Game Thread Official USA vs Australia game thread

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Want Dame to get a gold medal...don't see it though.
Keldon Johnson played 13 minutes. They're not treating these games seriously. They haven't established a pecking order. It's not that KD's shot is off, it's that he's not concentrating (I've never seen him miss free throws like this). These guys are half assing it because they've only been playing together for a week.

They'll round into form and be fine in Tokyo. I just hope Dame asserts himself. Maybe just like Durant, Dame isn't coming with enough focus on execution, so he's just passing the ball off. It's not the offense they're playing in either because Tatum doesn't seem to have a care in the world about lowering his head and going 1 on 5.

It's frustrating and a little shocking because every team since 92 has taken these exhibitions seriously but this is a different year and obviously these guys aren't playing like they give a shit about winning exhibitions. Pop sure doesn't he played the Spur's Keldon Johnson as much as he played all-star Zach LaVine.
 
Keldon Johnson played 13 minutes. They're not treating these games seriously. They haven't established a pecking order. It's not that KD's shot is off, it's that he's not concentrating (I've never seen him miss free throws like this). These guys are half assing it because they've only been playing together for a week.

They'll round into form and be fine in Tokyo. I just hope Dame asserts himself. Maybe just like Durant, Dame isn't coming with enough focus on execution, so he's just passing the ball off. It's not the offense they're playing in either because Tatum doesn't seem to have a care in the world about lowering his head and going 1 on 5.

It's frustrating and a little shocking because every team since 92 has taken these exhibitions seriously but this is a different year and obviously these guys aren't playing like they give a shit about winning exhibitions. Pop sure doesn't he played the Spur's Keldon Johnson as much as he played all-star Zach LaVine.
We have a third tier all star team out there. Start listing off the best players in the NBA and most of them aren’t there, either because they don’t want to be or because they’d be playing for someone else. Curry, Kawhi, AD, Harden, Embiid, Jokic, Paul George, etc. literally two players from the All NBA Teams are playing for USA and that’s Dame and Beal. Two out of 15.
 
I am aware.

Maybe my wording was poor, basically, Dame is Melo.

He is either hot, and you lose because he is a blackhole.

Or he is off, and you lose because he is a blackhole.
Dame constantly (even on the Blazers) defers when his shot is off. There were so many games this season and even one against where he only shoots like 10 times because he's off and gets 10 assists with barely any turnovers.

Your whole take on Dame is shit. If you had some actual basis to all of the trash you are talking I'd just take it as your opinion but the stuff you say about him is made up nonsense.
 
Thybulle

I know he played in Australia this year but Delli

Oh and Exum

and Aaron Baynes even though he played about as much as he does in the league these days
Delly's been injured all year, only played three games for the Cavs. He just signed for Melbourne United, but he's still hoping to get a spot on an NBA roster. That was only Exum's second game in 6 months due to injury. Yeah Baynes had a terrible year for Tampa Bay, he's the first to acknowledge it.
 
Delly's been injured all year, only played three games for the Cavs. He just signed for Melbourne United, but he's still hoping to get a spot on an NBA roster. That was only Exum's second game in 6 months due to injury. Yeah Baynes had a terrible year for Tampa Bay, he's the first to acknowledge it.
Aussies came to play DUB! Good showing by your guys down there...team USA has to be humbled real good about now...time to figure it out!
 
We have a third tier all star team out there. Start listing off the best players in the NBA and most of them aren’t there, either because they don’t want to be or because they’d be playing for someone else. Curry, Kawhi, AD, Harden, Embiid, Jokic, Paul George, etc. literally two players from the All NBA Teams are playing for USA and that’s Dame and Beal. Two out of 15.
KD would have been on an all-nba team if he would've played more games. Tatum was all NBA last season. Let's not forget that Booker, Jrue and Middleton are on their way.

Again, they've been in Vegas together for a week now, I'm not worried. You can give me a big fat "I told you so." if we don't end up with the gold because for me, right now, it's not even a concern.
 
Keldon Johnson played 13 minutes. They're not treating these games seriously. They haven't established a pecking order. It's not that KD's shot is off, it's that he's not concentrating (I've never seen him miss free throws like this). These guys are half assing it because they've only been playing together for a week.

They'll round into form and be fine in Tokyo. I just hope Dame asserts himself. Maybe just like Durant, Dame isn't coming with enough focus on execution, so he's just passing the ball off. It's not the offense they're playing in either because Tatum doesn't seem to have a care in the world about lowering his head and going 1 on 5.

It's frustrating and a little shocking because every team since 92 has taken these exhibitions seriously but this is a different year and obviously these guys aren't playing like they give a shit about winning exhibitions. Pop sure doesn't he played the Spur's Keldon Johnson as much as he played all-star Zach LaVine.

Yeah, I noticed Pop waited too long to bring back in starters and over played players like Johnson. I figured too it was because these are Exhibition games.

USA is getting embarrassed though. Hopefully they gel and get better because I didn't see much of a team. Austrailia played like a team.

I know these are Exhibition games, but they are giving other teams confidence and they are looking weak. Not a good luck.

Too many iso players trying to get theirs and Lillard being too fucking modest. It's frustrating because we see the same with Lillard we see on the Blazers. He gets doubled and passes the ball. If Pop can't find a fix for that, who can?

I guess it's a good honor to see Australia focus so much on Dame as their gameplan to win it. It's just fucking frustrating.
 
KD would have been on an all-nba team if he would've played more games. Tatum was all NBA last season. Let's not forget that Booker, Jrue and Middleton are on their way.

Again, they've been in Vegas together for a week now, I'm not worried. You can give me a big fat "I told you so." if we don't end up with the gold because for me, right now, it's not even a concern.
Sure but stack this roster up against some of the dream teams from the past. It’s a joke.
 
Aussies came to play DUB! Good showing by your guys down there...team USA has to be humbled real good about now...time to figure it out!
Australia has never won a men's basketball medal, either at the Olympics, nor the World Cup. We've finished just outside the medals many times. Given their age, this may be the last chance for quite few of these guys. They're very hungry.
 
Delly's been injured all year, only played three games for the Cavs. He just signed for Melbourne United, but he's still hoping to get a spot on an NBA roster. That was only Exum's second game in 6 months due to injury. Yeah Baynes had a terrible year for Tampa Bay, he's the first to acknowledge it.

I'd give Delavadova a chance with the Blazers. Really like what he brings
 
We have a third tier all star team out there. Start listing off the best players in the NBA and most of them aren’t there, either because they don’t want to be or because they’d be playing for someone else. Curry, Kawhi, AD, Harden, Embiid, Jokic, Paul George, etc. literally two players from the All NBA Teams are playing for USA and that’s Dame and Beal. Two out of 15.
You miss Durant he top 5 player in the NBA.
 
You miss Durant he top 5 player in the NBA.
And that’s not the point. I’m not talking about the top two or three guys on the team. I’m taking about the overall talent on the roster. The rest of the roster is pretty mediocre compared to past USA teams.
 
And that’s not the point. I’m not talking about the top two or three guys on the team. I’m taking about the overall talent on the roster. The rest of the roster is pretty mediocre compared to past USA teams.
You still have more talent than any other country in the world. Talent isn't the issue, teamwork (or lack thereof) is.
 
Sure but stack this roster up against some of the dream teams from the past. It’s a joke.
Yeah it's probably the worst roster we've put out there. It doesn't help that AD and LeBron got two months off before this brutal schedule this season. The team would be a ton better with AD. Really the lack of size is weird but all three all nba centers this season were foreign born. Hell 3 out of the 5 guys on the all nba first team were foreign born. Julius Randle is a player the team should have recruited.

In fact Dame and Beal are the only two all nba players on the team USA roster.

Aaaand, we'll still win gold.
 
You still have more talent than any other country in the world. Talent isn't the issue, teamwork (or lack thereof) is.
The team just started practicing seven days ago. So we'll see if cohesion improves. I bet it will.
 
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Really the lack of size is weird but all three all nba centers this season were foreign born.
Last night, I was looking at all the USA born centres in the NBA. There really isn't much to choose from. Even Mason Plumlee might have been worth a roster spot, that's how few options there are.

Julius Randle is a player the team should have recruited.
Yep.

Aaaand, we'll still win gold.
Yep.
 
You still have more talent than any other country in the world. Talent isn't the issue, teamwork (or lack thereof) is.

But that's how USA has to approach the games. Your guys have been playing together for years. It's the same with every other international teams. Spain, France, etc. Their guys all grew up together in most cases. USA can't match that level of chemistry, so they usually beat it by putting out a team with a staggering amount of talent. I'm not even going to count the original dream team.

2008
Jason Kidd
LeBron James
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Kobe Byrant
Chris Bosh
Dwight Howard
Carmleo Anthony
Deron Williams
Michael Redd
Tayshaun Prince
Carlos Boozer

2012
LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Chris Paul
Anthony Davis
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
James Harden
Russell Westbrook
Kevin Love
Deron Williams
Andre Iguodala
Tyson Chandler

2016 (this team was kinda sketch as well but at least they had legit centers.)
Kevin Durant
Jimmy Butler
Paul George
Carmelo Anthony
Klay Thompson
Kyrie Irving
Kyle Lowry
DeMar DeRozan
DeMarcus Cousins
Draymond Green
DeAndre Jordan

Now look at this team
Dame
Durant
Booker
Draymond
Bam Adebayo
Beal
Jerami Grant
Jrue Holiday
Zach LaVine
Kevin Love
Khris Middleton
Jayson Tatum

I mean... those are good players, but the talent level just isn't as good.
 

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