Olympics thread

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

This gets me even more excited about Thibs. He is just what our pups need.

http://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/17236175/olympic-men-basketball-team-earning-defensive-reputation

I'm reserving judgement on this one, bleed. Yes, they just won by 50, but they beat a Chinese team whose best player couldn't cut it with 3 teams in the NBA. I don't know if you watched any of the game, but I turned it on for a couple minutes in the second half. Thibs was frantically waving his arms and screaming...and they were up 40! Chill a little, man! I'm a little concerned about how our guys are going to react to that. Yes, I want a coach who will make our team play with defensive intensity, but there has to be some balance or you risk losing the locker room...a guy on the verge of a coronary in a 50-point blowout seems a little odd. There were some quiet reports that Wiggins was put off by Mitchell's aggressive coaching last year...he ain't seen nuthin' yet!

Keeping my fingers crossed...

This is the Olympics and there are only a few games and this team should hold itself to the highest standard. This isn't game 46 of an 82 game regular season this is like playing a tournament which eventually ends up being a one and done tourney after playing preseason games with a team with a lot of turnover in free agency. Thibs showed a sense of humor after the game. This is damn high level basketball. Team USA should be playing to their own standard event game. You don't want to let down even in big blowouts like this there is too much at stake. It seems like guys are all in on playing defense and that's Thibs thing. Don't we want the best from our country doing their best?

Yes, I want the best from our country doing their best...I think we all do. And Thibs manic coaching style he exhibited yesterday might get us to that goal...but it also might not. I was a little surprised at the intensity Thibs showed despite the huge lead (I notice there were a few raised eyebrows in the Twitterverse about the same topic), and it rekindled concerns some (including me) have stated about his ability to dial it back, and whether his
style is the best to get the most out of our young players...like Wig.

I'm not a fan of coddling players, but I also am not a fan of a "one size fits all" coaching style. What works for a player like KAT may not work for a player like Wig...there are hints that was true with Sam's coaching last year. I see an enormous amount of talent on our roster, and I hope Thibs is the right guy to bring it out to the greatest extent possible. And on balance I'm happy with the job he did in free agency. But I can't help noticing that while there were several players that he had coached before available in free agency, we only signed players who had no previous experience with him. Maybe that was for financial reasons only, or maybe players like Gasol, Noah and Deng didn't remember favorably the coaching style that was on display yesterday.

Controversial topic, I know, in this summer of optimism. But I think it's prudent to reserve judgement until we see how Thibs' coaching style jells with the personalities of our future stars. I am hoping it is a perfect fit, but I have some reservations.

Postscript: I'm sure most of us have seem Camden lurking on the board, but he hasn't posted since we passed on Murray on draft night. It would be nice to have him back posting. If questioning Thibs' coaching intensity doesn't bring him back, nothing will!

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

This was the most impressive thing I've watched so far.

'Iron Lady' Katinka Hosszu shatters world record in 400 IM, American Maya DiRado takes second

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/iron-lady-katinka-hosszu-shatters-world-record-in-400-im-american-maya-dirado-takes-second-020404338.html

I watched a little of the USA vs China game in the first quarter before my stream ended. It was close at that point. Lol

I watched that race too. But one can't help but think the 'Iron Lady' and her obsessive husband were seriously into PEDs. Of course, probably all the swimmers are, but some are likely more effective at gaming the system and being aggressive than others.

It's unfortunate it's come to this, but it's really hard for me to watch anyone in biking, swimming, and track/field without feeling like every single one of those folks have used PEDs at some point in their preparation.

[Coolbreeze44]

This gets me even more excited about Thibs. He is just what our pups need.

http://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/17236175/olympic-men-basketball-team-earning-defensive-reputation

I'm reserving judgement on this one, bleed. Yes, they just won by 50, but they beat a Chinese team whose best player couldn't cut it with 3 teams in the NBA. I don't know if you watched any of the game, but I turned it on for a couple minutes in the second half. Thibs was frantically waving his arms and screaming...and they were up 40! Chill a little, man! I'm a little concerned about how our guys are going to react to that. Yes, I want a coach who will make our team play with defensive intensity, but there has to be some balance or you risk losing the locker room...a guy on the verge of a coronary in a 50-point blowout seems a little odd. There were some quiet reports that Wiggins was put off by Mitchell's aggressive coaching last year...he ain't seen nuthin' yet!

Keeping my fingers crossed...

This is the Olympics and there are only a few games and this team should hold itself to the highest standard. This isn't game 46 of an 82 game regular season this is like playing a tournament which eventually ends up being a one and done tourney after playing preseason games with a team with a lot of turnover in free agency. Thibs showed a sense of humor after the game. This is damn high level basketball. Team USA should be playing to their own standard event game. You don't want to let down even in big blowouts like this there is too much at stake. It seems like guys are all in on playing defense and that's Thibs thing. Don't we want the best from our country doing their best?

Yes, I want the best from our country doing their best...I think we all do. And Thibs manic coaching style he exhibited yesterday might get us to that goal...but it also might not. I was a little surprised at the intensity Thibs showed despite the huge lead (I notice there were a few raised eyebrows in the Twitterverse about the same topic), and it rekindled concerns some (including me) have stated about his ability to dial it back, and whether his
style is the best to get the most out of our young players...like Wig.

I'm not a fan of coddling players, but I also am not a fan of a "one size fits all" coaching style. What works for a player like KAT may not work for a player like Wig...there are hints that was true with Sam's coaching last year. I see an enormous amount of talent on our roster, and I hope Thibs is the right guy to bring it out to the greatest extent possible. And on balance I'm happy with the job he did in free agency. But I can't help noticing that while there were several players that he had coached before available in free agency, we only signed players who had no previous experience with him. Maybe that was for financial reasons only, or maybe players like Gasol, Noah and Deng didn't remember favorably the coaching style that was on display yesterday.

Controversial topic, I know, in this summer of optimism. But I think it's prudent to reserve judgement until we see how Thibs' coaching style jells with the personalities of our future stars. I am hoping it is a perfect fit, but I have some reservations.

Postscript: I'm sure most of us have seem Camden lurking on the board, but he hasn't posted since we passed on Murray on draft night. It would be nice to have him back posting. If questioning Thibs' coaching intensity doesn't bring him back, nothing will!

Well as you know, Thibs as a fit worried me from the day rumors started swirling about him being a candidate. I still think he comes in and makes a dramatic impact in year 1. It's the succeeding years that worry me. I also think it's very telling none of his former players were very anxious to jump on board here. if and when he loses the support of one or more of our key pieces, this rebuild effectively starts to go south.

[Monster]

This gets me even more excited about Thibs. He is just what our pups need.

http://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/17236175/olympic-men-basketball-team-earning-defensive-reputation

I'm reserving judgement on this one, bleed. Yes, they just won by 50, but they beat a Chinese team whose best player couldn't cut it with 3 teams in the NBA. I don't know if you watched any of the game, but I turned it on for a couple minutes in the second half. Thibs was frantically waving his arms and screaming...and they were up 40! Chill a little, man! I'm a little concerned about how our guys are going to react to that. Yes, I want a coach who will make our team play with defensive intensity, but there has to be some balance or you risk losing the locker room...a guy on the verge of a coronary in a 50-point blowout seems a little odd. There were some quiet reports that Wiggins was put off by Mitchell's aggressive coaching last year...he ain't seen nuthin' yet!

Keeping my fingers crossed...

This is the Olympics and there are only a few games and this team should hold itself to the highest standard. This isn't game 46 of an 82 game regular season this is like playing a tournament which eventually ends up being a one and done tourney after playing preseason games with a team with a lot of turnover in free agency. Thibs showed a sense of humor after the game. This is damn high level basketball. Team USA should be playing to their own standard event game. You don't want to let down even in big blowouts like this there is too much at stake. It seems like guys are all in on playing defense and that's Thibs thing. Don't we want the best from our country doing their best?

Yes, I want the best from our country doing their best...I think we all do. And Thibs manic coaching style he exhibited yesterday might get us to that goal...but it also might not. I was a little surprised at the intensity Thibs showed despite the huge lead (I notice there were a few raised eyebrows in the Twitterverse about the same topic), and it rekindled concerns some (including me) have stated about his ability to dial it back, and whether his
style is the best to get the most out of our young players...like Wig.

I'm not a fan of coddling players, but I also am not a fan of a "one size fits all" coaching style. What works for a player like KAT may not work for a player like Wig...there are hints that was true with Sam's coaching last year. I see an enormous amount of talent on our roster, and I hope Thibs is the right guy to bring it out to the greatest extent possible. And on balance I'm happy with the job he did in free agency. But I can't help noticing that while there were several players that he had coached before available in free agency, we only signed players who had no previous experience with him. Maybe that was for financial reasons only, or maybe players like Gasol, Noah and Deng didn't remember favorably the coaching style that was on display yesterday.

Controversial topic, I know, in this summer of optimism. But I think it's prudent to reserve judgement until we see how Thibs' coaching style jells with the personalities of our future stars. I am hoping it is a perfect fit, but I have some reservations.

Postscript: I'm sure most of us have seem Camden lurking on the board, but he hasn't posted since we passed on Murray on draft night. It would be nice to have him back posting. If questioning Thibs' coaching intensity doesn't bring him back, nothing will!

Well as you know, Thibs as a fit worried me from the day rumors started swirling about him being a candidate. I still think he comes in and makes a dramatic impact in year 1. It's the succeeding years that worry me. I also think it's very telling none of his former players were very anxious to jump on board here. if and when he loses the support of one or more of our key pieces, this rebuild effectively starts to go south.

The no former players coming here worry is frustrating to me. They all got big contracts and good situations elsewhere. I'm impressed Thibs Layen laid off those guys (except Pau who only played for him for a year) for the prices that were offered.

[bleedspeed]

I picked this out of the article below.

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/17244097/how-does-year-team-usa-compare-olympic-basketball-teams-2016-rio-olympics

Dominant defense

Once upon a time, the book on the U.S. in international competition was that the team's defense could be broken down by quick, heady point guards who excelled in the pick-and-roll game and shooters. As recently as 2012, the U.S. surrendered 90-plus points three times, including an even 100 to Spain in the gold-medal game.

Under assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, who joined Krzyzewski's coaching staff after 2012, the U.S. has been much stingier on defense. The U.S. team allowed more than 80 points just once in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, cutting its defensive rating from 98.5 in 2012 to 84.7 in 2014. As Marc Stein noted in the wake of Saturday's win, this year's team has the potential to be better still defensively.

Sounds like Thibs effect. If he can get through to a bunch of all-stars playing in exhibition games I don't see how he will have any problems with our team.

[Monster]

This was the most impressive thing I've watched so far.

'Iron Lady' Katinka Hosszu shatters world record in 400 IM, American Maya DiRado takes second

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/iron-lady-katinka-hosszu-shatters-world-record-in-400-im-american-maya-dirado-takes-second-020404338.html

I watched a little of the USA vs China game in the first quarter before my stream ended. It was close at that point. Lol

I watched that race too. But one can't help but think the 'Iron Lady' and her obsessive husband were seriously into PEDs. Of course, probably all the swimmers are, but some are likely more effective at gaming the system and being aggressive than others.

It's unfortunate it's come to this, but it's really hard for me to watch anyone in biking, swimming, and track/field without feeling like every single one of those folks have used PEDs at some point in their preparation.

I agree Q it's really unfortunate. I had the thought of PEDs for bit but decided to just live in the moment.

The USA swimmer who got the silver had the swim of her life and was thrilled. It's kinda funny/interesting that she has some sweet corporate job all lined up. It seems like a lot of these other athletes you wonder what is next for them. A good friend of mine knows a gymnast that was in the running to be on the USA Olympic team. He knew that even if he made it unless he medaled he probably needed to move on and do something else with his life financially. He didn't make the team because of the way the roster was constructed but his life as a gymnast and moving on came quickly. He lived in the Olympic housing etc and had to move out and pretty much immediately start his new life. I'm sure he will be ok and maybe everything ending like that makes it easier to move on but it sounds kinda tough.

It's hard to watch any sport without wondering. There has to be guys taking doing stuff they aren't supposed to even in basketball. Something that helps with recovery time makes a ton of sense with the grind of an 82 game season. Oh well I guess. I don't have the answers to fix it that's for sure.

[Monster]

After 2 close games in a row for team USA I'll admit I was wrong they are vulnerable. I'm not sure it's the talent as the lack of cohesiveness as there are a lot of new players to this team.

[Monster]

Yi Jianlian may be the first guy with some Olympic hype getting a deal although I guess the Lakers had interest a while ago. I sorta thought Yi was a guy that could play in the league to some extent but I just looked at his stats and they were not that great. I would imagine him being a better player now though.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/17324680/lakers-advanced-discussion-chinese-star-yi-jianlian

Update: 8 million is the 1 year salary they are discussing. Um ok.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The USA swimmer who got the silver had the swim of her life and was thrilled. It's kinda funny/interesting that she has some sweet corporate job all lined up. It seems like a lot of these other athletes you wonder what is next for them. A good friend of mine knows a gymnast that was in the running to be on the USA Olympic team. He knew that even if he made it unless he medaled he probably needed to move on and do something else with his life financially. He didn't make the team because of the way the roster was constructed but his life as a gymnast and moving on came quickly. He lived in the Olympic housing etc and had to move out and pretty much immediately start his new life. I'm sure he will be ok and maybe everything ending like that makes it easier to move on but it sounds kinda tough.

It's hard to watch any sport without wondering. There has to be guys taking doing stuff they aren't supposed to even in basketball. Something that helps with recovery time makes a ton of sense with the grind of an 82 game season. Oh well I guess. I don't have the answers to fix it that's for sure.

So a neighborhood kid just missed qualifying for the Olympics. He just graduated from college but just signed on with NIKE to be a full-time pro athlete. He can continue going to school for his PhD while training year-round. But he almost didn't sign because he was pretty disgusted by the "culture" surrounding Olympic athletes.



[Note: His parents are the nosy, opinionated neighbors who like to comment on others parenting and dog-training skills. As much as I want to tell them to "go fuck themselves, what do you know"... it's sort of hard when their eldest kid is a potential Olympic athlete with a backup career as a rocket scientist. Seriously. The kid already has his Master's in Aerospace Engineering.]

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

The USA swimmer who got the silver had the swim of her life and was thrilled. It's kinda funny/interesting that she has some sweet corporate job all lined up. It seems like a lot of these other athletes you wonder what is next for them. A good friend of mine knows a gymnast that was in the running to be on the USA Olympic team. He knew that even if he made it unless he medaled he probably needed to move on and do something else with his life financially. He didn't make the team because of the way the roster was constructed but his life as a gymnast and moving on came quickly. He lived in the Olympic housing etc and had to move out and pretty much immediately start his new life. I'm sure he will be ok and maybe everything ending like that makes it easier to move on but it sounds kinda tough.

It's hard to watch any sport without wondering. There has to be guys taking doing stuff they aren't supposed to even in basketball. Something that helps with recovery time makes a ton of sense with the grind of an 82 game season. Oh well I guess. I don't have the answers to fix it that's for sure.

So a neighborhood kid just missed qualifying for the Olympics. He just graduated from college but just signed on with NIKE to be a full-time pro athlete. He can continue going to school for his PhD while training year-round. But he almost didn't sign because he was pretty disgusted by the "culture" surrounding Olympic athletes.



[Note: His parents are the nosy, opinionated neighbors who like to comment on others parenting and dog-training skills. As much as I want to tell them to "go fuck themselves, what do you know"... it's sort of hard when their eldest kid is a potential Olympic athlete with a backup career as a rocket scientist. Seriously. The kid already has his Master's in Aerospace Engineering.]

Yeah, I think there has to be some level of dysfunction for these people that reach the very tippy top of an Olympic sport such as swimming, biking, track/field, etc. I mean, the level of training and intensity required is insane, not to mention the pure monotony and grind of it. Whether it's PEDs, overbearing parents, occasional drug/alcohol benders that lead to trouble, or some combination therein, it's not all motherhood and apple pie. There is usually a lot of ugliness involved.