USA-Serbia Olympic Basketball

[Baywave1]

Maybe best MBB game i have ever seen. When nba stars and pro players for both teams play offense and defense hard for 40 minutes, their athleticism is unparalleled.

Serbia played great. USA played greater. Perhaps greatest?!

USA is a “mature” team. Hope they have some gas left for France

[PeteRasche]

I didn't watch this game but I've heard it was a great comeback. So why was the most dominant team in the world down 17 points?

I did watch the first half of the game last Saturday (I forget the opponent) and it was horrible and reminded me of everything I hate about modern basketball. Whoever we were playing couldn't guard us at all, but we were content to have it be a three-point contest with zero defensive effort and zero attempts at rebounding, until we were down double digits to a should-have-been-outmatched team. The opponent went inside and scored almost at will with minimal effort from our bigs at stopping them, and the other team got almost every rebound unless it bounced right at us. Then in the late second quarter we turned it on, stopped standing at the perimeter, and drove or passed inside, and took the lead.

I suppose NBA apologists will argue that our team was "playing smart" by exerting as minimal effort as possible while still knowing they could win, but it sure was crap to watch. If we can win by 60, we should win by 60. Remember how the opponents of the original Dream Team were not the least bit offended when they lost by 40+?

Bad defense, no effort to rebound, constantly jacking threes makes bad basketball? Hmmm, what would Tulane fans know about that? Hey, wait, maybe our game plan is to "be like Olympians". Too bad we don't have the roster that Team USA has...

[Baywave1]

Serbia led by 17 and then most of game becsuse it had “high take/high make” of threes. USA caught up when it played absolute lockdown defense the last ten minutes and Serbia missed its last nine (?) three attempts.

But don’t despair, Embiid “big leagued” the crowd after the game with especial playground taunting. The crowd atmosphere this weekend will be on fire for France.

[ml wave]

Serbia led by 17 and then most of game becsuse it had “high take/high make” of threes. USA caught up when it played absolute lockdown defense the last ten minutes and Serbia missed its last nine (?) three attempts.

But don’t despair, Embiid “big leagued” the crowd after the game with especial playground taunting. The crowd atmosphere this weekend will be on fire for France.

The crowds have been booing Embiid heartily due to his decision to play for the US over France (unless they're booing him for being out of shape and playing poorly).

[PeteRasche]

USA wins gold over the host France thanks to Curry doing Curry things in the final 3 minutes. The final four USA possessions (save for a breakaway baseball pass layup) were just "get Steph the ball and let him shoot". The results were four 3s, the last of which a ridiculous rainbow off his back foot over a double team that would draw a "WTF are you thinking?" from anybody else, except that it was Curry and it went in.

Eight 3s today after nine in the semis. He had 29 points in the USA's first four games and 60 points in the last two.

[Baywave1]

Last three was definitely a heat check shot. As you say, Curry doing Curry things.

[waverider]

I was the replay of women’s breakdancing and seeing the posts about Curry taking over. Some tweets were saying that was a good way to go out. Is he retiring?

Before you ask, yes, I was watching the rebroadcast of the B-Girl finals. The only 3 events I watched in entirety were M/W Street Skate, M/W BMX Park and M/W breakdancing. Generally, my interest in the Olympics is pretty low with the exception of the skateboard and BMX events and some of the track events* because it amazes me how fast those people are and the foreign women’s teams are fun to watch

*Even these I just watch as I’m passing through the room and it happens to be on.

[PeteRasche]

I was the replay of women’s breakdancing and seeing the posts about Curry taking over. Some tweets were saying that was a good way to go out. Is he retiring?

Before you ask, yes, I was watching the rebroadcast of the B-Girl finals. The only 3 events I watched in entirety were M/W Street Skate, M/W BMX Park and M/W breakdancing. Generally, my interest in the Olympics is pretty low with the exception of the skateboard and BMX events and some of the track events* because it amazes me how fast those people are and the foreign women’s teams are fun to watch

*Even these I just watch as I’m passing through the room and it happens to be on.

I did not watch any of the breakdancing but from everything I saw on social media (granted, not a lot, but the fact I saw anything says a lot), I was gonna say I'd be surprised if you ever saw it again. And sure enough, it's already been dropped for 2028. Hope you enjoyed it...

I am excited to see lacrosse at the Olympic level in 2028.

[Baywave1]

Curry is not retiring but this may be his last Olympics. That was what the “going out” on top referred to.

[ml wave]

I didn't watch this game but I've heard it was a great comeback. So why was the most dominant team in the world down 17 points?

I did watch the first half of the game last Saturday (I forget the opponent) and it was horrible and reminded me of everything I hate about modern basketball. Whoever we were playing couldn't guard us at all, but we were content to have it be a three-point contest with zero defensive effort and zero attempts at rebounding, until we were down double digits to a should-have-been-outmatched team. The opponent went inside and scored almost at will with minimal effort from our bigs at stopping them, and the other team got almost every rebound unless it bounced right at us. Then in the late second quarter we turned it on, stopped standing at the perimeter, and drove or passed inside, and took the lead.

I suppose NBA apologists will argue that our team was "playing smart" by exerting as minimal effort as possible while still knowing they could win, but it sure was crap to watch. If we can win by 60, we should win by 60. Remember how the opponents of the original Dream Team were not the least bit offended when they lost by 40+?

Bad defense, no effort to rebound, constantly jacking threes makes bad basketball? Hmmm, what would Tulane fans know about that? Hey, wait, maybe our game plan is to "be like Olympians". Too bad we don't have the roster that Team USA has...

We won games by 35, 31, and 26...I don't think we're afraid to win by a lot, but it's not 1992 anymore. Why were we down to Serbia? Maybe because they have the best player in the world? Combine that with good shooting from 3 and you can win a lot of games. I doubt there was an international player good enough to even make the Dream Team roster in '92, but it's a different world now. France, Greece, Serbia, and Canada could each have an at least credible claim to having the best player on the floor vs the US (theoretically). Australia and Germany have enough talent to bring multiple NBA players off of their bench. Lithuania is traditionally excellent, has a current NBA All-Star, and couldn't even qualify for the Olympics. Sure, we're deeper in talent than everyone else, but I think there's probably a way to optimize roster construction a little better--a lot of guys used to having the ball in their hands/being the #1 option having to adjust to a lesser role in a short time frame--in a way that other countries don't have to worry about.

Edited to add: Forgot Slovenia (Doncic) in my list, another one that couldn't even qualify for the Olympics but would have the best player on the floor in almost any scenario.

[Baywave1]

No doubt, USA’s 100+ team in talent would thrash every other country’s 100+ roster except for maybe Serbia (victory margin there might only be 15 points.)

However at the top, absent injuries, Serbia and France could easily have beaten USA. Why not here? Because our exceptionally talented guys played hard on both ends of the court. It was Curry’s shooting, it was Durant (at 6’11”) forcing an over and back violation in crunch time against a Serbian ball handler, but it was mostly a 39 year old guy with grey in his beard playing like he was 22 again.

[ml wave]

No doubt, USA’s 100+ team in talent would thrash every other country’s 100+ roster except for maybe Serbia (victory margin there might only be 15 points.)

However at the top, absent injuries, Serbia and France could easily have beaten USA. Why not here? Because our exceptionally talented guys played hard on both ends of the court. It was Curry’s shooting, it was Durant (at 6’11”) forcing an over and back violation in crunch time against a Serbian ball handler, but it was mostly a 39 year old guy with grey in his beard playing like he was 22 again.

If you're watching these games saying that we're not playing any defense, then you're seeing what you want to see, because I saw Holiday, White, and Edwards constantly harassing ballhandlers for 94 feet...Durant, as you mentioned, Adebayo, and as much as I don't like to say it, Davis played excellent defense as well. The one major weakness was opponents putting Embiid and Curry in the high PNR due to Curry's size and Embiid's preference to drop in coverage...we gave up a lot of shots/points there. On the other hand, definitely needed Embiid vs Jokic since Davis got dominated ( ) and we probably lose that game without him.

[doncecco]

I hate LeBron as much as LSU, won't get into the reasons.

But I gotta give him his due - he played inspired and with Steph was the difference in the GMG. As opposed to Davis, who I don't get why he is so highly regarded.

[waverider]

I was the replay of women’s breakdancing and seeing the posts about Curry taking over. Some tweets were saying that was a good way to go out. Is he retiring?

Before you ask, yes, I was watching the rebroadcast of the B-Girl finals. The only 3 events I watched in entirety were M/W Street Skate, M/W BMX Park and M/W breakdancing. Generally, my interest in the Olympics is pretty low with the exception of the skateboard and BMX events and some of the track events* because it amazes me how fast those people are and the foreign women’s teams are fun to watch

*Even these I just watch as I’m passing through the room and it happens to be on.

I did not watch any of the breakdancing but from everything I saw on social media (granted, not a lot, but the fact I saw anything says a lot), I was gonna say I'd be surprised if you ever saw it again. And sure enough, it's already been dropped for 2028. Hope you enjoyed it...

I am excited to see lacrosse at the Olympic level in 2028.

It was always a one time thing. It’s being replaced by flag football in LA.

I thought it was good for the nostalgia aspect (I still have dvds of most of the movies from the 80s & 90s), but I don’t follow any of it on a regular basis. Like with the other sports, the men were much more entertaining as they have the strength to do a lot more. I also liked that they kept the battle format which gives homage to its origins.

Skateboarding is the event I look forward to the most, probably because it’s the only Olympic sport I watch regularly and know the participants’ names!

[waverider]

I hate LeBron as much as LSU, won't get into the reasons.

But I gotta give him his due - he played inspired and with Steph was the difference in the GMG. As opposed to Davis, who I don't get why he is so highly regarded.

I would have been fine with France winning just because he was on the US team.

[Baywave1]

No doubt, USA’s 100+ team in talent would thrash every other country’s 100+ roster except for maybe Serbia (victory margin there might only be 15 points.)

However at the top, absent injuries, Serbia and France could easily have beaten USA. Why not here? Because our exceptionally talented guys played hard on both ends of the court. It was Curry’s shooting, it was Durant (at 6’11”) forcing an over and back violation in crunch time against a Serbian ball handler, but it was mostly a 39 year old guy with grey in his beard playing like he was 22 again.

If you're watching these games saying that we're not playing any defense, then you're seeing what you want to see, because I saw Holiday, White, and Edwards constantly harassing ballhandlers for 94 feet...Durant, as you mentioned, Adebayo, and as much as I don't like to say it, Davis played excellent defense as well. The one major weakness was opponents putting Embiid and Curry in the high PNR due to Curry's size and Embiid's preference to drop in coverage...we gave up a lot of shots/points there. On the other hand, definitely needed Embiid vs Jokic since Davis got dominated ( ) and we probably lose that game without him.

Sorry but you are disagreeing simply to be disagreeable. Go back and read all my posts in this thread. I attribute the USA winning to total defense all the time. The example I used of Durant was simply that.

Elite NBA star athleticism is incredible. To see MBB played hard on both ends of the floor for forty minutes reminds of how basketball can be the greatest sport in the world.

It also highlights that current NBA games and season are too long. “Load management” exists because physically no one can play all out consistently in the NBA. The “last two minutes” of an NBA game are all that matters maybe a cliche but it is undoubtedly true.

[ml wave]

No doubt, USA’s 100+ team in talent would thrash every other country’s 100+ roster except for maybe Serbia (victory margin there might only be 15 points.)

However at the top, absent injuries, Serbia and France could easily have beaten USA. Why not here? Because our exceptionally talented guys played hard on both ends of the court. It was Curry’s shooting, it was Durant (at 6’11”) forcing an over and back violation in crunch time against a Serbian ball handler, but it was mostly a 39 year old guy with grey in his beard playing like he was 22 again.

If you're watching these games saying that we're not playing any defense, then you're seeing what you want to see, because I saw Holiday, White, and Edwards constantly harassing ballhandlers for 94 feet...Durant, as you mentioned, Adebayo, and as much as I don't like to say it, Davis played excellent defense as well. The one major weakness was opponents putting Embiid and Curry in the high PNR due to Curry's size and Embiid's preference to drop in coverage...we gave up a lot of shots/points there. On the other hand, definitely needed Embiid vs Jokic since Davis got dominated ( ) and we probably lose that game without him.

Sorry but you are disagreeing simply to be disagreeable. Go back and read all my posts in this thread. I attribute the USA winning to total defense all the time. The example I used of Durant was simply that.

Elite NBA star athleticism is incredible. To see MBB played hard on both ends of the floor for forty minutes reminds of how basketball can be the greatest sport in the world.

It also highlights that current NBA games and season are too long. “Load management” exists because physically no one can play all out consistently in the NBA. The “last two minutes” of an NBA game are all that matters maybe a cliche but it is undoubtedly true.

No I'm not, I'm actually using your post to agree with you and disagree with a different post.