Many of these players don't play a ton of defense, because they're expected to play big minutes on their NBA squads. That's not the case here. They need to be willing to expend the necessary effort to have the defense this squad--this country--deserves.
I think that we're seeing a weakness in the way the players for the US team are chosen. Almost everyone on the roster is the first or second offensive option on their NBA team. They get lots of touches and if they start off slow, they eventually get their stroke going at some point in the game. It doesn't work that way on the Olympics roster. Also, it looks to me like most of these guys get protected by the refs a bit in the NBA. They aren't calling a lot of the touch fouls that these stars are used to.
It's on the coach to sort things out. Every US team since '92 has been full of dominant players. 11 of 12 Dream Team are hall of Fame.
Much as it gives me pleasure to watch the US lose, I have to say that the main problem is that they're just missing shots they'd normally make. The team has been fairly hastily thrown together, and while they have easily the most talent in the world (although not the best player in the tournament), the other teams have the benefit of continuity. Hell, there's huge overlap between the current Spanish team and the famous "Rudy dunks on Dwight Howard" team of 2008. And I don't think the Spanish Coach (Sergio something) or the French Coach (Vincent Collet) have changed in the entire time I've been watching them.
Yeah, Dame being the guy on Team USA that had the best season last year but never having played competitively for Team USA or internationally is hurting the dynamic. He should be looking to score and when the defense collapses, he should be kicking it to players open due to the player movement and he should be doing that double digit times a game. He should be taking all of his open jumpers. I just think he's trying to be respectful and I don't know if there is room for that in winning basketball. Everyone is letting KD get up as many shots as he wants but he just hasn't been hitting them. Dame said some smart stuff about everyone playing more like themselves after the practice yesterday. Despite the lack of continuity, I think Team USA will find their footing during the remaining group round games and that will set them up on a run to the gold medal. France is the second best roster in the field and without that monumental breakdown at the end of the game Team USA would have beat that French team. Could Team USA lose once the eight team tournament starts? Of course they could because they've already shown they can be beat. Yesterday however they got to practice together for the first time as a team. They get to play the weakest roster they've faced including the exhibitions tonight when they face Iran. Then a game against a Czech Republic team with a pretty weak roster a couple days and presumably another practice after Iran. The team will have a chance to put things together between now and the time they play another competitive team and they won't be taking anything for granted.
I'm reading they are specifically working on offense. I personally think that is a very good move. The team has enough offensive weapons that no team can guard them if they are hitting shots. They can outscore pretty much every team in the tournament.
moved to the west coast from eastern time zone a few months ago. thought i was done with the late night start times for these games. need to put this nba on nbc song into my veins
Jayson Tatum has been abysmal ever since the exhibition games. If he played even decently, Team USA would cruise to the gold medal.
dame looked super aggressive in the first and is very boisterous off the bench cheering his teammates. trying hard to lead tonight-- a clear difference from the past two weeks. looks like he realized the void in leadership on this team and is taking the reins. was waiting for this.
Stop KD from scoring so that Portland Trail Blazer Carmelo Anthony remains team USA’s leading scorer.
