[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

I have to admit that between the games not being televised and on at very weird times I haven’t seen a second of this years fiba World Cup. Can’t say I’m surprised that the us is out though.This was probably the worst collection of talent the us has sent to international play since they started using nba players. Even though they still had the most talented team in the field, they clearly lacked the overall cohesion of a team like France, who has spent years playing together. I guess the question is where does USA basketball go from here. Is this loss going to inspire the top players to get back in for the olympics next year, or in the age of load management, is the cost of extra wear and tear in the offseason and potentially risking injury just not going to be worth it? 

[ChoppyParticipant]

I think NBA players hold the olympics in higher esteem than a World Cup. I think more NBA players will make themselves available for the Olympics and they’ll get a gold medal. Disappointing end for the US, but a great opportunity for the remaining countries, France, Argentina, Spain and Australia. 

[juves4783Participant]

team usa was super young and didn’t have tatum.  france has some serious talent; 4 current nba players, 3 former nba players and a handful of drafted players that never came to nba (2nd rd draft and stashes).  i think usa had a real shot at winning the tournament but france and spain/australia were going to present some problems.

great learning experience for these guys.  the olympic team will look totally different.    

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Some guys backed out to rest, but more guys backed out because once the top guys were out they feared being on a team that didn’t win gold. I can respect guys who played from October to May or June wanting a reasonable time off when they are expecting another playoff run and followed up by the Olympics, but that is not the majority of the guys who pulled out. The guys with considerable endorsement income aren’t pulling out of the Olympics next summer, so a lot of the guys who skipped this summer aren’t going to have the choice of playing next year. For young guys who haven’t played in the playoffs, international tournament are a great platform.

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 WoW!! And on 9 – 11. If there was any day to be Motivated to make your Country Proud, it’s 9 – 11!!! lol

[BlueRivers25Participant]

 I dont think Pop is a good fit for this USA gig…"Live goes on"…&$#%#&@! that. He should be &$#%#&@!en pissed this team lost in the quarter finals. Not even a chance to medal. No &$#%#&@!en excuses. This was still the most talented team in the field. 

I don’t understand how Joe Harris starts over Khris Middleton. Or Harris Barnes starts at the 4. Brook Lopez proved to me, he didn’t belong in international play. 

Remember this team also lost to the &$#%#&@!en practice team coached by Jeff Van Gundy. 

[The GoatParticipant]

 This is the best team the US could form. They can’t claim they would win otherwise if no one else chooses to play. They didn’t. 

Australia have already beaten France and have played very well to date but now get their toughest test vs Spain. Great job considering they played without at least 5 NBA players.

 

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 Frankie showed up big time. He basically outplayed Kemba this game.

[The GoatParticipant]

 Frankie was the youngest player in the league as a rookie. New York fans are almost as bad as their team. They have buried him already. He’s still a decent prospect that’s landed in the wrong spot. New York is not the right spot for anybody and it hasn’t been for 20 years. Signing 9 power forwards isn’t going to change that. You need a cultural shift. They are one of the few teams that have continuously failed for a long stretch so the whole organisation needs to be accountable as the players and coaches have come and gone – the problems remain. 

Best of luck to them though. 30 wins would be doing well at this point. 

[nick5354Participant]

 Props to the few who got absolutely negged to hell for suggesting they won’t even medal. Bold prediction but a correct one. 

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