2021 Tokyo Olympic Basketball...

[Fireball Jr.]

I love everything about Pop, the only other coach I’d be happier with is the legend Don Nelson.

 

[sutomcat]

USA 108, Argentina 80

USA Men Bounce Back With 108-80 Win Over Argentina

Kevin Durant scored 14 first-half points to help get the USA back on the winning side.

www.usab.com

https://www.usab.com/basketball/media/pdfs/2021/2021-mnt/exhibition-stats/usa-argentina-box.aspx

Pop is not using the bench guys much. Doesn't appear he is trying to assign roles to players. I would think the exhibition games would be a good time to play everyone and see what combos work best.

After the first 2 disastrous losses, he might be feeling some pressure to play his best players and just get wins.

My impression is that this is a soft team that is poor rebounding and does not pass the ball well. Not great on defense either. Durant got abused early pretty badly in the paint.

They have a lot of work to do to become good enough to get a medal.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I love everything about Pop, the only other coach I’d be happier with is the legend Don Nelson.

That guy is living the life in retirement.

 

[SUFan44]

I think Pop is great. But he has a lot of JB in him, in that he forgets the truth and is a pompous a double s a lot of times.

In the above clip, the writer asks about the teams that they have blown out before and why the US isn't blowing them out now. I am paraphrasing because I did not hear the question. But Pop says "that's just not true", when in actuality, the US beat Nigeria by 43 last time it played and by 80 a few times before.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Pop is not using the bench guys much. Doesn't appear he is trying to assign roles to players. I would think the exhibition games would be a good time to play everyone and see what combos work best.

After the first 2 disastrous losses, he might be feeling some pressure to play his best players and just get wins.

My impression is that this is a soft team that is poor rebounding and does not pass the ball well. Not great on defense either. Durant got abused early pretty badly in the paint.

They have a lot of work to do to become good enough to get a medal.

People should also take into consideration that the guys must be absolutely gassed. They played a condensed season with the playoff bubble, then a short offseason, and then played a full season that hasn't even ended yet and they are already starting their next competition. Frankly, I'll be shocked if at least a couple of them don't pick up injuries.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[MikeSU02]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[jordville]

 

[jordville]

Another one gone before we even officially start...

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[jordville]

A Pop favorite who has been training with them already...

 

[Alsacs]

Don’t like the Johnson and McGee addons this is on Pop.

 

[cuseincincy]

Don’t like the Johnson and McGee addons this is on Pop.

Not impressed. The "select team" is not the next best group of players.

 

[MikeSU02]

At this point, this isn't on Pop. Either go fully young guys or get the best of the best. The fact that they gave a spot to Kevin Love was a joke. Some of the final 57 were also a joke.

I can't believe they are pulling in McGee and Keldon Johnson (btw, I like Keldon a lot).

This is what happens when Colangelo is still in charge. And, I get that he was in charge for the redeem team, but let's be honest, the whole key was to get Bron and Kobe to play (ie - go full Nike). There isn't a lot of brilliant strategy there. Oh, let's get the actual best players to play and we'll win again.

How the heck are Trae and Zion not on this team? At this point it would have been better to add Cade and Mobley to the team if Trae and Zion won't play. If it came to it, they should bounce Lloyd Pierce from the staff to get Trae on there.

 

[Orangezoo]

At this point, this isn't on Pop. Either go fully young guys or get the best of the best. The fact that they gave a spot to Kevin Love was a joke. Some of the final 57 were also a joke.

I can't believe they are pulling in McGee and Keldon Johnson (btw, I like Keldon a lot).

This is what happens when Colangelo is still in charge. And, I get that he was in charge for the redeem team, but let's be honest, the whole key was to get Bron and Kobe to play (ie - go full Nike). There isn't a lot of brilliant strategy there. Oh, let's get the actual best players to play and we'll win again.

How the heck are Trae and Zion not on this team? At this point it would have been better to add Cade and Mobley to the team if Trae and Zion won't play. If it came to it, they should bounce Lloyd Pierce from the staff to get Trae on there.

Yeah this has worst Olympic finish in xx years written all over it.

 

[Cusefan0307]

At this point, this isn't on Pop. Either go fully young guys or get the best of the best. The fact that they gave a spot to Kevin Love was a joke. Some of the final 57 were also a joke.

I can't believe they are pulling in McGee and Keldon Johnson (btw, I like Keldon a lot).

This is what happens when Colangelo is still in charge. And, I get that he was in charge for the redeem team, but let's be honest, the whole key was to get Bron and Kobe to play (ie - go full Nike). There isn't a lot of brilliant strategy there. Oh, let's get the actual best players to play and we'll win again.

How the heck are Trae and Zion not on this team? At this point it would have been better to add Cade and Mobley to the team if Trae and Zion won't play. If it came to it, they should bounce Lloyd Pierce from the staff to get Trae on there.

 

[Alsacs]

At this point, this isn't on Pop. Either go fully young guys or get the best of the best. The fact that they gave a spot to Kevin Love was a joke. Some of the final 57 were also a joke.

I can't believe they are pulling in McGee and Keldon Johnson (btw, I like Keldon a lot).

This is what happens when Colangelo is still in charge. And, I get that he was in charge for the redeem team, but let's be honest, the whole key was to get Bron and Kobe to play (ie - go full Nike). There isn't a lot of brilliant strategy there. Oh, let's get the actual best players to play and we'll win again.

How the heck are Trae and Zion not on this team? At this point it would have been better to add Cade and Mobley to the team if Trae and Zion won't play. If it came to it, they should bounce Lloyd Pierce from the staff to get Trae on there.

Pop wanted Johnson.
That is a terrible job by him picking his own guy over what the team could use more.

Zion and Trae were the obvious adds.
Trae not getting picked is likely related to how loyal Pop is to his guys and he won’t want to embarrass Lloyd Pierce who Young didn’t have a good relationship with.

 

[MikeSU02]

Pop wanted Johnson.
That is a terrible job by him picking his own guy over what the team could use more.

Zion and Trae were the obvious adds.
Trae not getting picked is likely related to how loyal Pop is to his guys and he won’t want to embarrass Lloyd Pierce who Young didn’t have a good relationship with.

I get the pick now for Keldon. It's def not great. But the bigger picture is on Colangelo. To me, this isn't a Keldon being picked issue, it's bigger than that.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Briancuse]

Great news I am expecting a big tournament from him.

 

[jordville]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[jordville]

 

[Newhouser]

At this point, this isn't on Pop. Either go fully young guys or get the best of the best. The fact that they gave a spot to Kevin Love was a joke. Some of the final 57 were also a joke.

I can't believe they are pulling in McGee and Keldon Johnson (btw, I like Keldon a lot).

This is what happens when Colangelo is still in charge. And, I get that he was in charge for the redeem team, but let's be honest, the whole key was to get Bron and Kobe to play (ie - go full Nike). There isn't a lot of brilliant strategy there. Oh, let's get the actual best players to play and we'll win again.

How the heck are Trae and Zion not on this team? At this point it would have been better to add Cade and Mobley to the team if Trae and Zion won't play. If it came to it, they should bounce Lloyd Pierce from the staff to get Trae on there.

Agree. K got too much credit and Pop will get too much blame if this goes south. The only 2 coaches who should be blamed are Larry Brown and John Thompson.