They also had three weeks leading up to the games playing together in practices and scrimmages/exhibitions. This team had a week and three of the guys on the team didn't even have that.
I think they will play better, but dynamic offensive talents like Dame & Durant, have to start making their mark. Those two cannot be passive. Team ball is great, but over passing isn't. If the shot is open TAKE IT!. If you're in a groove, TAKE IT! Holiday was the closest thing to being aggressive on the USA Team i've seen so far.
He's been huge for us, giving us a completely different defensive look that we've never had before. He's able to help off of his man, then get back and recover. He's covering for others who get beaten, without his own man getting open.
If team USA plays like garbage and gets ran out of the gym, I would like to see Australia win the Gold medal.
Not really sure why Damian Lillard opted not to shoot in the last 2 minutes of a game? I must have seen him pass up 4 or 5 open looks in that game in the last couple minutes. I understand he is trying to play team ball but that is "Dame Time". You gotta be Damian Lillard out there.
No one is debating that. But this team is still better on paper than their record so far. And a big part of that is the time together. We are talking days for 3 of them.
Yeah I get it. I'm not saying the lack of practice and cohesion isn't hurting them. I'm just saying that in the past the talent level was so astronomically good, they could overcome the fact that a lot of these teams have been playing together for YEARS.
some of the dimes Luka is dropping have been insane. dude is the best baller in Japan. he currently has 35-9-5 in about 25 mins of game play. just insane, slovenia has to be the current favorite for gold.
I think Dame is better but Luka knows his place on his team, he's the star and gets to play the same way he does every day on the Mavs. With Team USA in disarray if Dame would just play like he does here (with a little more trust in the talent around him) he have led this team to victories in all of the exhibitions and the France game. The fact is that I think if you watch the games, Dame seems to be deferring to KD a lot because he's the elder statesman and former MVP on the team but KD isn't the leader Dame is. The team really needs to stop worrying about the fact that they're playing with a bunch of all stars and just ball. If Dame had a competitive attitude about his place on the team then they'd be better off than they are with the passive shit he's been pulling.
did you catch that behind the back bounce pass luka threw in traffic in close quarters to the roller on the P&R? shades of white chocolate in his audacity to throw that pass. but he also has 35 pts. dude is ridiculous
luka is prolly done ends with 48-11-5 with 3 blocks in 31 mins. insane. might be the best individual performance ive ever seen in FIBA. Given the fewer possessions in this game and the 10 min quarters, this is even more impressive.
