Paris Olympics Thread

[Klomp]

I was watching women’s table tennis, and they told a story how Lily Zhang wanted to meet Anthony Edwards. She ran into him on the boat in opening ceremonies, and Ant being Ant, he challenged her to a game, saying there was no way she’d beat him 11-0.

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[FrenchMinnyFan]

I was watching women’s table tennis, and they told a story how Lily Zhang wanted to meet Anthony Edwards. She ran into him on the boat in opening ceremonies, and Ant being Ant, he challenged her to a game, saying there was no way she’d beat him 11-0.

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Another baby on the way?

[minimus]

I wonder what would be a good time to start to negotiate possible Gobert extension? He doesn't dominate in Olympic games, but he knows that he is a valuable piece in MIN. TC has brought here Rudy's old friends Conley and Ingles, maybe Gobert can accept a team friendly deal like Mike Conley, Jalen Brunson did? After that MIN would be able to workaround tax issues at some degree.

P.S. Same with NAW, but Nickeil deal can't be negotiatet before new off-season, right?

[TimberKat]

I wonder what would be a good time to start to negotiate possible Gobert extension? He doesn't dominate in Olympic games, but he knows that he is a valuable piece in MIN. TC has brought here Rudy's old friends Conley and Ingles, maybe Gobert can accept a team friendly deal like Mike Conley, Jalen Brunson did? After that MIN would be able to workaround tax issues at some degree.

P.S. Same with NAW, but Nickeil deal can't be negotiatet before new off-season, right?

I would expect that is already happening with Gobert's agent. I think they could sign one his summer if he opt out of 2025. I would expect something like 4 years starting 2025 and avg out to 25 to 30 mil each.

[Klomp]

I wonder what would be a good time to start to negotiate possible Gobert extension? He doesn't dominate in Olympic games, but he knows that he is a valuable piece in MIN. TC has brought here Rudy's old friends Conley and Ingles, maybe Gobert can accept a team friendly deal like Mike Conley, Jalen Brunson did? After that MIN would be able to workaround tax issues at some degree.

P.S. Same with NAW, but Nickeil deal can't be negotiatet before new off-season, right?

Correct on all accounts

[Klomp]

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[Klomp]

Kevin Durant. Anthony Edwards. Jrue Holiday. Derrick White. Bam Adebayo.

Before we get into all the details and the numbers — and they were quite remarkable — just look at those names and think about what it must feel like to be an opposing player who is trying to put the ball in the basket against that group of elite defensive talents. Demoralizing. Terrifying. Exhausting. And by the way, that group of five players also accounted for 60 of Team USA’s 66 bench points.

For the American players who ran together for the first time in this team’s journey late in the first quarter, then took over the third after South Sudan cut the Americans’ lead to 10 and pushed it to 16 entering the fourth, there was one particular word that they all used to describe it: Fun.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5673519/2024/07/31/team-usa-mens-basketball-starting-lineup/

[Klomp]

Minutes played, first two Olympic games
Devin Booker 48
LeBron James 47
Bam Adebayo 40
Jrue Holiday 38
Kevin Durant 38
Anthony Davis 38
Anthony Edwards 36
Derrick White 32
Jayson Tatum 17
Joel Embiid 11
Tyrese Haliburton 7

[Klomp]

Minutes played, first two Olympic games
Devin Booker 48
LeBron James 47
Bam Adebayo 40
Jrue Holiday 38
Kevin Durant 38
Anthony Davis 38
Anthony Edwards 36
Derrick White 32
Jayson Tatum 17
Joel Embiid 11
Tyrese Haliburton 7

You know, at first I had a problem with this, but it makes sense when you think about it. Booker is one of the few guys on the team who are smack dab in their prime years. Most guys on the team are either over 30 (Durant, James, Curry, Davis, Holiday, Embiid, White) or under 25 (Edwards, Haliburton). Guys in their primes are Booker (27), Adebayo (27), and Tatum (26). Two of those are in the top three in minutes played, along with the GOAT.

[Klomp]

FIBA ball is very guard-based. And while you'd think USA should have an advantage because we might be more athletic or more skilled, I think there's often an awareness or IQ that's missing from Team USA.

I don't really like using the Dream Team as a point of comparison, because the talent gap was so wide. But as the talent gap narrows, intelligence becomes more paramount. When USA only won bronze in 2004, the lead guards were Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury. Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Kobe were a huge influx of basketball smarts in 2008.

Look at our guards right now...I know we have Steph and he's an all-time great, but the gap is so wide behind him. I don't think Jrue has much FIBA experience, so there's a gap in his basketball IQ right now. Ant and Tyrese are smart, but still so young. Derrick White isn't really a point guard in game, just stature.

It's why I think you are seeing struggles from the French at the last World Cup and early this Olympic run too....guard struggles. It's why Germany has been coming on strong...Schroder isn't great by NBA standards but is a high-level FIBA guard. It's why Doncic always has Slovenia in the hunt.

I want to clarify and reframe this statement.

It's not that FIBA is guard-based, but rather that the truest separator is skilled size. I do think that there are plenty of guards in FIBA who are talented, so the gap is not large between USA and other countries. Puerto Rico has two talented guards who get them to the Olympics, but they don't have much behind them. South Sudan has more size with skill than them. When Spain was at its best, they had two high-skill bigs at the center of everything. Germany has skill in the post and on the wing in the Wagner brothers. Victor is Victor, but it's Batum's versatile skill set that has been overall more effective than Gobert. Serbia has Jokic. Greece has Giannis.

If you look at USA roster, it's a lot of skill. Bam and AD are two of the most skilled bigs in the NBA. Durant and LeBron are all-timers because of their size and skill combo. These have been four of the biggest contributors. I still am not sure we have the right guards. But it will have to do for this round, and I think our overall talent will make it inconsequential.

I doubt we'll get another A+ group like this at the top in four years. It will probably be overall a younger group, with a few holdovers from this year. I see Ant, Adebayo and Booker as the three likeliest holdovers.

In 2028, I think my top target is Cade Cunningham. I think I target the Thompson twins, assuming their development continues. Jalen Suggs would be high on my list too. These are all young guys who we could see in the next World Cup. Brunson would be my vet PG. I bet Hill gets Jaylen Brown after all of the drama around his "snubbing". Personally, I want to see Jaden make it to the World Cup and maybe the Olympics. The last two guys I take are Chet Holmgren and Dereck Lively.

I think that's a solid 12. Might not be enough shooting, so maybe swap out a Thompson for Desmond Bane perhaps.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

France is a total mess.... no PG, unable to find Rudy and Wemby inside.... painful to watch.

[Klomp]

France is a total mess.... no PG, unable to find Rudy and Wemby inside.... painful to watch.

I found it interesting the coach blamed Victor in part for the issues, said he got too sticky with the ball

[Klomp]

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[winforlose]

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One day MJ might need a paternity test

[FrenchMinnyFan]

France is a total mess.... no PG, unable to find Rudy and Wemby inside.... painful to watch.

I found it interesting the coach blamed Victor in part for the issues, said he got too sticky with the ball

Yes so funny when he select PG unable to pass the bass inside properly. This coach was good, he is just too old and have been unable to change his way of coaching. Tuesday may be our last game and for hopefully for him too.

[TimberKat]

I don't know where Gobert was at in France game vs Canada. Wolves got to sign or trade for Evan Fournier.

[Calinks]

I'm absolutely shook by Canada going down like this. I thought they were getting a medal.

[Klomp]

I don't know where Gobert was at in France game vs Canada. Wolves got to sign or trade for Evan Fournier.

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