Old Going For Gold: USA Men's Olympic Basketball - Next Up The Main Event vs France (8/10 @ 3:30pm ET)

Where Will The Olympic Team Medal?

  • Gold

    Votes: 168 91.3%
  • Silver

    Votes: 7 3.8%
  • Bronze

    Votes: 4 2.2%
  • No Medal

    Votes: 5 2.7%

  • Total voters
    184
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Ooooh ok so you on bullshyt say less :heh: I know when a ngga is in his ‘I don’t have a point ima just keep playing devils advocate contrarian’ bag.
I broke down your post and addressed your points, after your argued a point I never made.

The fact you won't even provide a counterargument to what I posted in reply to you, tells me what time you're on. Why would you go to the trouble of posting all that shyt to a one line joke I made, and then when I actually addressed all the shyt you posted, you only come back with one line?

You're the one without a point.

You've been a contrarian to everything I've posted in here. Even when I haven't even made an argument in a post, you made up a strawman so you could be a contrarian to that.
 

Braman

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Those players aren't superstars in the context of this argument.

The fact you'd list Banchero when he was an afterthought on the team during the FIBA World Cup last year is all the more telling

Yea you a clown :russ: So now you’re downplaying legit stars, and Paulo Banchero who is universally considered a future top tier player, and was playing last year at age 20…but in the very same breath:

Then you have the likes of Nolan Traore who's projected to go #2 in next year's draft. And Noa Essengue, who's projected to be a lottery pick too.


So fukk the nggas currently gettin to it, but you hyping 18 year olds! As if Killian Hayes and Frank Ntlikina never happened. Sacre bleu. Disgraceful.
 

Bigblackted4

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Those players aren't superstars in the context of this argument.

The fact you'd list Banchero when he was an afterthought on the team during the FIBA World Cup last year is all the more telling of what bullshyt you're willing to throw at the screen in hopes it'll stick. What kind of ABC, 123 logic do you work on where someone averaging 20+ points is automatically a superstar, anyway?

That's rhetorical. I don't want to know.

There's only one ball, @Malcolmxxx_23, so someone rattling off PPG of players as if it is somehow reflective of how those players are going to impact the game if they're all playing together is just all type of nonsense. That doesn't need to be spelled out to you.

In fact, here's a question for you @Mister Terrific -

Do Team USA still win Gold if Bron, Steph and KD weren't on the squad? Do Team USA win with Tatum and Ant being thrown in at the deep end?

:mjgrin:
He was 20 and he literally was the only reason they played as well his plus/minus was off the roof but they coached them idiotically.
 

IIVI

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Yeah, if Jokic in his prime as a 7' once-in-a-lifetime passer, NBA Champion, x3 MVP in the last four years, etc. wasn't able to get it done vs an older Team USA, I don't think any teams will in 2028.

USA will be stacked, not only with currents vets but the next two special draft classes will have players who are going into their 2nd and 3rd years.

The recent FIBA youth team was the best team FIBA youth has ever seen. America's future is really bright in basketball honestly.
 
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We have earned the benefit of the doubt point blank period. If if if if, if everything goes right for everyone else how come we aren't in that conversation? All this posturing after a 5th gold medal for Team USA basketball is hilarious. Being concerned is fine, no problem with that but if it's all a possibility then how is it still not a possibility for us to still be the gold standard come 2028. Nobody knows who is gonna take the mantle for this team, but to act like if everyone else is gonna get better (while true) and act like we can't is hilarious. We are the gold standard until proven otherwise.
Who said anything to the contrary?

I simply made a general statement saying the 2028 Olympics will be Team USA's biggest test in the last 20-30 years, for reasons stated, ad nauseam. Quite clearly I'm framing this as Team USA still being the gold standard, and it's the other nations whom have to prove their worth.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with holding that position.

3-pt variance in one-off games is more of a factor than ever now, given how much offenses are centered around the shot. Essentially, all this focus on how much talent a team has can all be cancelled out if the oppostion is hot from behind the arc. Serbia just proved this. Funnily enough, Team USA only dragged the game back because of the 3-pt shot (behind Steph's 9 threes), and not really a reliance on talent.
 

Braman

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‘We gotta pick the best fit’

That’s why we be losin. Pick the best players

That means no Josh Hart, no Cam Johnson, none of that purposely taking lesser players. That’s what’s fooling people to think these international squads are close. Chose ALL STARS. Guys will always adjust. Look at Devin Booker. Some of us get it some of us don’t. I said this BEFORE the games started

Common misnomer is these star players aren’t as good defensively, so ‘specialists’ are needed.

Derek white ain’t leaps and bounds better defensively than jaylen brown. Jaylen brown just has a shyt ton more on his plate offensively. So he can’t put out the energy and effort that Derek white can
….But in THIS format, yea he’ll clamp you. As will Ant. As will Tatum. Etc. Nggas act like Team USA needs a defensive specialist to shut down Nickell Alexander Walker for 20 minutes a game :comeon:
 

cartierhoe

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Who said anything to the contrary?

I simply made a general statement saying the 2028 Olympics will be Team USA's biggest test in the last 20-30 years, for reasons stated, ad nauseam. Quite clearly I'm framing this as Team USA still being the gold standard, and it's the other nations whom have to prove their worth.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with holding that position.

3-pt variance in one-off games is more of a factor than ever now, given how much offenses are centered around the shot. Essentially, all this focus on how much talent a team has can all be cancelled out if the oppostion is hot from behind the arc. Serbia just proved this. Funnily enough, Team USA only dragged the game back because of the 3-pt shot (behind Steph's 9 threes), and not really a reliance on talent.
I can agree with this statement, however you've also made it seem like we'll have no chance due to other teams having an influx of foreign NBA players on each respective country's team. That is true, they'll have talent coming up but they've gotta prove they can hang as well, hit open shots and play off their top guys. The only thing we can bank on from them is continuity and chemistry. I agree the US men should be concentrating on getting together more often instead of just the Olympics but they don't seem to want to. Teams will get hot for sure, but can they get stops? You mention Serbia who was blazing hot from 3 in the first half, but what happened the next half?
 
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Yea you a clown :russ: So now you’re downplaying legit stars, and Paulo Banchero who is universally considered a future top tier player, and was playing last year at age 20…but in the very same breath:
Are you even reading the posts in their rightful context?

I'm not downplaing Banchero. shyt, I even made the first Banchero thread on this board, so you can miss me with that.

I specifically said he isn't a superstar, which he isn't, after we've literally been talking about generational talent that can anchor the US team. As it now stands, he isn't that type of player. Why does this need to be an argument beyond that?
So fukk the nggas currently gettin to it, but you hyping 18 year olds! As if Killian Hayes and Frank Ntlikina never happened. Sacre bleu. Disgraceful.
Your reading comphrehension is in the mud.

When did I state or insinuate those players are or even will be superstars? I listed those players as they're the new batch of French talent coming through. Whether or not they develop into players of note is unknown.

Nxgga, why are you you kicking up dirt when I'm talking to someone else, and then when I reply to you, you ignore it, and then you go and quote another post of mine where I'm talking to someone else, and you take what I say out of context again.

tumblr_p75ltvV3sR1w6xo35o2_400.gif
 

SchoolboyC

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Those 18-20 year olds will be four years older by the time the next Olympics comes around, and they'll be tested under the harshest conditions to make themselves better along the way. Nobody is saying that it's promised they'll develop into players of note, just that they have the basis there to run a timeline with players who can be something to play alongside Wemby.

It's not out of the realm of reasonability that those young players, alongside some vets can't form a formidable team for the next Olympics.

They've literally made the Gold medal game for two consecutive Olympics, pushing Team USA to the brink both times, even with a noticeable talent disadvantage (so they clearly have a structure in place that is successful on the Olympics stage), yet somehow there's all this pushback about them doing something in 2028 when they'll likely have the best player at the tournament.

All that this tells me is, folks don't realize how good Wemby will become.

:manny:

It’s also not out of the realm that possibility that the Americans in those age groups as these French prospects sans Wemby that are already significantly better than them continue being so. And that’s all I’ve been saying from the jump. I’m not arguing that France won’t be a factor in 2028. If Wemby becomes the player that I and a lot think he can be, he’s gonna be a monster

My pushback is I feel like a lot of people are selling U.S. talent short in favor of hyping up international talent. There’s unknowns on all sides but people seem generally more pessimistic about Team USA, when they are the ones who have proven to be able to retool, reload and create new stars. And I get it, people are nervous because the Big 3 won’t be there and we didn’t get a passing of the torch type feel from Ant or Tatum or Booker.

But Team USA has yet to roll up to an Olympics without by far the most talented roster and being in complete control of their destiny and until they prove otherwise, I have no reason to doubt them.
 
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Yeah, if Jokic in his prime as a 7' once-in-a-lifetime passer, NBA Champion, x3 MVP in the last four years, etc. wasn't able to get it done vs an older Team USA, I don't think any teams will in 2028.

USA will be stacked, not only with currents vets but the next two special draft classes will have players who are going into their 2nd and 3rd years.

The recent FIBA youth team was the best team FIBA youth has ever seen. America's future is really bright in basketball honestly.
Do you envision that Team USA will be even better in 2028 or something when they just literally were anchored by Bron, KD and Steph, who showed they were still at the top of their games? Who are the next players in line that have proven they can perform on the international stage on that level?
I can agree with this statement, however you've also made it seem like we'll have no chance due to other teams having an influx of foreign NBA players on each respective country's team. That is true, they'll have talent coming up but they've gotta prove they can hang as well, hit open shots and play off their top guys. The only thing we can bank on from them is continuity and chemistry. I agree the US men should be concentrating on getting together more often instead of just the Olympics but they don't seem to want to. Teams will get hot for sure, but can they get stops? You mention Serbia who was blazing hot from 3 in the first half, but what happened the next half?
I didn't make it seem like that, at all.

I stated my position in my initial post, and there was no way anyone could've misinterpret it. My point is that superstars are needed to win at the Olympics, it is a tried and true formula that Team USA has relied upon for almost every campaign. What I'm quering is, who is that player(s) going to be in four years time? Usually we know during the prior Olympics when the batton is passed. We saw this with Kobe passing it KD. What we should've seen this Olympics is KD passing it to someone else, but nobody stepped up. It was Bron, KD and Steph that had to play the protagonists.

That is a concern.

It'll be the first time in the last 20+ years where we'll go into an Olympics without a proven superstar to anchor the team (unless of course we see it during the World Cup the year before).
 

cartierhoe

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Do you envision that Team USA will be even better in 2028 or something when they just literally were anchored by Bron, KD and Steph, who showed they were still at the top of their games? Who are the next players in line that have proven they can perform on the international stage on that level?

I didn't make it seem like that, at all.

I stated my position in my initial post, and there was no way anyone could've misinterpret it. My point is that superstars are needed to win at the Olympics, it is a tried and true formula that Team USA has relied upon for almost every campaign. What I'm quering is, who is that player(s) going to be in four years time? Usually we know during the prior Olympics when the batton is passed. We saw this with Kobe passing it KD. What we should've seen this Olympics is KD passing it to someone else, but nobody stepped up. It was Bron, KD and Steph that had to play the protagonists.

That is a concern.

It'll be the first time in the last 20+ years where we'll go into an Olympics without a proven superstar to anchor the team (unless of course we see it during the World Cup the year before).
There's not much of an answer to that question besides it being it's too early to tell. 4 years is a lifetime in basketball, hell sports in general. A lot of people thought Kawhi and PG would run shyt 4 years ago. It may just be instead of one anchor (or big 3, in this year's case) we edge out wins as a collective unit based on the talent we put out there.

We like the story of the baton passing because as fans it's linear, we watched Kobe, Bron, KD, and now Steph in this go around carry the torch and see it pass them to the young guys. That didn't happen this year sure, but all I'm saying is we've just got to wait and see. It'll be tough, nobody's denying that with this influx of talent, but I'd like to see them prove it first.
 

IIVI

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Do you envision that Team USA will be even better in 2028 or something when they just literally were anchored by Bron, KD and Steph, who showed they were still at the top of their games? Who are the next players in line that have proven they can perform on the international stage on that level?

I didn't make it seem like that, at all.

I stated my position in my initial post, and there was no way anyone could've misinterpret it. My point is that superstars are needed to win at the Olympics, it is a tried and true formula that Team USA has relied upon for almost every campaign. What I'm quering is, who is that player(s) going to be in four years time? Usually we know during the prior Olympics when the batton is passed. We saw this with Kobe passing it KD. What we should've seen this Olympics is KD passing it to someone else, but nobody stepped up. It was Bron, KD and Steph that had to play the protagonists.

That is a concern.

It'll be the first time in the last 20+ years where we'll go into an Olympics without a proven superstar to anchor the team (unless of course we see it during the World Cup the year before).
The thing is those countries always have a problem dealing with is the U.S's defense.

Not another country out there can swarm like they can. None.

It's their M.O all the way back to younger FIBA players. Get turnovers, generate a lot of pressure, attack the weakest link and blow the game open.

I knew they were going to make that comeback vs Serbia when they started going after it and making those non-NBA players lose their composure with the pressure. They turned that game into 5 vs 2 in the 4th quarter and the other player besides Jokic couldn't hit those shots anymore. It's why I said when Serbia was up by 13 going into the 4th quarter they were going to have to play the best basketball of their lives if they want to win. Instead all that moxy and killer instinct was gone from those non-NBA players as soon as the U.S dialed up the intensity and the stage got too big. They outscored Serbia by 17 points that last quarter, outside of Jokic it wasn't close.

The masterclass Booker put on defensively had as much to do with the comeback as the Curry and KD shots did. It's all cool for the other team when their shots are dropping but when you have A1 NBA players going at you with more intensity and the game is close, those nerves start to come through and players start air balling shots they were draining earlier. They start missing the timely shots that seemed so easy to make earlier while USA starts draining their's because they've hit big shots through the NBA Playoffs and Finals against the same ultra-defenders that are throwing their opponents' shots off. Other team starts dropping the handle, start making bad passes, fumbling rebounds they should have had, missing wide-open shots, etc.

Many of those players who didn't really play/anchor that 4th quarter will be there the next go round are going to be impressive defenders. Some of these cats on this team will probably have a ring or two on the big stage by 2028. U.S will have a lot of exceptional 2-way players for 2028 that international competition won't have any plan to deal with once they turn it on as a team.

You need five really good, clutch players to match that level Team USA goes to when their intensity picks up and I don't think any other team mostly full of journeymen players does.
 
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