have to choose who’s better, i still have both JT and JB ahead of ant at this point. Ant hasn’t done **** in this league. He just talks like he’s the best lol

But you posted a lot of Ant is better than JT in late April and early May.

You changed your stance on Ant after you saw what the Mavs did to Ant and the Mavs.

The point is JT's only getting started and saying a 26-year old JT will shoot the same as a 30-year old is just not accurate.

Dude we are over this lol. If we start going back to every hot takes we had, we can probably reach 4 pages going back and forth. Lol

The point is your stance can change if you see a different result.

If JT tweaks his shot a bit then you'll end up saying you were wrong because you thought there was no hope for JT's shot.

[cloverleaf]

Now I feel bad for Haliburton lol. Kerr got shamed into realizing he should play Tatum but Hali is still sitting there and no one cares.

He won't have as many defenders as JT has, but yeah he's getting a raw deal too. I just hope Kerr being oblivious to thinking this wouldn't be an issue messes up his entire rotation and we lose games because the new goal becomes trying to figure out something he should have figured out in camp. Guy acts like this is Christian Laettner on the Dream Team or something. These are all-NBA players in their mid-20's with recent success in their respective conference finals.

I'd personally prefer the Olympics to go back to all amateur competition, but either way the US basketball team shouldn't be treated like a bunch of little league middle schoolers who have to all play in every game.

[ConstableGeneva]

He won't have as many defenders as JT has, but yeah he's getting a raw deal too. I just hope Kerr being oblivious to thinking this wouldn't be an issue messes up his entire rotation and we lose games because the new goal becomes trying to figure out something he should have figured out in camp. Guy acts like this is Christian Laettner on the Dream Team or something. These are all-NBA players in their mid-20's with recent success in their respective conference finals.

I thought one of the main reasons they picked White is for someone to have sit on the bench and not complain. What happened to that plan? DWhite made himself indispensable?

They didn't know what we already knew I guess. You can't deny DWhite!

Personally I think JT could fill a role similar to him and Jrue. Have all 3 Celtics be glue guys. It's basically what JT did all playoffs and the end of the year, but to a level so great he's still a superstar no matter what his shooting percentages are.

One thing that separates White (and Jrue) from the rest of the team is their ability to chase and harass lead guards/ballhandlers. POA defense just isn't the same with both of them off the floor. Curry, Booker, Hali, and even Ant are all okay-ish to downright bad at it. Tatum is better defending up now though I guess you can throw him at opposing PGs for a few possessions here and there.

EDIT: I just realized I posted a reply that doesn't really answer your post lol. That Tatum can play with either/both Jrue/White and play a similar role, just at a bigger position.

[Triple7]

But you posted a lot of Ant is better than JT in late April and early May.

You changed your stance on Ant after you saw what the Mavs did to Ant and the Mavs.

The point is JT's only getting started and saying a 26-year old JT will shoot the same as a 30-year old is just not accurate.

Dude we are over this lol. If we start going back to every hot takes we had, we can probably reach 4 pages going back and forth. Lol

The point is your stance can change if you see a different result.

If JT tweaks his shot a bit then you'll end up saying you were wrong because you thought there was no hope for JT's shot.

I hope he does, and i want him to improve and reach his potential and more.

[Hal14]

I totally believe that Kerr knew exactly what he was doing by not playing JT.

Which is?

Look at the guys who got DNP's in 20' - McGee, Grant and Johnson . Those are guys deserving of a DNP every now and again.

That was also a very different team. Every player on this year's roster is way better than the 3 guys you just named..

[phincsfan]

I totally believe that Kerr knew exactly what he was doing by not playing JT.

Which is?

IMO, for this exact reason. Stirring the pot. When I heard that JT didn't even warm up after halftime I thought the whole gameplan and rotation reason was BS. This wasn't a close enough game that you don't get all the guys minutes. And I'll be even more candid, that staff isn't Celtic a** kissers either. Now all the focus will be on exactly how many minutes JT gets going forward. That's the worst part.

Look at the guys who got DNP's in 20' - McGee, Grant and Johnson . Those are guys deserving of a DNP every now and again.

That was also a very different team. Every player on this year's roster is way better than the 3 guys you just named..

They made it and they should have been prepared to handle minutes.

[return2glory]

Feel bad for JT. That’s what you get by shooting poorly in the playoffs. You get little respect.

What did Lebron do in the playoffs? He shouldn't even be on the team. Sometimes it's about politics. It's not about Tatum's shooting in the layoffs. Who did Curry shoot in the playoffs? He's team didn't make the playoffs.

Lol. Those guys you mentioned are all time greats and had multiple season mvp’s. Tatum is even questionable being the best player on his team. That’s why he gets no respect from coaches and some of his peers. They look at him like he doesn’t have a dog in him. Nice guys finish last. That’s why Kerr had the nerve to bench him, because he’s too nice. I’d like Kerr to do that to antman and booker. He’ll definitely hear something from those guys. It’s time for JT to ditch the nice guy act. Show those mf’s he can be the “man” among men. Be a fierce competitor. This would be a good motivation for the Jays coming next season.

You mentioned playoffs. It had nothing to do with playoffs. As far as for now, Lebron isn't even a top 10 player anymore, Tatum is. Tatum has been better than Lebron for a few years now. If they are playing Lebron for his reputation, then part of his reputation is he uses steroids. No one wants to talk about his steroids use because he is the Godfather of the NBA and the NBA looks the other way. Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire didn't get that type of treatment. They got busted because of a whistle blower.

[return2glory]

Personally, I'm not upset Tatum didn't play. I feel like White and Holiday are a better fit for this team. So I don't get why some post about White and Holiday getting minutes and Tatum is not. What bothers me is guys like Booker and Lebron are getting minutes over Tatum. Lebron shouldn't even be in the team. He gets a pass like from the NBA. He doesn't even play defense in the NBA any more. People are praising him for being good against South Sudan and Serbia?

[lon3lytoaster]

Steve Kerr is actually a bog witch and has pinup photos of Gruntilda in his bedroom. Just look at his nose.

I hate him for who he is, not because he’s a bog witch to be clear.

Don’t check my sources.

[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.

[Shak_Celts]

They can kiss my butt (Perk), WHITE DESERVES to be out there too, he’s not the one who should be sat for Tatum! Yes, Tatum should play before White as far as talent but he’s not the one who should be DNP either. I can name a whole slew of guys (Embiid/Booker) who Tatum should be on the floor ahead of! Let’s be real, on team USA he’s better than all of them at this point. Okay, lbj, curry and Durant are going to play, but other than that which are better than Tatum, Embiid? Maybe in the NBA (not my opinion).


Tatum is the face and it’s that simple, they push everybody but as far as a USA player, it’s consistently Tatum on fans minds (aside from lbj and curry)!

Of course Tatum is going to handle it like the champ he is but there is no question, he shouldn’t have to! HE IS THE FACE, stop trying to push everyone else (they like Luka too but he needs to win first)!

[Triple7]

What did Lebron do in the playoffs? He shouldn't even be on the team. Sometimes it's about politics. It's not about Tatum's shooting in the layoffs. Who did Curry shoot in the playoffs? He's team didn't make the playoffs.

Lol. Those guys you mentioned are all time greats and had multiple season mvp’s. Tatum is even questionable being the best player on his team. That’s why he gets no respect from coaches and some of his peers. They look at him like he doesn’t have a dog in him. Nice guys finish last. That’s why Kerr had the nerve to bench him, because he’s too nice. I’d like Kerr to do that to antman and booker. He’ll definitely hear something from those guys. It’s time for JT to ditch the nice guy act. Show those mf’s he can be the “man” among men. Be a fierce competitor. This would be a good motivation for the Jays coming next season.

You mentioned playoffs. It had nothing to do with playoffs. As far as for now, Lebron isn't even a top 10 player anymore, Tatum is. Tatum has been better than Lebron for a few years now. If they are playing Lebron for his reputation, then part of his reputation is he uses steroids. No one wants to talk about his steroids use because he is the Godfather of the NBA and the NBA looks the other way. Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire didn't get that type of treatment. They got busted because of a whistle blower.

Leflop shouldn’t even be playing with his age, much more starting, but Kerr will play those guys mins based on who they are. If JT wants to be respected, he should do it with his play in the playoffs. Also being nice won’t help his cause.

[Triple7]

They can kiss my butt (Perk), WHITE DESERVES to be out there too, he’s not the one who should be sat for Tatum! Yes, Tatum should play before White as far as talent but he’s not the one who should be DNP either. I can name a whole slew of guys (Embiid/Booker) who Tatum should be on the floor ahead of! Let’s be real, on team USA he’s better than all of them at this point. Okay, lbj, curry and Durant are going to play, but other than that which are better than Tatum, Embiid? Maybe in the NBA (not my opinion).


Tatum is the face and it’s that simple, they push everybody but as far as a USA player, it’s consistently Tatum on fans minds (aside from lbj and curry)!

Of course Tatum is going to handle it like the champ he is but there is no question, he shouldn’t have to! HE IS THE FACE, stop trying to push everyone else (they like Luka too but he needs to win first)!

I think Kerr and Spo been playing mind games. Tatum or not, they know won’t make any diff. They want to mess with the celtics. How is it that Tatum plays against Sudan, a more athletic team than Serbia lol. If they lose to Serbia, tatum will get blamed for playing haha

[Fencer reregistered]

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

Other weirdness flows from that.

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

[Tatumfor2]

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.

[Fencer reregistered]

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.

[flintsky21]

Steve Kerr can't find any use for a 6'9" dude who can score and defend at a high level and can contribute relatively well on playmaking and rebounding. Yeah right.

My guess is Tatum is gonna play in the next 2 games just to calm down the narratives then get doghoused again in the playoffs. It's apparent that either Kerr doesn't like him very much or simply is not a fan of his game.

[cloverleaf]

Steve Kerr can't find any use for a 6'9" dude who can score and defend at a high level and can contribute relatively well on playmaking and rebounding. Yeah right.

My guess is Tatum is gonna play in the next 2 games just to calm down the narratives then get doghoused again in the playoffs. It's apparent that either Kerr doesn't like him very much or simply is not a fan of his game.

Maybe he was looking to the mix of players he fielded for that particular matchup. Or, he might not have liked Tatum showing up late enough to miss half the team's practices before their first exhibition game. For those saying he was still resting up from his championship, that was won on June 17th and practice started on July 6th. Also, of course, Jrue managed to be there on time.

[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 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.