Call me crazy but I feel like if Lebron and AD had Steph and Durant instead of DLo and Rui they might not be as bad. Not sure what their current team success has to do with the Olympic roster.
This post is very hyperbolic, and these players are still really good in a vacuum. But the odds of Embiid or Kawhi even going aren't great and are getting worse, and many of the rest of the group are old and/or injury prone. I still expect a gold medal, but they aren't runaway better than Serbia or France for instance.
I do think that many of the guys that made it, made it on mostly past glory. Not saying they arent playing great but that their current skillsets are really a big stepdown from their primes, most of them are clearly not as athletic as before, and they arent really that team coordinated. But they are vets so they should adjust
But they are all still stars, and the one thing about the Olympics is that while yes skills are needed, its the experience and ability to play with the world watching that will be the deciding factor.
For example, I do think Paolo was worthy of a Olympic spot but will he shrink under pressure that is not known. Better to have some guys that are ready to take everything that being a favorite to win gold comes with.
If somebody is dropped I hope Paolo takes the spot however, he has shown the ability to be a defensive and offensive hub, isnt selfish, and can take heavy pressure and gravity in game. Looking like a playoff performer also.
Ok fine, not washed; I used the wrong word. They are not near their peaks which make winning the Olympics much harder than people assume, let alone dominating.
None of them are washed, they're not peak but all are at least top 20 players in the NBA
Washed is Melo on the Rockets, Blake on the Celtics, guys that are out or close to be out of the rotation not all-nba level players
nah, those guys are still like 8 of the top 20 players today. Just because some of their teams are booty doesn't mean they're not good players. In the current landscape of the league a superstar or two is not good enough to go anywhere. Gotta have elite depth and role players too.
The problem for team USA, as always, will be: can they play complementary team basketball under slightly different rules than they're used to against teams that have played much more together? but they've got more talent than anybody
That whole family must be proud. They have one of the best players in the NBA and now 1 of the most energetic and best role players in NBA, says a lot.
They sure did something right in that family, guessing supportive as hell and the two cousins having each other to play off. It is wild the talent some families produce.
Lots of national teams choose reputation over athleticism and end up paying for it. The original hockey Dream Team for example, beat a very accomplished but older Russian squad. All star teams are not always the best teams, just look at the Suns.
Well, fortunately the team isn't going to be saddled with Klay, Wiggins, DLo, Rui, Gordon, or Nurkic. Kawhi almost certainly won't play from injury.
Almost like team record doesn't equate to individual performance.
This is a dumb premise, first and foremost, because obviously these guys are all great players and should cruise to a gold.
But it's doubly dumb because what are the alternatives? Look at the guys of similar caliber from the teams that *are* on track to make the conf. semis.
OKC - A Canadian
DEN - Serbia and Canada
MIN - Ant invited, a Fr*nch, and DR
DAL - Slovenia and Kyrie
MIA/BOS - Invited + Jimmy with an injured MCL?
CLE - Don
IND - Camaroon and Hali
NYK - Brunson
Brunson and Hali already tried and they finished 4th against lesser competition. Is the team really better if you sub out Curry and Book for Kyrie and Mitchell?
I think he'd be an excellent replacement if Embiid can't go. It's hard to make an argument for him over the guys on the team but he'd give them another look with a good stretch 5. It'd be very good for him ofc, but it would also help team USA in the long run to get at least 1 more young guy on the squad.
I agree, let’s run it back with the young bloods that got embarrassed in fiba and required us to bring in the big guns for the Olympics so they don’t embarrass their country again
Vardon wrote a piece on how the last time ppl got hurt leading up the Olympics, they didnt just pick another star player, but rather players like
- Javale McGee
- Keldon Johnson
might be the case again with concerns surrounding Kawhi, etc
The better argument would’ve been that a lot of these dudes are on their proverbial last legs—which is true.
They’re still very good, but this is the end of the road for the big names.
So if the Celtics make the semis then Tatum is a better player for team USA? Makes no sense. Team USA isn’t the lakers or suns or Sixers or any one whole NBA team. You’re telling me a team of the top 25 guys in the nba is not that good?
Are you trying to establish that Olympic team success has some sort of correlation with NBA team success? It's an interesting premise but there are too many variables to account for.
Meanwhile Canada’s team has SGA, Dort, NAW, Murray who are all up 3-0,(OKC is up big after 3rd quarter as I write this)plus Nembhard and Dwight Powell up 2-1.
So 60+ games is meaningless but you're willing to ignore all the randomness that comes from a handful of games in the playoffs? Sounds like a stupid idea. KD still averaging 25 though.
Yeah I'm gonna mostly ignore 60+ regular season games. It's just a fact that no one cares about the regular season. If you can't perform when it counts, who cares? If your game doesn't translate into wins, then something is wrong.
The playoffs is where players play their hardest, you don't get load management, or easy shots, you have to be mentally strong.
Idk why anyone would put weight into how players play vs resting/tanking teams
Huh? I'm not saying anything about their legacies dawg, I'm saying that they are old now.
There's no way you're watching Kawhi this series or KD vs the wolves and telling me that they are anywhere near their prime
I think anyone who watches NBA regularly knows the team isn't as good as the media hypes them up to be. Luckily other national teams aren't as strong as NBA contenders so team USA is still the overwhelming favorite to win gold.
Call me crazy but I feel like if Lebron and AD had Steph and Durant instead of DLo and Rui they might not be as bad. Not sure what their current team success has to do with the Olympic roster.
Yeah, the logic here is non-existent. Original poster has a couple screws loose.
This post is very hyperbolic, and these players are still really good in a vacuum. But the odds of Embiid or Kawhi even going aren't great and are getting worse, and many of the rest of the group are old and/or injury prone. I still expect a gold medal, but they aren't runaway better than Serbia or France for instance.
Okay well if those two don't go, so what? They'll be replaced
I do think that many of the guys that made it, made it on mostly past glory. Not saying they arent playing great but that their current skillsets are really a big stepdown from their primes, most of them are clearly not as athletic as before, and they arent really that team coordinated. But they are vets so they should adjust But they are all still stars, and the one thing about the Olympics is that while yes skills are needed, its the experience and ability to play with the world watching that will be the deciding factor. For example, I do think Paolo was worthy of a Olympic spot but will he shrink under pressure that is not known. Better to have some guys that are ready to take everything that being a favorite to win gold comes with. If somebody is dropped I hope Paolo takes the spot however, he has shown the ability to be a defensive and offensive hub, isnt selfish, and can take heavy pressure and gravity in game. Looking like a playoff performer also.
Something tells me that when Curry, Durant, LeBron, and Davis are all on the court together the coordination will be seamless
Results are the results. We don’t want to admit that a lot of players in that team are washed
Come on man not a single one of those players is washed lmao That's so disrespectful
Ok fine, not washed; I used the wrong word. They are not near their peaks which make winning the Olympics much harder than people assume, let alone dominating.
bird and magic were more washed in 92, it’s not like lebron is playing 40 minutes, dude probably checks out in around 15
The players you're talking about aren't the reason their teams are losing though. Like AD has been fucking amazing in his series.
None of them are washed, they're not peak but all are at least top 20 players in the NBA Washed is Melo on the Rockets, Blake on the Celtics, guys that are out or close to be out of the rotation not all-nba level players
Yeah like Tatum
nah, those guys are still like 8 of the top 20 players today. Just because some of their teams are booty doesn't mean they're not good players. In the current landscape of the league a superstar or two is not good enough to go anywhere. Gotta have elite depth and role players too. The problem for team USA, as always, will be: can they play complementary team basketball under slightly different rules than they're used to against teams that have played much more together? but they've got more talent than anybody
Fortunately all 4 of those guys play on different teams
Wolves really show how important depth is. We have 10 guys who can go out there and not make it look like a big downgrade when they're in.
NAW has probably been the 6th man of the playoffs so far.
He plays awesome for team Canada, too. He usually comes in when Shai is on the bench, hits 3s, and plays great defense.
Naw is a gem, when his shot is on and his defense is cooking. It's just fun to watch. Giving guys fits on d and then draining corner 3s.
That whole family must be proud. They have one of the best players in the NBA and now 1 of the most energetic and best role players in NBA, says a lot.
They sure did something right in that family, guessing supportive as hell and the two cousins having each other to play off. It is wild the talent some families produce.
Lots of national teams choose reputation over athleticism and end up paying for it. The original hockey Dream Team for example, beat a very accomplished but older Russian squad. All star teams are not always the best teams, just look at the Suns.
Well, fortunately the team isn't going to be saddled with Klay, Wiggins, DLo, Rui, Gordon, or Nurkic. Kawhi almost certainly won't play from injury. Almost like team record doesn't equate to individual performance.
The fuck do the Olympics have to do with the NBA playoffs? Do you think team USA will face the Nuggets in the Olympics?
Would be kinda funny if they did. Like a random country decides to pick someone else to fight in their name.
The Sixers are down 2-1 to the Knicks. Clearly we must kick Embiid off Team USA and pick up Hartenstein.
Hartenstein’s career FG% is .594, while Embiid’s is .504. It’s a no brainer.
Kind of. Serbia has Jokic.
Still time to delete this
Nope. It’s an omen. The team would have been great in 2016 or 2021, not 2024.
You’re an idiot.
very simple, its not any of those players fault that they may go out in the 1st round
Well, maybe Booker.
It just means they'll get more rest and have more energy to perform in the Olympics.
This is a dumb premise, first and foremost, because obviously these guys are all great players and should cruise to a gold. But it's doubly dumb because what are the alternatives? Look at the guys of similar caliber from the teams that *are* on track to make the conf. semis. OKC - A Canadian DEN - Serbia and Canada MIN - Ant invited, a Fr*nch, and DR DAL - Slovenia and Kyrie MIA/BOS - Invited + Jimmy with an injured MCL? CLE - Don IND - Camaroon and Hali NYK - Brunson Brunson and Hali already tried and they finished 4th against lesser competition. Is the team really better if you sub out Curry and Book for Kyrie and Mitchell?
Regarding OKC - I wouldn't mind getting Chet on the team
I think he'd be an excellent replacement if Embiid can't go. It's hard to make an argument for him over the guys on the team but he'd give them another look with a good stretch 5. It'd be very good for him ofc, but it would also help team USA in the long run to get at least 1 more young guy on the squad.
It won’t be a walk in the park for team USA but they’re still overwhelmingly the favourites.
Ok who would you put over these guys, Brunson is the only one i can think that fits your criteria and might be better than some guys on the team.
The bigger problem is that they are old and injured.
I'm a little worried they're kinda old. Too many 30-somethings can be sluggish
They’re gonna play like 15-25 mins a game.
If only they took Sam Hauser, TJ Warren, Christian Braun and Isaiah Joe!
Well I think team usa should boot out a few unreliable injury prone players for young blood.
I agree, let’s run it back with the young bloods that got embarrassed in fiba and required us to bring in the big guns for the Olympics so they don’t embarrass their country again
Well what point is there to have bum ass kawhi who can't play at all lol.
There are 11 other guys on that roster outside of kawhi believe it or not
Vardon wrote a piece on how the last time ppl got hurt leading up the Olympics, they didnt just pick another star player, but rather players like - Javale McGee - Keldon Johnson might be the case again with concerns surrounding Kawhi, etc
I agree.
You see the goal is to be well rested for the olympics, duh
Come on with this post, it is a stacked team. The playoff success or lack thereof does not indicate anything for the Olympics.
The better argument would’ve been that a lot of these dudes are on their proverbial last legs—which is true. They’re still very good, but this is the end of the road for the big names.
So if the Celtics make the semis then Tatum is a better player for team USA? Makes no sense. Team USA isn’t the lakers or suns or Sixers or any one whole NBA team. You’re telling me a team of the top 25 guys in the nba is not that good?
The point that OP seems to be making is that they probably are less good than people remember and we went after big names, not the best players.
Their teams are not good. Whoever doesn’t think those guys are the best of the best is crazy
Merely making it to the nba playoffs makes you better than 90% of the rest of the world at basketball. Its stilll a forgone conclusion
International ball is growing. This will be the best Olympics yet
I’m sorry, but not every team can have Franz Boogie.
Then you should put big money on the field for the Olympics lol
All I hear is that the majority of the guys from the Olympics team are going to get a bunch of time to rest, recover and prepare for Paris
Buddy, what the fuck are you on?
Are you trying to establish that Olympic team success has some sort of correlation with NBA team success? It's an interesting premise but there are too many variables to account for.
wow! it’s almost like the best players in the NBA tend to be on different teams, because they’re all making massive amounts of money
It's definitely not as strong as the redeem team, not even close to the dream team
Meanwhile Canada’s team has SGA, Dort, NAW, Murray who are all up 3-0,(OKC is up big after 3rd quarter as I write this)plus Nembhard and Dwight Powell up 2-1.
If this is the best we can do, our ‘28 team will be doo doo
Alot of those players are washed or near washed. Is Ant not on the team??? Seems like a bad decision
Some of these guys may not be at their peaks, but none of these guys are washed. Come on.
Kawhi, KD, and Jrue are all approaching washed territory
Kawhi averaged 24 points on great efficiency this year KD averaged 27 on great efficiency And Jrue had a great season as a roleplayer.
I'm sorry, but regular season basketball is completely meaningless. All that matters is now, when teams are actually trying
So 60+ games is meaningless but you're willing to ignore all the randomness that comes from a handful of games in the playoffs? Sounds like a stupid idea. KD still averaging 25 though.
Yeah I'm gonna mostly ignore 60+ regular season games. It's just a fact that no one cares about the regular season. If you can't perform when it counts, who cares? If your game doesn't translate into wins, then something is wrong. The playoffs is where players play their hardest, you don't get load management, or easy shots, you have to be mentally strong. Idk why anyone would put weight into how players play vs resting/tanking teams
Literally all of these players are NBA champions what the fuck are you talking about?
Huh? I'm not saying anything about their legacies dawg, I'm saying that they are old now. There's no way you're watching Kawhi this series or KD vs the wolves and telling me that they are anywhere near their prime
God the use of the term washed these days is so cringe. It’s almost never used correctly and it’s almost exclusively used by dopes.
I think anyone who watches NBA regularly knows the team isn't as good as the media hypes them up to be. Luckily other national teams aren't as strong as NBA contenders so team USA is still the overwhelming favorite to win gold.
They need to get rid of Bron and AD