Team USA is an embarrassment

[uk78_rivals88018]

I watched the game against Turkey today. EXTREMELY lucky to have won by 1 point in overtime with Turkey missing some key end of game free throws. I know not the greatest of the NBA pros on this team but they are all pros. But, do the coaches understand the International game? It sure didn't look like it as they were so focused on stopping interior play which allowed Turkey time after time passes to the 3 line for wide open shots. Plus, the USA team has no chemistry, undiscliplined offense, and the wrong players trying to make individual plays. Myles Turner is a great defensive interior player, but several times he would try and make his own dribble drive and lose the ball. At what point does the coaching intervene and post him down low?

Well probably not many got to watch the game, but I guess my issue is whether pro coaches can take a team like this and make a difference. The action suggests the pro players are making all the decisions and the coaches are there to watch and make line-up decisions. I hate to say it, but maybe guys like K. or others one step removed might be able to have more influence because they are not concerned with having a pro mad at them.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

Does anyone really care about the FIBA games on the pro level? The real players will show up for the olympics dont worry.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Be damn sure that after this team fizzles out the critics will blame it on the fact that K wasn't there to rally the troops.

 

[Skunkbutter]

Kind of a lame move by D Fox and others to come to the camps then drop out. It may make more sense to use G-League guys going forward in order to have some reliability and continuity on the roster. Pretty sure they would still be at least on par with the other countries from a talent standpoint.

 

[STL_Cat]

This isn’t even our “C Team.”

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Looking at the box score.. maybe we don't need to play 11 guys every game. Run 8 or 9. The USA roster is so much better than Turkey's.. but it starts to get negated if there's no chemistry..

 

[ganner918_rivals60369]

Even when we have our superstars on the team, throwing a bunch of guys together with limited time practicing and playing with each other is a big disadvantage for the US compared to a lot of other national teams. Do that with this bunch of jokers and we'll be lucky to medal.

 

[SpamburgerHamburger_rivals101482]

I don't think we need to be worrying about it so much. Yeah we wanna see Team USA win, but everyone else in the tourney knows this team doesn't even have a top 30 NBA player on it. Kemba probably is. But it's whatever. The Olympics next year is what the big guys will want to play in. I hope.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

Kind of a lame move by D Fox and others to come to the camps then drop out. It may make more sense to use G-League guys going forward in order to have some reliability and continuity on the roster. Pretty sure they would still be at least on par with the other countries from a talent standpoint.

Nonsense.

 

[SemperFiCat]

Just send the Harlem Globetrotters.

 

[keefsopeng]

Kind of a lame move by D Fox and others to come to the camps then drop out. It may make more sense to use G-League guys going forward in order to have some reliability and continuity on the roster. Pretty sure they would still be at least on par with the other countries from a talent standpoint.

Kind of a lame move by Pop to keep/play Derrick White more minutes than Fox. I love Pop and think most of these guys not showing up was kind of weak but if good players go out of their way to show up and perform well and you play guys you coach over them when they don't deserve then you're the idiot. Pop has no one to blame but himself on the Fox situation.

 

[king of cali]

Kind of a lame move by Pop to keep/play Derrick White more minutes than Fox. I love Pop and think most of these guys not showing up was kind of weak but if good players go out of their way to show up and perform well and you play guys you coach over them when they don't deserve then you're the idiot. Pop has no one to blame but himself on the Fox situation.

Oh please. Fox dropped out after the first exhibition. A game where White played grand total of 8 minutes to Fox’s 6. Fox made the call, the correct one i might add, to prepare for the NBA season rather than wasting time in a meaningless tournament.

 

[rick64]

Agree with several of the others, I don't really get into these international games until the Olympics.

 

[uk78_rivals88018]

Agree with several of the others, I don't really get into these international games until the Olympics.

I understand the lack of interest except if you are a basketball fan. Otherwise, there isn't much else to watch concerning basketball.

 

[Canned Heat]

This specific competition is too close to the start of the NBA season. With the NBA's long season, and absolutely too long playoff system, I don't blame any player for dropping out. The Olympics will draw talent; that will be about it for international competition.

 

[billCgmx]

Well probably not many got to watch the game, but I guess my issue is whether pro coaches can take a team like this and make a difference. The action suggests the pro players are making all the decisions and the coaches are there to watch and make line-up decisions. I hate to say it, but maybe guys like K. or others one step removed might be able to have more influence because they are not concerned with having a pro mad at them.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/210165/...er-remembering-the-landmark-us-loss-to-greece

 

[dckala2_rivals16641]

Grabbed Greece at +1300 . Giannis gonna win this himself.

 

[kevcat]

I couldn’t care less if they never played another FIBA game.

 

[UK90]

Kind of a lame move by Pop to keep/play Derrick White more minutes than Fox. I love Pop and think most of these guys not showing up was kind of weak but if good players go out of their way to show up and perform well and you play guys you coach over them when they don't deserve then you're the idiot. Pop has no one to blame but himself on the Fox situation.

This is horseshit. Nothing but a myth concocted by guys like you. The way some of our fans make up nonsense excuses for anyone who's ever worn a blue jersey can get embarrassing at times.

The truth: Fox quit after the first exhibition, one in which he and White played nearly the same number of minutes. Maybe Fox was mad because Kemba Walker got by far the most minutes at point (but that would be a silly reason, Kemba is the team's All Star, of course he'll get the most minutes), but not because of White. That just an excuse our fans made up.

I think it's a shame that neither Fox nor Booker are on this team. Both were wanted, both are young and it was the right time for them to join Team USA, and both would've really helped this team.

 

[catswin]

I’ll cheer for this team with all I have. They are out there representing our country while all the premadonnas are back home “getting ready for the season.”

Of course, when the real spotlight shines next year, the big wigs won’t find it so important to get ready for the season at home.

 

[Mike-D]

Nonsense.

That is a Duke fan for reference.

 

[coolioo1]

This team is not overwhelming no matter what . It doesn’t have the personnel adequate to easily win. Should it, yes but most of the other teams are the REAL national teams of players that have been playing a lot together and then some NBA player sprinkled in. USA has it 3rd and 4th sting and really only walker and likely Middleton would maybe be on a 2nd team nba USA team. AND the other countries rely on the everyday national team like player than the USA so without their stars they can out punch their weight vs the non superstar USA team.

And a lot of the other countries are missing their best. Canada could be dangerous in a few years but not sure their are enough basketballs in the world to go around to make Wiggins, Murray and RJ Barrett happy!

 

[caneintally]

I am not going to blame a bunch of C level NBA players for being who they are . These games are being held too close to the start of the season so no big time players are involved.

 

[CatsPaws270]

That Donovan Mitchell is sure the next D-Wade!

 

[UK90]

These games are being held too close to the start of the season so no big time players are involved.

Would you not say say the NBA MVP is a "big time player"? Because he's playing for Greece. Or the current First Team All NBA center? Because he's playing for Serbia.

That's two of the top 5 players in the world. So some of the biggest stars are playing, just none of our biggest stars (except maybe for Kemba).

 

[katwest]

It looks like some went thru the camps to say thanks but no thanks, I'm not sure why some did that. You have to know if you make it what it's going to require from you. If team USA gets beat, get ready for the rest of the world has caught up with America which may be true with college players but not the top pro players.

 

[BLUEVADER]

Be damn sure that after this team fizzles out the critics will blame it on the fact that K wasn't there to rally the troops.

Your probably right but I would take Coach Popavich over KCHESKAPUUSSKI anyway everyday to coach my teams. If he was a college coach at an elite program over the same years that he coached the Spurs I would bet he would have 4-6 NCAA titles. Pap can flatout coach and can get the best out of people. You will see Keldon in the running for rookie of the year just cause of Popavich. It Wouldn't surprise me if he was in the top 3 when all said and done. We all know that the propaganda will give Zion or Barrett the award but if Barrett plays like he did during summer league no way he finishes ahead of Keldon. KJ had a better all around summer league as Barrett was a brick laying ballhawg.

 

[BLUEVADER]

It looks like some went thru the camps to say thanks but no thanks, I'm not sure why some did that. You have to know if you make it what it's going to require from you. If team USA gets beat, get ready for the rest of the world has caught up with America which may be true with college players but not the top pro players.

I don't think the top tier players wanted to risk Injury. Some said they wanted to concentrate on preparing for the season. The only thing about that is nothing can prepare you better then actually playing in meaningful games. I think they used that as a scape goat to get of playing and enjoy time off. I can't blame them either way but still think live game action is the best way to get better then to take few months off do nothing. The group of guys that played in FIBA will be in better shape the first couple months as well.

 

[dnabbott25]

That's USA's C team, basically and they are still competing. They just don't care for FIBA. The A-team led by AD will be in Tokyo

 

[Poetax]

Kind of a lame move by Pop to keep/play Derrick White more minutes than Fox. I love Pop and think most of these guys not showing up was kind of weak but if good players go out of their way to show up and perform well and you play guys you coach over them when they don't deserve then you're the idiot. Pop has no one to blame but himself on the Fox situation.

Yeah I agree with you, Fox was playing well but wasn’t going to get the minutes.

 

[Duke Bluu]

I love Pop. And many are right, the true test will be the Olympics but i would not be surprised if there's a significant adjustment without K. Listen, I know where i am and I know most here won't admit it, but K did a fantastic job for a long time with the USA Basketball program. I'm sure most will say anybody could have did what K did but i believe it went well beyond just rolling the ball out there and saying "go getttem."

 

[Lukasz0brzut]

I love Pop. And many are right, the true test will be the Olympics but i would not be surprised if there's a significant adjustment without K. Listen, I know where i am and I know most here won't admit it, but K did a fantastic job for a long time with the USA Basketball program. I'm sure most will say anybody could have did what K did but i believe it went well beyond just rolling the ball out there and saying "go getttem."

In any case, If K can make adjustments there’s no reason to worry about Pop.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

I love Pop. And many are right, the true test will be the Olympics but i would not be surprised if there's a significant adjustment without K. Listen, I know where i am and I know most here won't admit it, but K did a fantastic job for a long time with the USA Basketball program. I'm sure most will say anybody could have did what K did but i believe it went well beyond just rolling the ball out there and saying "go getttem."

LOL. Couldn’t get to the Final Four with Tatum, Bagley, Zion, Barrett, Reddish, etc., and every break the Selection Committee and intimidated refs could give him. Maybe if he had LeBron...

 

[Duke Bluu]

LOL. Couldn’t get to the Final Four with Tatum, Bagley, Zion, Barrett, Reddish, etc., and every break the Selection Committee and intimidated refs could give him. Maybe if he had LeBron...

No, no, this is more than fair. Can't only heap praises but be beyond reproach. I will be the first to admit that the aforementioned seasons with those players were an incredible disappointment. There's no getting around that, and i'm okay with that. Not that you give a sh*t whether i'm okay with it or not but what the hell. I figured i'd at least try not to be too bias to the point where it's a joke.

 

[billCgmx]

A reminder, in 2006 Coach K lost to Greece in the FIBA Championship. His team consisted of LeBron, DWade, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. Compare the talent on that team to Team USA this year.

 

[Montana81]

A reminder, in 2006 Coach K lost to Greece in the FIBA Championship. His team consisted of LeBron, DWade, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. Compare the talent on that team to Team USA this year.

Right. Coach K’s success in the olympics has more to do with a collective concentrated effort from the committee to regain interest from the best players than it did with his coaching.

He deserves credit for fact the best players seemed to want to play for him however. But let’s be real, he’s not winning **** with the team we have competing in the FIBA right now.

 

[UK90]

But let’s be real, he’s not winning **** with the team we have competing in the FIBA right now.

This is not aimed at you, but rather this board in general.

I'm just curious why folks here keep calling this competition "the FIBA." FIBA is the organization that governs international basketball, not the name of this event. The event is called the World Cup (as opposed to the many other competitions that FIBA also runs).

It's true that USA basketball is a member of FIBA, but this particular competition is not called the FIBA.

 

[Poetax]

This is not aimed at you, but rather this board in general.

I'm just curious why folks here keep calling this tournament "the FIBA." FIBA is the world organization that governs international basketball, but it is not the name of this event. The event is called the World Cup (as opposed to the many other competitions that FIBA also runs).

It's true that USA basketball is a member of FIBA, but this particular competition is not called the FIBA.

https://nba.nbcsports.com/2019/08/17/kings-deaaron-fox-latest-to-withdraw-from-usa-world-cup-team/

Fox had been a standout at USA Basketball camp and impressed both the staff and fellow players. Kemba Walker called Fox the fastest player in the NBA with the ball in his hands and said his improved jump shot was going to take him to another level. Fox was considered a lock to make the roster, although he played just a little over six minutes in Friday night’s exhibition.

 

[uk78_rivals88018]

As I said, lost to almighty France today.

 

[Col. Angus]

What a crock of ****. Losing to ***** France [laughing]