USA Basketball Team

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Also in post #2.

Oh so the US are guaranteed to play in the semis and beyond ? Cool I missed the part where they already qualified.

[wangyou18]

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.

We don't have to bash Kerr just because he forgot to play Tatum for one game. From everything I have seen, his track record is worthy of respect and benefit of doubt. Ultimately, the goal is to win. If Tatum doesn't perform well in the mins he's given, I have no issue with Kerr benching him.

[Triple7]

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.


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..


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.

We don't have to bash Kerr just because he forgot to play Tatum for one game. From everything I have seen, his track record is worthy of respect and benefit of doubt. Ultimately, the goal is to win. If Tatum doesn't perform well in the mins he's given, I have no issue with Kerr benching him.

Lol. He didn’t forget. He just chise to not play him, which is stupid. What??? He can’t get 3mins off of Lebron and KD’s mins in the 1st half??? Then play in the 4th during a blow out? Is Tatum some scrub, and team usa will suddenly lose a lead with him inside? Kerr **** up. This will have a negative effect with star players wanting to play for team usa in the future. Good luck with that.

[Dainis]

I reckon the whole Tatum thing is blown way out of proportion. I mean, it was just one game. Kerr has already clearly stated that Tatum will play against South Sudan, so chill out and enjoy the Olympics.

[Fierce1]

I reckon the whole Tatum thing is blown way out of proportion. I mean, it was just one game. Kerr has already clearly stated that Tatum will play against South Sudan, so chill out and enjoy the Olympics.

It was disrespectful.

Simple as that.

[wangyou18]

I reckon the whole Tatum thing is blown way out of proportion. I mean, it was just one game. Kerr has already clearly stated that Tatum will play against South Sudan, so chill out and enjoy the Olympics.

It was disrespectful.

Simple as that.

Or it was a sacrifice that helped KD go off and get Team USA a 26pt win

[Fierce1]

I reckon the whole Tatum thing is blown way out of proportion. I mean, it was just one game. Kerr has already clearly stated that Tatum will play against South Sudan, so chill out and enjoy the Olympics.

It was disrespectful.

Simple as that.

Or it was a sacrifice that helped KD go off and get Team USA a 26pt win

If it was just that then the whole NBA community would not be talking about it.

Spin it all you want.

In the end it was disrespectful on the part of Kerr.

USA had a big lead to start the 4th and were never threatened the rest of the way.

But Lebron and Steph were playing in garbage time.

If Kerr let Tatum to play the start of the 4th then fans would be talking about Team USA's win and not the benching of Jayson Tatum.

[brackdan70]

It was disrespectful.

Simple as that.

Or it was a sacrifice that helped KD go off and get Team USA a 26pt win

If it was just that then the whole NBA community would not be talking about it.

Spin it all you want.

In the end it was disrespectful on the part of Kerr.

USA had a big lead to start the 4th and were never threatened the rest of the way.

But Lebron and Steph were playing in garbage time.

If Kerr let Tatum to play the start of the 4th then fans would be talking about Team USA's win and not the benching of Jayson Tatum.

I’m cool with it. Dude just played a 100 game season .
I think there is a bunch of over reaction and if it puts a chip on JTs shoulder fine. There is really noting negative about him sitting.
It’s the last hurrah for Jrue, KD, Steph and LBJ, probably for Embiid as well.
JT will have two more chances to be an Olympic “star”

[Fierce1]

Or it was a sacrifice that helped KD go off and get Team USA a 26pt win

If it was just that then the whole NBA community would not be talking about it.

Spin it all you want.

In the end it was disrespectful on the part of Kerr.

USA had a big lead to start the 4th and were never threatened the rest of the way.

But Lebron and Steph were playing in garbage time.

If Kerr let Tatum to play the start of the 4th then fans would be talking about Team USA's win and not the benching of Jayson Tatum.

I’m cool with it. Dude just played a 100 game season .
I think there is a bunch of over reaction and if it puts a chip on JTs shoulder fine. There is really noting negative about him sitting.
It’s the last hurrah for Jrue, KD, Steph and LBJ, probably for Embiid as well.
JT will have two more chances to be an Olympic “star”

As a Celtic fan, I agree with you about the 100-game season because I don't want JT getting hurt, like Gallo.

But as a basketball fan, what Kerr did was not right.

You can say Haliburton will have 2 more chances to be an Olympic star, but you can't treat Jayson Tatum like he's Haliburton.

This is more about Kerr being a FacKerr than JT sitting.

[brackdan70]

If it was just that then the whole NBA community would not be talking about it.

Spin it all you want.

In the end it was disrespectful on the part of Kerr.

USA had a big lead to start the 4th and were never threatened the rest of the way.

But Lebron and Steph were playing in garbage time.

If Kerr let Tatum to play the start of the 4th then fans would be talking about Team USA's win and not the benching of Jayson Tatum.

I’m cool with it. Dude just played a 100 game season .
I think there is a bunch of over reaction and if it puts a chip on JTs shoulder fine. There is really noting negative about him sitting.
It’s the last hurrah for Jrue, KD, Steph and LBJ, probably for Embiid as well.
JT will have two more chances to be an Olympic “star”

As a Celtic fan, I agree with you about the 100-game season because I don't want JT getting hurt, like Gallo.

But as a basketball fan, what Kerr did was not right.

You can say Haliburton will have 2 more chances to be an Olympic star, but you can't treat Jayson Tatum like he's Haliburton.

This is more about Kerr being a FacKerr than JT sitting.

Yes that may also be true.

[cloverleaf]

It was disrespectful.

Simple as that.

Or it was a sacrifice that helped KD go off and get Team USA a 26pt win

If it was just that then the whole NBA community would not be talking about it.

Spin it all you want.

In the end it was disrespectful on the part of Kerr.

USA had a big lead to start the 4th and were never threatened the rest of the way.

But Lebron and Steph were playing in garbage time.

If Kerr let Tatum to play the start of the 4th then fans would be talking about Team USA's win and not the benching of Jayson Tatum.

What else does the whole NBA community have to talk about? The idea that either of the Jays hasn't received sufficient adulation and accolades is preposterous.

[Fierce1]

Or it was a sacrifice that helped KD go off and get Team USA a 26pt win

If it was just that then the whole NBA community would not be talking about it.

Spin it all you want.

In the end it was disrespectful on the part of Kerr.

USA had a big lead to start the 4th and were never threatened the rest of the way.

But Lebron and Steph were playing in garbage time.

If Kerr let Tatum to play the start of the 4th then fans would be talking about Team USA's win and not the benching of Jayson Tatum.

What else does the whole NBA community have to talk about? The idea that either of the Jays hasn't received sufficient adulation and accolades is preposterous.

This is not about the Jays.

2 players got benched against Serbia and only JT got the attention of the fans and the media.

Kerr himself already admitted he regretted not playing JT.

So clearly a mistake was made by the coach because the coach ended up disrespecting Tatum.

[fallguy]

I can't believe anyone is up in arms about this Tatum stuff.

[shackles10]

We need NBA players in the 3x3 basketball. Women have it so men need to as well. Timelord and both Celtic's PP's just for fun wins gold lol. Joking aside I'm actually really enjoying the 3x3 setup and hadn't followed it before.

Edit: we need a 4th so you know Joe Johnson can still get buckets.

[BK_2020]

There should be like 10 basketball events. 5 on 5, 3 on 3, Horse, Skills challenge, dunk contest, 3P contest, and more. If swimming can have 50 medals for swimming the same distance just differently, it should work the same way for basketball.

[ConstableGeneva]

There should be like 10 basketball events. 5 on 5, 3 on 3, Horse, Skills challenge, dunk contest, 3P contest, and more. If swimming can have 50 medals for swimming the same distance just differently, it should work the same way for basketball.

Send PP to the Last Second Half Court Heave event.

[poopship]

If it was just that then the whole NBA community would not be talking about it.

Spin it all you want.

In the end it was disrespectful on the part of Kerr.

USA had a big lead to start the 4th and were never threatened the rest of the way.

But Lebron and Steph were playing in garbage time.

If Kerr let Tatum to play the start of the 4th then fans would be talking about Team USA's win and not the benching of Jayson Tatum.

I’m cool with it. Dude just played a 100 game season .
I think there is a bunch of over reaction and if it puts a chip on JTs shoulder fine. There is really noting negative about him sitting.
It’s the last hurrah for Jrue, KD, Steph and LBJ, probably for Embiid as well.
JT will have two more chances to be an Olympic “star”

As a Celtic fan, I agree with you about the 100-game season because I don't want JT getting hurt, like Gallo.

But as a basketball fan, what Kerr did was not right.

You can say Haliburton will have 2 more chances to be an Olympic star, but you can't treat Jayson Tatum like he's Haliburton.

This is more about Kerr being a FacKerr than JT sitting.

The rest of the world seems to think Kerr is an idiot not playing Tatum against Serbia too. Obviously there was some kind of beef or Kerr is awfully simple minded not using his biggest advantage which are his wings.

[brackdan70]

I’m cool with it. Dude just played a 100 game season .
I think there is a bunch of over reaction and if it puts a chip on JTs shoulder fine. There is really noting negative about him sitting.
It’s the last hurrah for Jrue, KD, Steph and LBJ, probably for Embiid as well.
JT will have two more chances to be an Olympic “star”

As a Celtic fan, I agree with you about the 100-game season because I don't want JT getting hurt, like Gallo.

But as a basketball fan, what Kerr did was not right.

You can say Haliburton will have 2 more chances to be an Olympic star, but you can't treat Jayson Tatum like he's Haliburton.

This is more about Kerr being a FacKerr than JT sitting.

The rest of the world seems to think Kerr is an idiot not playing Tatum against Serbia too. Obviously there was some kind of beef or Kerr is awfully simple minded not using his biggest advantage which are his wings.

Maybe he has money on the spread?

[brackdan70]

We need NBA players in the 3x3 basketball. Women have it so men need to as well. Timelord and both Celtic's PP's just for fun wins gold lol. Joking aside I'm actually really enjoying the 3x3 setup and hadn't followed it before.

Edit: we need a 4th so you know Joe Johnson can still get buckets.

Yeah that 3x3 men’s team we put out there is pathetic. I bet this board could put together a better team. I’ll carry the bags.

[cloverleaf]

If it was just that then the whole NBA community would not be talking about it.

Spin it all you want.

In the end it was disrespectful on the part of Kerr.

USA had a big lead to start the 4th and were never threatened the rest of the way.

But Lebron and Steph were playing in garbage time.

If Kerr let Tatum to play the start of the 4th then fans would be talking about Team USA's win and not the benching of Jayson Tatum.

What else does the whole NBA community have to talk about? The idea that either of the Jays hasn't received sufficient adulation and accolades is preposterous.

This is not about the Jays.

2 players got benched against Serbia and only JT got the attention of the fans and the media.

Kerr himself already admitted he regretted not playing JT.

So clearly a mistake was made by the coach because the coach ended up disrespecting Tatum.

Kerr didn't admit that he regretted it.