Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

@JSM ..... you just made "the" s*** list

 

Love this picture for some reason

 

LeBron hater. Careful …. that list is no joke!

 

Yup... 33 wins is what we're all about

 

Hey .... you ready to maybe walk back your prognostications on the FIBA tournament with Team USA?

 

What did i say?

 

Ooooops .... my BAD!! It was Zen the hater.

 

Because you won against Luka-less Slovenia? LOL

You can slice this however you want, but the talent level is underwhelming. May be you win, considering Giannis stayed home, Spain is in the hangover after the golden era (Gasols, Rudy etc.), France is the same..., Jokic isn't playing (I think)...

It's OK to be proud of your country, but it is also OK to admit that the roster is full of potentials and mid-weights.

For example, I LOVE Austin, but he wouldn't sniff any of the past teams...

EDIT: Actually, I stand corrected. He'd be fine on 2019 team. How'd they do, remind me?

 

I don't follow most of these guys enough to speak intelligently about them but Austin Nash fits in anywhere with any group...lol.

 

it's not nationalistic to say that the US team is probably twice as talented as any other team in the field. just because they're not as good as previous iterations doesn't mean they're still not quite good. the US always has a disadvantage due to tremendous roster turnover and passing familiarity with the international rules and style of play, but on paper, it's really not close. even with giannis or luka playing elsewhere (have you see luka's teammates?!).

i'd need to look to verify, but my guess is reaves starts for every single other team in the tournament.

 

Zen's just pure hating here. The turnover for the US is a huge factor. These guys have only been together for like 3 weeks and not ALL that many practices and games. Already got his built in excuses for who's not played yet or will not play for all his much better teams. Boo on the attitude.

 

shrug... agree to disagree.

 

Have you watched any games? The team has some grit as well as a lot of young talent. They’ll do OK as they continue to gel. Then if they happen to win it you can put your asterisk on it because some of the other teams were missing their established NBA “superstars”. While we have none basically.

 

Strange as we see the growth in international players, opposing national teams seem a lot weaker.
Spain trotted out the Gasols, Fernandez, Calderon, Navarro, Ibaka, etc. That is a legit NBA squad across the board: starter level or rotation caliber

Nevermind if Wiggins and other talent actually suit up for Canada holy s*** are they stacked: Murray, SGA, Wiggins, Barrett, Brooks, Alexander/Walker, Olynk, Dort, Powell. Relatively weak in the frontcourt but at the guard and wings they can match up even if USA brings their A team.

 

You are making my point for me. Which was that the team is underwhelming. Aside from that, I may or may not be right about them finishing like 4th... but the team is meh.

 

i mean, yes, that's good, but is it actually better than this version of team USA in terms of total talent? i'd say no. and it's canada's most-talented roster ever. how many of those guys replace guys on the usa roster? sga. murray...maybe...but brunson and halliburton are usa's guards. i actually think canada's advantage here isn't that big.

wings: wiggins/barrett/brooks or edwards/ingram/bridges? this one's very easy.

bigs: this one's not close.

none of that is to say canada sucks or that the us is destined to win it; just that it's a talented team relative to other international squads.

 

Brunson’s really grown on me. Kerr called Austin’s talents and intangibles right and seems he wasn’t blowing smoke with Jalen either. Leader, scorer, clutch, “strong” in a 6’2” package. And yes on Halliburton too.

Just saw in a The Athletic headline for current article …. Murray is not handling the physical stress well of FIBA too after the playoffs. Amazing after only year 2 and all the wrestling Austin does against bigger players, in only one less series played, is still kicking a**. One tough player!

 

yeah, i think murray's got the halo after going nova against us, but he's not really that great, imo. he's comparable to brunson.

 

Correction …. Murray is OUT of the World Cup.

https://theathletic.com/4780708/2023/08/16/jamal-murray-fiba-world-cup-canada/

 

But if the chemistry of this young and talented, just assembled team, and play, is fun to watch, with Reaves right in the thick of it all helping make it happen, and they are beating older established international squads and winning, as they gel …. how is that a “meh” if you’re in the US? Sounds like with some of your USUAL Big names out for other teams you’re down on the whole tournament period? Bummer.