The other best point guards withdrew themselves from consideration though, so they went with what best guys left. Wall, Westbrook, Curry, Paul all chose to rest this summer.
i'm surprised that people thought this team was going to blow everyone out. i mean, obviously they should still winthe gold but it was pretty clear they weren't going to run away with it. they had to roll with whoever was available and they managed to put together a decent team, but not a typical star studded USA team that we've seen the past 2 olympics. that's what happens when guys like lebron, curry, paul, westbrook, davis, and wall don't play. the lack of chemistry shows though and their inability to close out games might get them in trouble
the defensive intensity is inconsistent, and that's a problem. on offense, i understand why they're a little disjointed and expected as much. but on d, they need to be better. that huertel guy is not really that good, and they made him look good today. shades of vassilis spanoulis...
One of the more uninspiring Olympic teams we've fielded, up there with the 04 team. We should be blowing teams out by 20+ ppg.
Lots of talent, but no Leader.. PG's like Paul & Kidd & Stars like Kobe & LeBron held it all together for Team USA in the past. Their Veteran Leader & Team Captain is Melo for Christ's Sake.. Makes it more interesting though. Heck they only won each of their last two games in Pool play by 3 pts.. Could get interesting.
This team is lucky both Spain and France aren't as good as they were 2-3 years ago . You couldn't blow out a Heurtel-Diot-Kahudi-Gelabale-Lauvergne lineup in the 4th
Irving is absolutely terrible on defense. Team USA is horrible on defense but Irving still kinda stands out as the worst defender.
^^^^ Cousins and Anthony aswell . Opponents get what they want every time they involve these 3 in PNR action
Not a fair comparison. The women's game worldwide is roughly where the men's was in 1992. In all seriousness, this team should be winning by more points than they are, but nothing compared to any of those first 3 dream teams. They have one top 5 player in Durant and a bunch of other all-star talent. I blame part of this on Coach K as Melo and Irving are getting tons of minutes. Yes, they are scoring, but they are playing too much isolation ball and neither is playing a lick of defense. Replace Irving with Lowry and Melo with Draymond. Get some bulldogs in there. You'll still have Boogie, Durant and Klay on the floor to score...and it's not like Lowry and Draymond are Bruce Bowen with zero offensive game other than a corner 3.
Seriously.. The Women's Team is fun to watch.. The USA Women's Team really moves the ball & they can shoot.. Check them out in the Medal Rounds if you haven't yet.. Good stuff.
don't get the barnes hate. it would be different if he were some sort of detestable figure off the floor, but he seems like a good dude. not his fault he's not better than melo, durant and george. usa basketball thought he was better than every other sf in the league, though.
Agree. These are brutal. Internet bullying at its best. What the heck happened with D. Green by the way that I missed? Was he hurt or something? Or .....too many weenies and nuts punched for prime time?
I feel like Draymond came to Team USA out of shape, he looks a little chubby to me. I think DJ and Cousins were pretty solid big men for them and didn't need a small ball center much. Funny cause Green might have been their best play maker.
