Minnesota Sports Forum

I didn't see a thread for this. I figured I would start it.

Win against Turkey in OT
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27528037/team-usa-beats-turkey-ot-tatum-injured

There is a good chance Gregg Popovich goes down as one of the worst Team USA coaches of all time.

bleedspeed177 wrote:I didn't see a thread for this. I figured I would start it.

Win against Turkey in OT
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27528037/team-usa-beats-turkey-ot-tatum-injured

There is a good chance Gregg Popovich goes down as one of the worst Team USA coaches of all time.

1. How long have those guys practiced together? Guys were quitting left and right. Even though not everyone is playing for some of the other teams many of those guys have been practicing together for YEARS.

2. This roster is obviously still talented but it's a C+ roster maybe. They don't really have the studs other than maybe Kemba to just overwhelm anyone and that even includes Donovan Mitchell.

3. Pop is a great coach and he does a lot of good things but my guess a lot of what makes him great is having guys do what he specifically wants them to do. I'm not sure how he is supposed to do that with the way this roster has been put together with guys in and out etc.

Having said all that maybe we find out Pop isn't the best choice for this job. I'll defend him at this point though.

Anyone been paying attention to what Okogie has been doing playing for Nigeria?

I am thinking between this and him being an assistant on the last group of NBA players to get a Bronze won't help his image. He does have a challenge, but I think part of the players opting out is on him.

bleedspeed177 wrote:I am thinking between this and him being an assistant on the last group of NBA players to get a Bronze won't help his image. He does have a challenge, but I think part of the players opting out is on him.

What is the thinking of players opting out because Pop?

monsterpile wrote:
What is the thinking of players opting out because Pop?

Coach K is a great recruiter. Coach K had guys that wanted to play with him. That small thing could be the difference between someone playing and not.

monsterpile wrote:Anyone been paying attention to what Okogie has been doing playing for Nigeria?

Some encouraging play from Okogie, at least based on the stats. He's averaging 14 points/3 rebs/5 assists/3 stls/1 block per game, playing only 23 MPG in three games. He's taken only 11 2-point shots versus 15 3 point shots and 12 free throws, so that means he's scoring from the right places. The best news is he's hit 8/15 3 pointers.

It's small sample size theater, but I'll take it after watching him play pretty poorly in summer league. And two of those games were against legit international competition in Russia and Argentina.

Another win

https://www.yahoo.com/news/finally-easy-one-us-rolls-142202846.html

We lost to France.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/team-usas-worst-fear-comes-true-in-world-cup-elimination-what-went-wrong-and-how-to-correct-before-2020-olympics/

bleedspeed177 wrote:We lost to France.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/team-usas-worst-fear-comes-true-in-world-cup-elimination-what-went-wrong-and-how-to-correct-before-2020-olympics/

Hot take...Gobert is a more impactful player than anyone USA team has on their entire roster. Fixing 2020 Olympics is MOSTLY as simple as actually having better players show up to play. Did Kemba even play well for Team USA?