USA Basketball Team

[Parliament10]

Age 39 = LeBron James
Age 36 = Steph Curry
Age 35 = Kevin Durant

This may be the last Olympics, for all 3 of these guys.
Kerr might have gotten the last out of them, with his bonehead moves.

But moving forward, we're likely going to have to add some newer/younger players.
Erik Spoelstra may do a better job. He'll also need other (newer) coaches, too.

Suffice it to say, that it's going to be a different Team.

[bobbutts]

I enjoyed the games and if we're talking about the Celtics on the team I'm glad Holiday earned some clutch playing time. I'd have played Durant over a struggling Tatum and barely used White too given that roster. Wouldn't even have a gold if either of them had a chance to take a significant number of shots at their tournament average shooting percentages against Serbia.

[shackles10]

I enjoyed the games and if we're talking about the Celtics on the team I'm glad Holiday earned some clutch playing time. I'd have played Durant over a struggling Tatum and barely used White too given that roster. Wouldn't even have a gold if either of them had a chance to take a significant number of shots at their tournament average shooting percentages against Serbia.

He didn't play great, and he didn't shoot for anything you're 100% correct, but he provides a lot more than shooting and also got zero leash. Plenty of guys played like crap and shot like crap for stretches just as long as the limited minutes Tatum got and were allowed to play through it and mixed results after. Several guys outside of their shooting percentage issues played zero defense the entire Olympics with zero issue (which imo bad defense is why any of the games were even as close as they were). Ant for example, who everyone gives a pass because he has some good soundbites about it being his team, scored 2 points in the semi-finals against Serbia going 1-3 overall and 0-2 from 3 with 2 rebounds in 13 minutes and 2 turnovers while being a -14 during his minutes because of terrible defense. He finished the semi-finals and finals combined at 5ppg and 1.5 rpg and 0 assists to go with his 3 turnovers and lousy defense. Tatum that game saw 0 minutes of action lol. That was the problem with Kerr... it's the favoritism. Steph saved us, but was turrible for the most part until the final 2 games on offense and was never any good on defense the entire tournament. If Kerr kept changing lineups because guys struggled and used the same logic for Tatum then ok, but plenty of guys (including his savior Steph) had really bad games at different times and it didn't affect a thing in their playing times or shot attempts.

It's also the concern beyond this Olympics and Tatum playing for the Celtics is merely coincidence that doesn't matter. In 4 years they've got to most likely replace Steph, Lebron, KD, Jrue, Embiid, and possibly AD too due to age or in the case of Embiid how his experience was (admittedly he was absolutely terrible most games, but again allowed to play through it). That's half the lineup and 5 of the top 6 being replaced with Booker being the only holdover from the starting lineup. When the only American 1st team All-NBA guy, who just won a title being the best player on the team, on the cover of Sports Illustrated, the current face of Jordan brand, and was 2nd best player behind KD in the '21 Olympics gets jerked around like that guys are going to be hesitant to sacrifice their time. They're going to look at Tatum's resume and say "if he can't get minutes why do I want to sacrifice my summer just to ride the bench?" Kerr leaving helps, but doesn't completely eliminate the worry. The gap has shrunk big time. We need the best players out there, but we also need a coach willing to play anyone east of the Mississippi and willing to coach it more than like it's the 4th quarter of a All-star game at best.

[BK_2020]

They should have a full time national team coach instead of letting it be like an AS game.

[shackles10]

They should have a full time national team coach instead of letting it be like an AS game.

I'm sure Kerr was paid to be the coach and wasn't just some status symbol volunteer thing. Just pay Jay Wright, who doesn't want to go back to full time coaching, and let him be the national team coach.

[Fierce1]

Olympics finally over.

Time for the Jays to start preparing for next season.

With what's happened the last month, I think both Jays feel disrespected from the Olympic experience.

No doubt this will be motivation for both Celtic stars to shine even brighter on the way to a repeat!

[shackles10]

I know the initial reaction is to say JT needs to get in the gym and prove his doubters wrong but I feel like he needs to rest as absolute much as he can. Take a vacation. Don’t play or watch ball at all. Then come back ready to work hard say a week before camp or less.

For JB he’s actually been blessed with a summer off from ball due to the Olympics snub. I’m good with him getting in the lab now if my opinion mattered to either of them one single bit.

[Fierce1]

Rest for 2 weeks then get in the gym to complete the transition from wing player to modern day PF.

[Fierce1]

Watch on YouTube

[shackles10]

Melo on record now saying Gold Medals > NBA Championships. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with him, but it's funny a guy with no NBA titles to trade says he wouldn't trade a gold medal for a ring. Ok actually I am going to disagree with him... and he's only 50% more qualified than me to have his opinion.

[Hal14]

I know the initial reaction is to say JT needs to get in the gym and prove his doubters wrong but I feel like he needs to rest as absolute much as he can. Take a vacation. Don’t play or watch ball at all. Then come back ready to work hard say a week before camp or less.

For JB he’s actually been blessed with a summer off from ball due to the Olympics snub. I’m good with him getting in the lab now if my opinion mattered to either of them one single bit.

I agree that JT should take some time off..relax, take a vacation, don't even think about ball.

Because of the overseas preseason games that we have vs Denver..us and denver (unfortunately) start earlier than the rest of the league.

Looks like media day is september 24. So it's basically 6 weeks till then. I think Tatum should take the next 3 weeks completely off from basketball to rest and relax, recharge..Then the other 3 weeks leading up to media day, he should be in the gym, trying to get his shot back. But don't work too hard - maybe only like 3 workouts a week, max..and the rest of the week, rest/relax.

JB, like you said..I'm not too worried about him since he had the summer off. He can just do his thing. I'm sure he probably has worked out a little bit already this summer..I doubt he's gone the entire summer (6 weeks roughly) without picking up a basketball..he can just do his thing..keep relaxing, traveling, doing charity work..while squeezing in some workouts to keep his skills sharp..

Both of them of course have some extra motivation this season. JT from the DNPs at olympics. JB from the Olympic team snub.

And both of them have added motivation from seeing all the haters who have called what they just got a "Mickey Mouse ring" or have said we had an easy path to the championship..or people say how teams like the KNicks, sixers and thunder got better so we won't repeat..

Plenty of motivation for these guys, entering their age 27 (Jt) / 28 (JB) season..a season that is right in their prime.

[brackdan70]

Melo on record now saying Gold Medals > NBA Championships. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with him, but it's funny a guy with no NBA titles to trade says he wouldn't trade a gold medal for a ring. Ok actually I am going to disagree with him... and he's only 50% more qualified than me to have his opinion.

I think that’s a weird take from Melo lol.
I mean it seems fairly obvious that it’s the other way around. I bet Melo would 100% trade his medal for a ring. ( not the literal hardware but the accomplishment)…

[BK_2020]

I know the initial reaction is to say JT needs to get in the gym and prove his doubters wrong but I feel like he needs to rest as absolute much as he can. Take a vacation. Don’t play or watch ball at all. Then come back ready to work hard say a week before camp or less.

For JB he’s actually been blessed with a summer off from ball due to the Olympics snub. I’m good with him getting in the lab now if my opinion mattered to either of them one single bit.

I agree that JT should take some time off..relax, take a vacation, don't even think about ball.

Because of the overseas preseason games that we have vs Denver..us and denver (unfortunately) start earlier than the rest of the league.

Looks like media day is september 24. So it's basically 6 weeks till then. I think Tatum should take the next 3 weeks completely off from basketball to rest and relax, recharge..Then the other 3 weeks leading up to media day, he should be in the gym, trying to get his shot back. But don't work too hard - maybe only like 3 workouts a week, max..and the rest of the week, rest/relax.

JB, like you said..I'm not too worried about him since he had the summer off. He can just do his thing. I'm sure he probably has worked out a little bit already this summer..I doubt he's gone the entire summer (6 weeks roughly) without picking up a basketball..he can just do his thing..keep relaxing, traveling, doing charity work..while squeezing in some workouts to keep his skills sharp..

Both of them of course have some extra motivation this season. JT from the DNPs at olympics. JB from the Olympic team snub.

And both of them have added motivation from seeing all the haters who have called what they just got a "Mickey Mouse ring" or have said we had an easy path to the championship..or people say how teams like the KNicks, sixers and thunder got better so we won't repeat..

Plenty of motivation for these guys, entering their age 27 (Jt) / 28 (JB) season..a season that is right in their prime.

Tatum is 26.

[Hal14]

I know the initial reaction is to say JT needs to get in the gym and prove his doubters wrong but I feel like he needs to rest as absolute much as he can. Take a vacation. Don’t play or watch ball at all. Then come back ready to work hard say a week before camp or less.

For JB he’s actually been blessed with a summer off from ball due to the Olympics snub. I’m good with him getting in the lab now if my opinion mattered to either of them one single bit.

I agree that JT should take some time off..relax, take a vacation, don't even think about ball.

Because of the overseas preseason games that we have vs Denver..us and denver (unfortunately) start earlier than the rest of the league.

Looks like media day is september 24. So it's basically 6 weeks till then. I think Tatum should take the next 3 weeks completely off from basketball to rest and relax, recharge..Then the other 3 weeks leading up to media day, he should be in the gym, trying to get his shot back. But don't work too hard - maybe only like 3 workouts a week, max..and the rest of the week, rest/relax.

JB, like you said..I'm not too worried about him since he had the summer off. He can just do his thing. I'm sure he probably has worked out a little bit already this summer..I doubt he's gone the entire summer (6 weeks roughly) without picking up a basketball..he can just do his thing..keep relaxing, traveling, doing charity work..while squeezing in some workouts to keep his skills sharp..

Both of them of course have some extra motivation this season. JT from the DNPs at olympics. JB from the Olympic team snub.

And both of them have added motivation from seeing all the haters who have called what they just got a "Mickey Mouse ring" or have said we had an easy path to the championship..or people say how teams like the KNicks, sixers and thunder got better so we won't repeat..

Plenty of motivation for these guys, entering their age 27 (Jt) / 28 (JB) season..a season that is right in their prime.

Tatum is 26.

He turns 27 next season is what I meant..

[BK_2020]

I agree that JT should take some time off..relax, take a vacation, don't even think about ball.

Because of the overseas preseason games that we have vs Denver..us and denver (unfortunately) start earlier than the rest of the league.

Looks like media day is september 24. So it's basically 6 weeks till then. I think Tatum should take the next 3 weeks completely off from basketball to rest and relax, recharge..Then the other 3 weeks leading up to media day, he should be in the gym, trying to get his shot back. But don't work too hard - maybe only like 3 workouts a week, max..and the rest of the week, rest/relax.

JB, like you said..I'm not too worried about him since he had the summer off. He can just do his thing. I'm sure he probably has worked out a little bit already this summer..I doubt he's gone the entire summer (6 weeks roughly) without picking up a basketball..he can just do his thing..keep relaxing, traveling, doing charity work..while squeezing in some workouts to keep his skills sharp..

Both of them of course have some extra motivation this season. JT from the DNPs at olympics. JB from the Olympic team snub.

And both of them have added motivation from seeing all the haters who have called what they just got a "Mickey Mouse ring" or have said we had an easy path to the championship..or people say how teams like the KNicks, sixers and thunder got better so we won't repeat..

Plenty of motivation for these guys, entering their age 27 (Jt) / 28 (JB) season..a season that is right in their prime.

Tatum is 26.

He turns 27 next season is what I meant..

Well technically it will still be his age 26 season since he doesn't turn 27 until March.

[Hal14]

Tatum is 26.

He turns 27 next season is what I meant..

Well technically it will still be his age 26 season since he doesn't turn 27 until March.

Dude, who really cares? That wasn't even the main point of my post..

The part of the season that counts the most is playoffs, so I usually go by the player's age come playoff time..

Not something worth arguing about though, so I'll move on from this..

[ConstableGeneva]

2024-25 is JT's age-26 season if we're basing off on how they record it on Basketball Reference. But we can say that JT will be 27 when he wins his 2nd NBA title. Both statements are true.

[BK_2020]

He turns 27 next season is what I meant..

Well technically it will still be his age 26 season since he doesn't turn 27 until March.

Dude, who really cares? That wasn't even the main point of my post..

The part of the season that counts the most is playoffs, so I usually go by the player's age come playoff time..

Not something worth arguing about though, so I'll move on from this..

26 isn't really an NBA player's prime. 27 is. So it matters?

[Hal14]

Well technically it will still be his age 26 season since he doesn't turn 27 until March.

Dude, who really cares? That wasn't even the main point of my post..

The part of the season that counts the most is playoffs, so I usually go by the player's age come playoff time..

Not something worth arguing about though, so I'll move on from this..

26 isn't really an NBA player's prime. 27 is. So it matters?

And Tatum will be 27 next season.

Prime varies from player to player. Tatum came into the league at a younger age than most players do. So his prime probably starts earlier than most players. The dude has made 3 straight all-NBA 1st teams and just led the team in points, rebs and assists in the NBA finals..I don't think it's that crazy to suggest that this upcoming season could be part of his prime.

That also wasn't the main part of my post. It was a very minor detail - a footnote so very odd that you've now made 3 posts arguing about it.

Good grief.

[Parliament10]

Dude, who really cares? That wasn't even the main point of my post..

The part of the season that counts the most is playoffs, so I usually go by the player's age come playoff time..

Not something worth arguing about though, so I'll move on from this..

26 isn't really an NBA player's prime. 27 is. So it matters?

And Tatum will be 27 next season.

Prime varies from player to player. Tatum came into the league at a younger age than most players do. So his prime probably starts earlier than most players. The dude has made 3 straight all-NBA 1st teams and just led the team in points, rebs and assists in the NBA finals..I don't think it's that crazy to suggest that this upcoming season could be part of his prime.

That also wasn't the main part of my post. It was a very minor detail - a footnote so very odd that you've now made 3 posts arguing about it.

Good grief.

Can you guys let this go?