Tokyo Olympic Basketball Tournament Discussion

[Castle Black]

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[Arco Thunder]

It was an easy gold for team USA.

They won the semifinal by 6 points. So factually speaking, no, it wasn't easy.

Exhibition games:
Argentina 74–111 United States
China 57–106 United States
China 57–107 United States
Venezuela 45–80 United States
Nigeria 66–110 United States
All blow outs

Actual Olympics:
China 62–119 United States
United States 113–69 Venezuela
Australia 88–98 United States
United States 94–91 Serbia
United States 100–97 France
United States 105–78 Argentina
Spain 76–82 United States
Serbia 66–96 United States

Undefeated 4/8 blow outs and one double digit win.

This is not easy? what do they need to do 100% blow out to call it easy? Can you imagine if a non-USA team had that run? you would frame it on your wall.

[HeatIn5]

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Huge!! When would the finals end?

[UcanUwill]

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Huge!! When would the finals end?

He took a lot of crap for not playing last time.

[UcanUwill]

It was an easy gold for team USA.

They won the semifinal by 6 points. So factually speaking, no, it wasn't easy.

Exhibition games:
Argentina 74–111 United States
China 57–106 United States
China 57–107 United States
Venezuela 45–80 United States
Nigeria 66–110 United States
All blow outs

Actual Olympics:
China 62–119 United States
United States 113–69 Venezuela
Australia 88–98 United States
United States 94–91 Serbia
United States 100–97 France
United States 105–78 Argentina
Spain 76–82 United States
Serbia 66–96 United States

Undefeated 4/8 blow outs and one double digit win.

This is not easy? what do they need to do 100% blow out to call it easy? Can you imagine if a non-USA team had that run? you would frame it on your wall.

I dont want to defend Mirotic's argument, cause the guy is just not worth even debating he is so biased, but pumping up the score against China, Nigeria and Venezuela is not impressive. Looks like most competitive teams kept it closer then they should. Of course final score cant tell the whole story, I do not remember thinking Spain had a shot in the game at any point, tho it was 6 point game. But looking back, hickup was possible.

[Arco Thunder]

They won the semifinal by 6 points. So factually speaking, no, it wasn't easy.

Exhibition games:
Argentina 74–111 United States
China 57–106 United States
China 57–107 United States
Venezuela 45–80 United States
Nigeria 66–110 United States
All blow outs

Actual Olympics:
China 62–119 United States
United States 113–69 Venezuela
Australia 88–98 United States
United States 94–91 Serbia
United States 100–97 France
United States 105–78 Argentina
Spain 76–82 United States
Serbia 66–96 United States

Undefeated 4/8 blow outs and one double digit win.

This is not easy? what do they need to do 100% blow out to call it easy? Can you imagine if a non-USA team had that run? you would frame it on your wall.

I dont want to defend Mirotic's argument, cause the guy is just not worth even debating he is so biased, but pumping up the score against China, Nigeria and Venezuela is not impressive. Looks like most competitive teams kept it closer then they should. Of course final score cant tell the whole story, I do not remember thinking Spain had a shot in the game at any point, tho it was 6 point game. But looking back, hickup was possible.

True but Team USA can only play who their matched up against. It just shows how weak Olympics basketball really is that those teams even qualify. As for the closer games, like you said score isn't everything, anyone who knows basketball knows there are those games the losing team hangs around but never really threaten to win.....Did that happen with these games? I don't know I'm not going to watch them.

That's one of the reasons I don't take FIBA best of ones seriously, anything can happen in 1 game. If that Team USA played Serbia/France/Argentina/Australia/Spain in a Bo7 it would be crystal clear which team is on another level.

[Chuck Diesel]

Booker committing and Paul still apparently in play makes me rethink the availability of guys still playing in the playoffs. Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young and Tobias Harris are all still in play I guess. If that’s the case, here’s the best case scenario roster:

Lillard/Paul/Young
Curry/Beal
Booker/Middleton/George
Durant/Tatum
Green/Williamson

[Mirotic12]

Prep Game Results :

June 12 2021

Poland 80 - Mexico 75

Russia 69 - Tunisia 42


June 13 2021

Mexico 74 - Tunisia 61

Poland 63 - Russia 78


June 16 2021

Slovenia 94 - Croatia 80

Poland 89 - Tunisia 66


June 18 2021

Serbia 80 - Puerto Rico 68

Lithuania 95 - Dominican Republic 62

Greece 101 - Mexico 98

Turkey 80 - Russia 62

Slovenia 97 - Croatia 88

Poland 75 - Latvia 73


June 19 2021

Serbia 104 - Mexico 67

Italy 83 - Czech Republic 71

Germany 102 - Tunisia 75

Russia 77 - Turkey 64

Italy 82 - Tunisia 56

Germany 95 - Czech Republic 62

Greece 77 - Puerto Rico 69


European teams are 10-0 against teams from the Americas and Africa.

[heezyo2o]

This might be the weakest Olympic team of all time. They really can't afford any injuries or late withdrawals.

They said the 2016 was one of the weakest in a while and they absolutely steamrolled the competition.

https://slate.com/culture/2016/08/the-2016-u-s-olympic-basketball-team-is-full-of-weirdo-misfits-who-are-incredibly-fun-to-root-for.html

Though the 2016 U.S. squad is probably the least talented roster of hardwood Olympians in the post–Dream Team era, the Americans were still expected to win in a walk against a weak international field. Former powers like Spain and Argentina boast aging stars like Pau Gasol and Manu Ginobili, while scrappy upstarts like Australia and Croatia are still scrappy upstarts. (If Ben Simmons had suited up for the Aussies, they might have been a lot more than scrappy.) But after opening group play with tomato-can blowouts of China and Venezuela, the U.S. had to hold on to beat Australia, Serbia, and France by a combined total of just 16 points.

Not a dream team, but that team looks pretty decent. You had Durant. Guys that can defend: Butler, PG, Klay, Draymond. Most of the guys could create their own shot and can shoot 3s. Melo basically just posted up behind the arc for open 3s. Cousins was maybe the best center in the league at the time. Kyrie, Lowry, Deandre. That team was solid.

[Castle Black]

Wow. Big ups to KD for this. This is huge.

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[Johnny Tomala]

Mad respect for KD for commiting to Team USA. He could have stay in home (excuse - he is after Achilles tear, he played so lot vs Milwaukee), but nope, he will play. Guaranteed goal medal for Team USA with Durant on the team. He will beat Melo record of points in Olympic Games for Team USA.

[Sedale Threatt]

Oh sht, was not expecting that. Great news.

[GSP]

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bad move. Id be really scared if i was a Nets fan. Steve Dantoni played him to the ground like Kerr did in the 19 playoffs and now Olympic ball?

[dhsilv2]

Not a good idea, not a good idea at all. Once you hit 30, olympics just shouldn't be a thing for these guys.

[iamworthy]

Seems like a bad move with another condensed off-season unless Brooklyn is going to give him a ton off time during the regular season

[bisme37]

Really surprised he wants to put that stress on his achilles after the tough season. But Team USA is shaping up nicely with KD, Dame, Tatum, Booker, Beal and Draymond all committed so far.

[Sgt Major]

And Jokic is resting smh

Damn horse lover

[Reeko]

I’m worried just as a basketball fan. I don’t want his career cut short by injuries, he has the most aesthetically pleasing game to watch right now.

[Dzon Dilindzer]

winning olympics would be a good way for him to fix a disappointing season

[Hangtime84]

Durant no man. we have enough talent stay healthy.