International Hoops thread

stevemcqueen1 · Post #221 » by **stevemcqueen1** » Sun Aug 3, 2014 7:30 pm

One of the things that stood out from that scrimmage was how bad the on court product and chemistry were. Lots of ball stopping and more hot potatoing than we should have seen. And lots of out of control fast breaks. Tons of turnovers and forced shots. It looked like the players just reverted to AS game mode.

I think chemistry is going to be a problem because there are too many new faces in camp this summer. They're not going to learn how to play together and figure out their most effective roles in five days. Maybe not in a month either. And to compound the issue, I just lost a starter and Derrick Rose--one of my key leaders--hasn't played in two years and probably has conditioning issues.

This team is not going to steamroll their way to the Naismith Trophy. They're going to go through prolonged stretches of frustrating and ugly play. They were lucky to get the easy side of the bracket, but it's still no guarantee of success.

The team isn't going to be able to play the way the 2012 team did. Lineups full of forwards that run constant fast breaks and bomb away from three. This team isn't as good shooting as that one was IMO. Guard play is going to be huge for this team IMO. The guards are going to have to be floor generals and exert way more control over the offense than previous teams. We can not get trapped in situations where the shooters like Korver and Thompson are left trying to manufacture their own shots while our guards sit around watching from the corner or wing. We're going to need to be able actually break down the zones off the dribble and kick to the shooters and cutting bigs and we're not going to have Chris Paul and LeBron to do it.

You'd think that would favor John, but he had so much trouble in that scrimmage that he didn't help himself by doing what should have been his most important advantage for making the team.

And also, if we leave all our big men at home and/or are stuck with bigs who are one note offensive players/self checks, that's a big mistake. The make up of this team, such as it is, means we're going to need safety valves with go to offense to bail us out of bad offensive possessions. Cousins is that safety valve in the front court. He emerged in that scrimmage as a natural go to player in his line ups. And Faried is a different kind of safety valve with his physicality and activity level. He salvages bad offensive possessions and shaky defensive possessions with his rebounding. He makes things happen for his star teammates. And he doesn't seem like the type to get intimidated by the moment at all.

Davis was awful in that scrimmage and looked his age. I'm not relying on him to be my only credible body at C and the second pillar of the team behind Durant. He's going to be a fouling machine and his lack of go to offensive ability made him seem passive and uncomfortable. He's not ready to be Durant's sidekick on Team USA IMO. I would definitely take both Cousins and Faried and I would play them.

Dark Faze · Post #222 » by **Dark Faze** » Mon Aug 4, 2014 12:47 pm

Wall was playing with Hayward, DeRozan, Korver, and Plumlee....

Like...huh? The teams weren't made with any focus on balancing strengths.

With that being said there were locks who were worse than Wall...AD was just god awful with his hands to the point where you absolutely have to bring Cousins. Paul George had no excuses for being as terrible as he was.

So I don't know. Only thing I learned is that DeRozan should replace George and that Rose looked good. Beal was hyperefficient...like 11 points in half as many minutes. AD has to work on that jumper. It's no good right now.

keynote · Post #223 » by **keynote** » Mon Aug 4, 2014 11:48 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/496437458549342209[/tweet]

Ah, well. That's the end of that.

JWizmentality · Post #224 » by **JWizmentality** » Mon Aug 4, 2014 11:53 pm

Don't care. Let's get the 2015 season rollin.

WallWithTheDime · Post #225 » by **WallWithTheDime** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 12:14 am

Wow in the first same cut, they cut both Wall and Beal, this just shows how ignorant Jerry and Coach K or whoever in charge is. Beal played a freaking great game in the showcase , GOT COMPLIMENTS BY COACH K And everyone who they interviewed and you add trash players like Kyle Korver, or at least have him until the next cut. Really how 1 dimensional could the choices be for this. Let me guess starter will be either Rose or Kyrie, wow overrated decisions much. Beal actually had a great USA game and easily outperformed Harden in the showcase and probably in training, and you tell me This old $**$# thinks he made a right decision. When will they get respect they deserve , my guess is never.

keynote · Post #226 » by **keynote** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 12:21 am

Given Beal's age and his competition at SG, odds are he'll be playing for Team USA eventually.

I honestly don't know if Wall will ever make it, barring a rash of injuries for the other PGs. He'll need to make a clear leap to superstar status to pass the PGs that Team USA is currently ranking ahead of him.

WallWithTheDime · Post #227 » by **WallWithTheDime** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 12:23 am

keynote wrote:Given Beal's age and his competition at SG, odds are he'll be playing for Team USA eventually.

I honestly don't know if Wall will ever make it, barring a rash of injuries for the other PGs. He'll need to make a clear leap to superstar status to pass the PGs that Team USA is currently ranking ahead of him.

Competition really? No SG had a better game then Beal, Harden looked like trash missing shots and turning it over, no D ofc,

keynote · Post #228 » by **keynote** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 12:50 am

WallWithTheDime wrote:
keynote wrote:Given Beal's age and his competition at SG, odds are he'll be playing for Team USA eventually.

I honestly don't know if Wall will ever make it, barring a rash of injuries for the other PGs. He'll need to make a clear leap to superstar status to pass the PGs that Team USA is currently ranking ahead of him.

Competition really? No SG had a better game then Beal, Harden looked like trash missing shots and turning it over, no D ofc,

True, but the Powers That Be used more data than that one scrimmage to make their decision. Beal himself said that he had a subpar day in practice after the first day. Who knows how well the other SG candidates played in practice.

CntOutSmrtCrazy · Post #229 » by **CntOutSmrtCrazy** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 1:12 am

Count me as happy the both got cut, especially wall coming off almost 100 games.

mohammed10 · Post #230 » by **mohammed10** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 1:23 am

Lol at Plumlee making it farther than all 3 of these guys...seriously?

As a late addition, I knew Wall would be cut, but this is still a joke

hands11 · Post #231 » by **hands11** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 1:57 am

keynote wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/496437458549342209[/tweet]

Ah, well. That's the end of that.

Better that both got cut then just one.

MarcoPolo · Post #232 » by **MarcoPolo** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 2:19 am

All American "DUKE' Team. I like Coach K a lot but this is just foolish.

Wall>Irving smh...

Kyrie ' I have Bron on my team what makes me better then other pg just by this fact'... Irving

At least Wall, Beal gonna be fresh for the season. I'm already hatin' this 2-year Cleveland team..

CobraCommander · Post #233 » by **CobraCommander** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 2:20 am

CntOutSmrtCrazy wrote::rockon: Count me as happy the both got cut, especially wall coming off almost 100 games.

Yeah yeahhhhhh take the time to work on your game and rest - :nod:

CobraCommander · Post #234 » by **CobraCommander** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 2:22 am

MarcoPolo wrote:All American "DUKE' Team. I like Coach K a lot but this is just foolish.

Wall>Irving smh...

Kyrie ' I have Bron on my team what makes me better then other pg just by this fact'... Irving

At least Wall, Beal gonna be fresh for the season. I'm already hatin' this 2-year Cleveland team..

Oh and who doesn't agree with this post??

JWizmentality · Post #235 » by **JWizmentality** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 2:39 am

C'mon you guys surprised. It's the Duke good ole boys club sponsored by Nike. :lol:

Post #236 » by **Ruzious** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 3:28 am

I think we got a little taste of reality - both Wall and Beal aren't what the publicity says they are.

Illmatic12 · Post #237 » by **Illmatic12** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 3:45 am

Ruzious wrote:I think we got a little taste of reality - both Wall and Beal aren't what the publicity says they are.

They aren't one of the best up-and-coming backcourts in the league? :crazy:

Kanyewest · Post #238 » by **Kanyewest** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 4:44 am

WallWithTheDime wrote:
keynote wrote:Given Beal's age and his competition at SG, odds are he'll be playing for Team USA eventually.

I honestly don't know if Wall will ever make it, barring a rash of injuries for the other PGs. He'll need to make a clear leap to superstar status to pass the PGs that Team USA is currently ranking ahead of him.

Competition really? No SG had a better game then Beal, Harden looked like trash missing shots and turning it over, no D ofc,

I would take Beal over DeRoazan but DeRoazan had a better better game than Beal.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #239 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 5:14 am

I don't really feel any rooting interest for the players on the US team. I think the team is not that good. The Dream Team had legit stars and collectively had much more mature talent at the peak of their careers.

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stevemcqueen1 · Post #240 » by **stevemcqueen1** » Tue Aug 5, 2014 5:27 am

Yeah Wall probably played himself out of the spot on the team. Him and Millsap being late additions hurt them. Beal should have made it farther though IMO. Keeping Hayward and Korver over him is a mistake IMO.

I think the PG situation will end up being shaky too for that matter. I don't know if keeping Wall was the solution, but their PG group is pretty inexperienced and none of them are natural facilitators. That'll be big considering how bad the on court product in that scrimmage was.

I'm disappointed we won't get to see Wall and Beal play for Team USA, and I am disappointed with the way the team is ending up. It doesn't seem like Team USA really cares about the World Cup, and frankly shame on guys like Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge for ditching the team. Yugoslavia has won this thing more than we have. There is no excuse for that. I'm going to be angry if we don't win the tournament this year and guard/wing play comes up way short.

But at the same time, I'm not too broken up about Wall and Beal getting the rest of the summer off. If Wall went down for Team USA, our season would be ruined. We've got a window to the ECF this year, a Wall injury would put us in the lottery.