Olympics 2024

[SleepingHero]

https://x.com/nba/status/1815414052283199585?s=46&t=xNHF873rjt7IFVxyn62T2g

Small bump given that the Olympics is starting this week.

[Mavs2021]

If Embiid played 35 MPG the USA would not win gold. The guy is a scrub in FIBA ball withouth his usual whistles. Brutal insult by Luka to call McGee Joel.

[SleepingHero]

Yeah I'm shocked at how bad Embiid has looked in the friendlies. Constantly flopping to no avail and forcing bad shots. Barely moving on defense too.

It's like he wanted to coast to get a gold medal but forgot he actually has to try to get it in the first place.

[Mavs2021]

I don´t get how Obst is not in the NBA. Defense or not. He´s probably knocking down +40% from three as a rookie off the bench.

[Mavs2021]

..and Bonga is the complete opposite. Example of having a professional basketball career just based on his athletic parameters. He´s basically J. Isaac with no touch or brain.

[Mavs2021]

Got to respect the German restraint to naturalize a guard on the level of Carlik Jones. The drop off from Schroeder to Lo and the rest of their guards outside of Obst is absolutely staggering.

[Mavs2021]

Already making a 2028 prediction. USA are not winning that gold without Bron, Durant, Curry and the other older players.

[dirkfansince1998]

Already making a 2028 prediction. USA are not winning that gold without Bron, Durant, Curry and the other older players.

Playoff intensity in a showcase match and the US needed every little bit of superstar power they have. Gets more and more difficult to overcome the coaching/scheme/chemistry advantage of good international teams.

[WillE]

I don´t get how Obst is not in the NBA. Defense or not. He´s probably knocking down +40% from three as a rookie off the bench.

Had the same exact discussion watching the game today.

My only explanation is that he already received NBA offers, but declined them. If I was him I'd only go if I have at least a decent role on the team and the money is right. Probably no.one.wants to make him enough promises on playing time...

[RGP1981]

Already making a 2028 prediction. USA are not winning that gold without Bron, Durant, Curry and the other older players.

I think Team USA will be much better in 2028 than now... since they won't be handicapped by needing to play some of the big old names (Lebron, Durant, Curry) in lineups that don't fully fit. Besides, the younger guys will play at a quicker pace and are better on defense.

G: Haliburton................ Brunson, Garland
G: Booker..................... Donovan, Cade
F: Edwards................... Brown, Mikal
F: Flagg....................... Tatum, Jabari
C: Davis....................... Mobley, Lively

I'm probably forgetting a few names too. Anyway, a team made of these young guys will probably steamroll every one else.

Oh, and I'm putting Cooper Flagg in there early... 'cause in Caitlin and Cooper we trust.

[Mavs2021]

I think Team USA will be much better in 2028 than now... since they won't be handicapped by needing to play some of the big names (Lebron, Durant, Curry) in rosters that don't really fit.

Garland.................... Brunson
Booker...................... Donovan
Edwards................... Brown
Flagg....................... Tatum, Jabari
Davis....................... Mobley, Lively

I'm probably forgetting a few names too. Anyway, a team made of these young guys will probably steamroll every one else.

Oh, and I'm putting Cooper Flagg in there early... cause in Caitlin and Cooper we trust.

They already steam-rolled to a 4th place finish last year. I also think some of these teams held back in the prep games. 

Germany vs. USA was probably the most honest game we saw (in terms of effort and tactics) and if Germany doesn´t shoot abysmal they win that game, especially down the stretch.

[RGP1981]

They already steam-rolled to a 4th place finish last year. I also think some of these teams held back in the prep games. 

Germany vs. USA was probably the most honest game we saw (in terms of effort and tactics) and if Germany doesn´t shoot abysmal they win that game, especially down the stretch.

Well, we'll see... the era of Cooper isn't upon us yet.

Btw, I even forgot to include Chet Holmgren, who is the USA's answer to Wemby.

[dirkfansince1998]

I think the main issue is that with every generation we are getting further away from the required skillsets to play under FIBA rules. How many young star player know how to play without the ball? How many of them have an inbetween/midrange/post game? How many have the required handles/footwork (when refs are calling travels/carries)?

[WillE]

I think the main issue is that with every generation we are getting further away from the required skillsets to play under FIBA rules. How many young star player know how to play without the ball? How many of them have an inbetween/midrange/post game? How many have the required handles/footwork (when refs are calling travels/carries)?

It's actually kinda the other way around. US players don't get away from FIBA basketball, international teams are closing up to the US.

For various reasons, obviously. But one certainly is the NBA rules. While everybody seems to blame the FIBA rules, I have yet to see one arguing for the other direction and question the NBA for their direction. I for my part would love to see less "show" and more real, honest competition. Without superstar calls and non-calls and whatsoever. I just doubt the league will ever have the balls for that...

[RGP1981]

I watched the USA vs Germany women's warm-up match earlier. Goodness, that was so boring. The whole world of women's basketball has missed a golden opportunity because the US Women's Olympic Basketball Committee left Caitlin Clark off their team for political reasons (shame on the committee). Caitlin makes the game exciting to watch with her style and pace of play. So does Arike Ogunbowale. Now the talk at the Olympics is only going to be that the US women's team won gold and continued the decades long tradition of winning, and that talk will be very brief. They're going to win it with ease because the competition is so weak. If they had taken Caitlin (and Arike), I think there would have been a heck of a lot more attention, fanfare and discussion during the games and after it too, about the exciting manner in which they played and won. Caitlin might even have kick-started something bigger than all of the buzz she has already brought to the game, which is already so big. Perhaps, a Jordanesque type of global interest in the women's game, like when the world was first introduced to MJ at the 1984 Olympics.

Anyway, Arike is supposed to have removed herself from consideration last year, when she realized they were going with a specific group of players and could leave her out. At the very least, I would've taken Caitlin instead of the ole bag of bones, Diana Taurasi. Diana has been given every possible opportunity for 20 years, but selfishly still wants more, merely to add to her resume at the age of 42. She doesn't remember that when she herself was fresh out of college, an opportunity was taken from someone else and given to her for the 2004 Olympics because she was then the future of women's basketball. Diana doesn't have the grace to realize it is time to give someone else that same opportunity and step aside for Caitlin. Should've passed the darn baton along with grace, Diana. Caitlin is now the future, a more exciting and more profitable future. Apparently, having 6 Olympic gold medals on Diana Taurasi's resume to help make her case for GOAT women's player is more important than paying back the opportunities she was given.

Apart from Taurasi, I think Caitlin is already a better player and/or point guard than Kelsey Plum, Jewell Lloyd, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner. So there was plenty to choose from to make place for her.

[ballsrchr]

I watched the USA vs Germany women's warm-up match earlier. Goodness, that was so boring. The whole world of women's basketball has missed a golden opportunity because the US Women's Olympic Basketball Committee left Caitlin Clark off their team for political reasons (shame on the committee). Caitlin makes the game exciting to watch with her style and pace of play. So does Arike Ogunbowale. Now the talk at the Olympics is only going to be that the US women's team won gold and continued the decades long tradition of winning, and that talk will be very brief. They're going to win it with ease because the competition is so weak. If they had taken Caitlin (and Arike), I think there would have been a heck of a lot more attention, fanfare and discussion during the games and after it too, about the exciting manner in which they played and won. Caitlin might even have kick-started something bigger than all of the buzz she has already brought to the game, which is already so big. Perhaps, a Jordanesque type of global interest in the women's game, like when the world was first introduced to MJ at the 1984 Olympics.

Anyway, Arike is supposed to have removed herself from consideration last year, when she realized they were going with a specific group of players and could leave her out. At the very least, I would've taken Caitlin instead of the ole bag of bones, Diana Taurasi. Diana has been given every possible opportunity for 20 years, but selfishly still wants more, merely to add to her resume at the age of 42. She doesn't remember that when she herself was fresh out of college, an opportunity was taken from someone else and given to her for the 2004 Olympics because she was then the future of women's basketball. Diana doesn't have the grace to realize it is time to give someone else that same opportunity and step aside for Caitlin. Should've passed the darn baton along with grace, Diana. Caitlin is now the future, a more exciting and more profitable future. Apparently, having 6 Olympic gold medals on Diana Taurasi's resume to help make her case for GOAT women's player is more important than paying back the opportunities she was given.

Apart from Taurasi, I think Caitlin is already a better player and/or point guard than Kelsey Plum, Jewell Lloyd, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner. So there was plenty to choose from to make place for her.

I agree with this.  Caitlin Clark is an exciting women's player with a lot of talent and skills.  She looks like she has some room to grow.  I hope she never loses the joy in playing.  Arike O. is also pretty damn good. Back when I was in sports and needed help on form I would often watch the women play.  Their physical size was more in line with mine.  Talent too...probably.  It helped me a lot.

[Mavs2021]

I watched the USA vs Germany women's warm-up match earlier. Goodness, that was so boring. The whole world of women's basketball has missed a golden opportunity because

Wagner and Hartenstein are now the highest paid German athletes, surpassing even football/soccer players. Maybe the Lions WR Amon-Ra is still paid more. Point being there is absolutely no financial incentive in female basketball. No parents will steer females toward basketball. There is no money. It´s individual sports like tennis/golf and others.

..but I caught some of the controversy around Team USA, so I watched highlights from the ASG exhibition game and my impression was that Team USA looked outmatched. Only Stewart stood out to me on their team.

[DallasMaverick]

I agree with this.  Caitlin Clark is an exciting women's player with a lot of talent and skills.  She looks like she has some room to grow.  I hope she never loses the joy in playing.  Arike O. is also pretty damn good. Back when I was in sports and needed help on form I would often watch the women play.  Their physical size was more in line with mine.  Talent too...probably.  It helped me a lot.

Women play basketball, too??

[ballsrchr]

Women play basketball, too??

With a volleyball and a badminton net...

It turns me on!

Beach sand court though.

[ballsrchr]

Oh hell.  Now that--beach volleyball--IS one boring game...