Would’ve rather Slovenia won for the US’s stake. Also, would’ve been an incredible story if Doncic led Slovenia to golf/silver even tho I want the USA to win
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Fantastic game. Doncic had 18 assists! Then the epic block by Batum at the end.
Well, the US has its chance to avenge the group stage defeat. What a turn of events from the second quarter of the Australia game to now.
Durant is unreal
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Always loved his game, but it’s even easier to appreciate him when you’re rooting for his team.
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I don’t know how long it takes to implement this stuff but it’d be nice if the US could hard hedge or drop instead of just switching all pick and rolls. Gobert is killing them.
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They hard hedged and gave up a 3
Well, the US should escape but not really a vintage performance. Popovich should hang it up after this and let someone else take over.
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Wasn’t always pretty but considering the circumstances it never was going to be
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Go (red, white, and) blue!
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Team USA riding a bigger wave of luck than UCLA was.
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This will shock you, but I take USA basketball very personally.
This is our game.
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I’m not a big Draymond Green fan but I’ve got to say, he does a lot of little things that win games. Just down the stretch, he knocked out the French FT (FIBA has actual FT defense!) and then tipped our missed FT to keep possession. Two big plays in a 5-point game.
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He did. He’s still a questionable shooter and he overpassed at times in the tournament (and knocking a bouncing FT off the cylinder should be an obvious play) but I agree that he made some excellent, vital plays down the stretch. Durant is completely based, though.
Psch, bronze at best.
(Is this bit old yet?)
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Agreed. I sometimes find the displays of nationalism a little hard to take, but I was pulling hard for Durant and co.
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Yeah, in a lot of other sports I don’t particularly care which country wins (other countries’ athletes have heartwarming stories, too) but in basketball, we need to care of business.
Going forward, we’re going to have to transition to the post-Durant era. He’s been a monster in every Olympics but is about to turn 33 and it’d be asking a lot to turn to him again in Paris three years from now.
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I think there’s a decent chance Durant plays in 2024. He shouldn’t need to carry the team but with the way he’s playing now right off injury it seems unlikely he won’t be at least a borderline all nba level guy in 3 years. Obviously he may not want to at that age, but the dude just loves hooping. I could see a chance at a record 4th gold and kind of lead the next generation could motivate him to come back.
But yeah I’m pretty obsessed with USAB as well. There’s not really an international competition I’ve missed since 2004 in Athens. Watched every minute of every game live this year, which has led to me being very tired this Saturday lol.
I’ve been doing some thinking about the 2024 squad, and I have an initial roster I think is realistic (I’m gunning for Colangelo’s job):
Durant
Tatum
Booker
Zion
J. Isaac
Jackson Jr.
Cunningham
A. Davis
J. Brown
T. Young
Morant
Lonzo
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I could def see him in an elder statesman role where he’s not carrying the team per se but still it’s emotional leader, like Kobe did.
It just struck me seeing “Paris” that France will be gunning hard for gold at home, and with VW coming of age.
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