Jayson Tatum with another DNP vs Serbia

[LordCovington33]

Hope Kerr benches Tatum tomorrow again and breaks all of Boston

Tatum has been useful in his “ Thanasis Antetokounmpo” role from the bench. Everybody needs to a cheerleader.

[OGSactownballer]

Tatum should be starting over lebron. These games have been close bc of lebron. Dude is no different than when he's w/ the lakers during regular season padding his own stats at the detriment of his team. Dude is an absolute liability on defense and kills ball movement trying to be a floor general. Team usa has been very fortunage ever since kd came back he's been the juice for team usa to initiate momentum shifts.

This is an interesting point.

Watching that game against Serbia, it was glaringly obvious they did not have a match for Curry and Kerr was trying to have guys like LeBron set the standard series of picks to get him freed up.

LeBron on the other hand looked very frustrated and simply went selfish a few times looking at nobody else and appearing as though he NEEDED to be the hero to prove something (I’m not too old?) to everyone and it almost cost them a huge embarrassment loss.

[robbie84]

It's pretty sad that Kerr has chosen to die on this hill.
Lebron can't shoot and can't defend a chair at this point- it's fine against all these Euroleague guys who he can bully all game- but he shouldn't be excluding Tatum for two entire games- or Halliburton for that matter.

Did anyone see Tatum's playmaking during the playoffs?
I mean it's fine if you don't wanna start him out of 'respect' for Lebron and the old dudes but it's pretty insulting to sit the guy for 2 entire games during the Olympics.
He was a beast during the last Olympics- he's proven himself. Steve Kerr should have found a way to get everyone in each of these games.

To me, this is Steve Kerr being a dick. Psychological mind games in case they come up against the Celtics in the finals perhaps?
Just doesn't make any sense other wise. Say what you want, but if you think Tatum should be sitting 2 games at the Olympics- after his previous efforts at the Olympics show how good he is there- then you're a hater.

[SweaterBae]

Tatum should be starting over lebron. These games have been close bc of lebron. Dude is no different than when he's w/ the lakers during regular season padding his own stats at the detriment of his team. Dude is an absolute liability on defense and kills ball movement trying to be a floor general. Team usa has been very fortunage ever since kd came back he's been the juice for team usa to initiate momentum shifts.

This is an interesting point.

Watching that game against Serbia, it was glaringly obvious they did not have a match for Curry and Kerr was trying to have guys like LeBron set the standard series of picks to get him freed up.

LeBron on the other hand looked very frustrated and simply went selfish a few times looking at nobody else and appearing as though he NEEDED to be the hero to prove something (I’m not too old?) to everyone and it almost cost them a huge embarrassment loss.

JFC it's not an interesting point. LBJ, who I dislike immensely, has been arugably the MVP of the squad. WTF are you people doing with your brain cells? He's the driving force behind the offense, he rebounds, he's efficient, he's been clutch. FFS!!!

[syrus3]

The Olympics have been a farce. Kerr has been mediocre for quite some time. And the aging diva’s narcissistic quest to sell longevity to make him something he will never be, has turned this into a sh*t show.

[robbie84]

I mean if Curry doesn't save the USA's ass against Serbia- Steve Kerr and Lebron would have gone down in US basketball history as the clowns of Paris.

[durden_tyler]

I mean if Curry doesn't save the USA's ass against Serbia- Steve Kerr and Lebron would have gone down in US basketball history as the clowns of Paris.

Good thing they did as it retained the status quo: Tatum is the mascot in Paris. LOL

[Dupp]

Just how badly was this guy carried to a title?

[KG Leonard]

Just how badly was this guy carried to a title?

This much like when he has owned your faves for years.

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Enjoy this time with your jokes before he goes back leading wins over these over the hill stars of USA+ Embiid and not taking the back seat for dudes that cant win 50 games and keep getting swept by Nuggets, Wolves.

[GreenBloodedC]

Steve Kerr got the team to the gold medal game. Now he has to win it. That is all there is to it. Who gives a **** whether or not Tatum plays or not?

1. Celtics fans
2. The city of Boston as a whole
3. Jayson Tatum
4. Jaylen Brown, who will take it as disrespect by proxy
5. Joe Mazzula in all likelihood
6. Countless NBA players active and inactive who have said as much on podcasts and social media
7. Apparently half of the people ITT, one way or the other

I understand your question was rhetorical and more just to communicate you personally don't care and think it doesn't matter, but there are enough people who clearly care and care a lot that it deserved a real reply.

None of those people matter in the Olympics. I literally don't give a **** about Celtics fans. I am sure Kerr doesn't either. He needs to be focus on winning the gold medal.

The way Kerr has been coaching, he's not focused on winning the gold.

Team USA is winning despite of him

[Sedale Threatt]

Dude's mom complaining is next level hilarious. That's the type of **** that would get a player sat in HIGH SCHOOL. If I'm Team USA I just cut bait with both Tatum and Jaylen Brown for all future tournaments, they never are invited or play for America again. You absolutely cannot have this level of entitlement and stuff like that is toxic to team culture and winning on any level in any kind of setting, sports or no. Especially when there are such obvious, clear cut basketball reasons for them to not play over others on the roster. It screams lack of understanding of the game in general, and that people are not team first. Anyone who is not team first has no place on a national team.

I'd honestly be embarrassed as hell. Unless he's actually complaining about this behind closed doors and endorses it, which would be even worse.

It's a tough spot but that's the nature of these teams. Sue Bird had some very interesting comments about playing in the Olympics that have mirrored what I've heard a couple of other players say. Basically that the top 2-3 players are going to be able to play their regular games, and that everybody else has to figure out how to fit in around that given that there is only one ball and so many shots to go around, which she described as uncomfortable. So it's not like a video game where talent stacks automatically.

But I honestly don't even get what the complaining is about. He's got the worst shooting percentages on the team, both from 3-point range and overall, and that dramatically reduces his value. The Celtics will obviously let him play through that given that he's The Man and everything revolves around him (and Brown). But Team USA isn't the Celtics. There is an abundance of other options to pick up that slack, so if you're not performing you're gonna get left behind. As we are seeing here.

I also agree on the entitlement front: This is the U.S. national team and nobody owes you sht, certainly not based on however many All-NBA teams you've made or what you've done previously. Jayson's a very nice player, but this isn't Jordan or LeBron we're talking about where you're going to get the benefit of the doubt automatically.

[Triple M]

Seems to be a hot topic despite the win by Team USA: Why was Jayson Tatum DNP'd again? Curious how everyone here feels about it.

Happy USA won. Kerr is as terrible coach. Booker and Antman, really?


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Um…yea? Booker has played his role perfectly and Ant was literally leading us in scoring up until this game

You aren’t “owed” anything in this league. Winning a title on a stacked team against an injured/weak east isn’t anything special. And beating the Mavericks was about the easiest matchup they could’ve asked for.

Tatum was outplayed by his own teammate for 2 trophies. He shot 24% from 3. Countless ill advised shots. But they still won. He’s been on a very long slump. Team USA now and he’s hitting the side of the backboard, missing layups. He played himself onto that bench.

Maybe Kerr throws him a bone and let’s him play tomorrow when we are up 15+. But if it’s a close game, expect another DNP.

I genuinely want to know if
1) is Tatum a top 10 player for you?
2) is Brown a top 20 player?
3) is KP being out change anything for you ?

Because Jrue, White and Horford were amazing in their roles but doesn't every championship team have key contributions from their role players. In '23 KCP, Porter, Gordon and Brown were key contributors in their run.

4) who in the West wasnt a good match up?

I see only Denver, the Nuggets vs Celtics would be a toss up. Boston would match up well with everyone else. Minnesota, OKC, Phx, LAC, etc

Now that KD is starting i think Tatum has a decent chance to slide into the back up wing position. I guess we'll see what Kerr does with a gold on the line.

[mpoo_sin]

Happy USA won. Kerr is as terrible coach. Booker and Antman, really?


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Um…yea? Booker has played his role perfectly and Ant was literally leading us in scoring up until this game

You aren’t “owed” anything in this league. Winning a title on a stacked team against an injured/weak east isn’t anything special. And beating the Mavericks was about the easiest matchup they could’ve asked for.

Tatum was outplayed by his own teammate for 2 trophies. He shot 24% from 3. Countless ill advised shots. But they still won. He’s been on a very long slump. Team USA now and he’s hitting the side of the backboard, missing layups. He played himself onto that bench.

Maybe Kerr throws him a bone and let’s him play tomorrow when we are up 15+. But if it’s a close game, expect another DNP.

I genuinely want to know if
1) is Tatum a top 10 player for you?
2) is Brown a top 20 player?
3) is KP being out change anything for you ?

Because Jrue, White and Horford were amazing in their roles but doesn't every championship team have key contributions from their role players. In '23 KCP, Porter, Gordon and Brown were key contributors in their run.

4) who in the West wasnt a good match up?

I see only Denver, the Nuggets vs Celtics would be a toss up. Boston would match up well with everyone else. Minnesota, OKC, Phx, LAC, etc

Now that KD is starting i think Tatum has a decent chance to slide into the back up wing position. I guess we'll see what Kerr does with a gold on the line.

I see both Tatum and Brown as top 15 players with Brown being slightly ahead of Tatum. But right now Tatum is in a major funk and plays horrendously.

They didn t need Porzingis for the EC and he just gave them enough in the Finals so that they could handle the Mavericks easily. A bummer that Doncic was playing on one leg, could have been a closer series at least.

It has been said a few times already, but Tatum has players at his position in front of him on the US team that are just playing better right now.

[SA37]

I don't really get all the yelling and screaming about Tatum not playing, but everyone seems ok with Haliburton sitting.

Tatum is out of the rotation because he apparently has not earned minutes in front of Booker, LeBron, Durant, or Adebayo. It seems to me like Kerr is playing a center, two "passive" offensive players, and two offensive players.

Center - Embiid - Davis
Passive - LeBron - Adebayo
Offense - Booker - Durant
Passive - Holiday - White
Offense - Curry - Edwards

Had Durant remained injured, I think Tatum would have gotten his minutes, but that didn't happen and everyone who has played for the US has played well enough to remain in the rotation.

[Ckay]

Quiet guys always have loud family members.

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[Crives]

Quiet guys always have loud family members.

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lol, Tatum could have shut this down if he wanted

[Crives]

For those mad at Kerr (lol), are you also mad at spolstra and Ty lue? You really think it’s just Kerr who is coming up with the game plan, and not a collective effort by some of best coaches in the league

[LakersSoul]

Team USA lineup is tricky with 2 bigs and surround them with 3 combo guards in the lineup.

Understand Celtics pride gettin dented with these DNP-CD. You could have given some Booker or ANT minutes to Tatum but silly to replace Bron with Tatum at PF esp wen the team needs more play makers and distributors and Bron is the MVP.

[NDaATL]

I'd be playing Tatum over Jrue, White, Ant and Booker. They should all get minutes but he should get the most. He's better than all of them and can play the 2-4 positions. In a role on Team USA he doesn't have to be the primary offensive weapon so he could really set in on defense too.

[Hatrick Ewing]

Is Tatuym the 4th best player on the Celtics?