2024 Paris Olympics

[Not all scoop users are created equal apparently]

Give the job to Scott Drew.  He's proven to win at all costs

You'd have to drag him away from Pigalle first

[StillAWarrior]

They should win every game by 20+ and that's a conservative number.

"Should" is the key word here. I think they will [win every game], but they absolutely should.

[Pakuni]

"Should" is the key word here. I think they will, but they absolutely should.

This is a bit of the ol' American arrogance here. Nothing in the results of the last handful of major international tournaments, including the last two Olympics, suggests the U.S. absolutely should win every game by 20+. We didn't even medal in the last World Championships, after all.
The false assumption here is that if the U.S. doesn't win by 20+, it's because they underachieved. The reality is that other teams not only understand and execute the international game better, but they've substantially closed the talent gap. If the tourney results don't convince you, maybe the last couple  of drafts and all-star teams should. This year's all-NBA team included exactly one American-born player.

The U.S. deservedly is the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament, but it should surprise no one if there are some close contests or even a loss along the way.

[tower912]

In 4 years, all of those French kids drafted in the first round recently are going to be the favorites.

[StillAWarrior]

This is a bit of the ol' American arrogance here. Nothing in the results of the last handful of major international tournaments, including the last two Olympics, suggests the U.S. absolutely should win every game by 20+. We didn't even medal in the last World Championships, after all.
The false assumption here is that if the U.S. doesn't win by 20+, it's because they underachieved. The reality is that other teams not only understand and execute the international game better, but they've substantially closed the talent gap. If the tourney results don't convince you, maybe the last couple  of drafts and all-star teams should. This year's all-NBA team included exactly one American-born player.

The U.S. deservedly is the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament, but it should surprise no one if there are some close contests or even a loss along the way.

That's absolutely fair and I will modify my post to reflect that I was actually thinking when I posted -- that they should win every game. When I responded I had honestly forgotten that Mugg's post included "by 20+". My bad. I agree with you completely and don't believe that they should win every game by 20+.

But I do think they should win every game. While it's true that only one US-born player was on the all-NBA team, no other country had more than one. Team USA is obviously much deeper than the other teams.

[lawdog77]

This is a bit of the ol' American arrogance here. Nothing in the results of the last handful of major international tournaments, including the last two Olympics, suggests the U.S. absolutely should win every game by 20+. We didn't even medal in the last World Championships, after all.
The false assumption here is that if the U.S. doesn't win by 20+, it's because they underachieved. The reality is that other teams not only understand and execute the international game better, but they've substantially closed the talent gap. If the tourney results don't convince you, maybe the last couple  of drafts and all-star teams should. This year's all-NBA team included exactly one American-born player.

The U.S. deservedly is the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament, but it should surprise no one if there are some close contests or even a loss along the way.

How about 2024 all 2nd team? All 3rd team? And then add in Embiid. We didn't send our best to the FIBA World Championship.

[Pakuni]

How about 2024 all 2nd team? All 3rd team? And then add in Embiid. We didn't send our best to the FIBA World Championship.

So, what exactly are you taking issue with?
That the U.S. shouldn't expect to win every game by 20+?
That the rest of the world understands the international game better?
That the talent gap is narrowing?
Or are you picking nits?

[lawdog77]

So, what exactly are you taking issue with?
That the U.S. shouldn't expect to win every game by 20+?
That the rest of the world understands the international game better?
That the talent gap is narrowing?
Or are you picking nits?

Taking issue with calling it ol' American arrogance. Self hating gets old.
We're finally sending our A team. It's the first time in quite awhile. This, to me, has nothing to do with understanding the international game better. It's about a. talent, and b. playing together. The talent gap might be narrowing at the top handful of players, but I would take out Top 10 over any other country's top 10 by a wide margin. The country closest is France. Every other country we should and will beat comfortably. Whether that be 15 points or 20 points, who cares.

[The Sultan]

I don't think the 2024 roster is THAT much better than 2020.

[lawdog77]

I don't think the 2024 roster is THAT much better than 2020.

you would be wrong
Bam, Booker, Holliday and Taytum are better now than they were then
Durant might be worse
So that leaves    Jerami Grant, Draymond Green, Keldon Johnson, Zach LaVine, Damian Lillard, JaVale McGee, Khris Middleton vs Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis Anthony Edwards Joel Embiid Tyrese Haliburton LeBron James Derrick White. That's a big margin

[MuggsyB]

Taking issue with calling it ol' American arrogance. Self hating gets old.
We're finally sending our A team. It's the first time in quite awhile. This, to me, has nothing to do with understanding the international game better. It's about a. talent, and b. playing together. The talent gap might be narrowing at the top handful of players, but I would take out Top 10 over any other country's top 10 by a wide margin. The country closest is France. Every other country we should and will beat comfortably. Whether that be 15 points or 20 points, who cares.

Point well taken lawdog.  Again Pakuni, try to deal with reality and basic facts.  This isn't string theory mathematics. 

[MuggsyB]

I don't think the 2024 roster is THAT much better than 2020.
[/quote


Uh.....wrong. 

[Pakuni]

Taking issue with calling it ol' American arrogance. Self hating gets old.
We're finally sending our A team. It's the first time in quite awhile. This, to me, has nothing to do with understanding the international game better. It's about a. talent, and b. playing together. The talent gap might be narrowing at the top handful of players, but I would take out Top 10 over any other country's top 10 by a wide margin. The country closest is France. Every other country we should and will beat comfortably. Whether that be 15 points or 20 points, who cares.

Pointing out that the talent gap is narrowing and that the U.S. shouldn't expect to win every game by 20-plus - something that hasn't happened since 1996 - is "self-hate?"
OK, Lee Greenwood.
Wait until you see all the hate that comes out of Vegas when the lines get set. (U.S. is currently favored by 12.5 in their opener)

[The Sultan]

you would be wrong
Bam, Booker, Holliday and Taytum are better now than they were then
Durant might be worse
So that leaves    Jerami Grant, Draymond Green, Keldon Johnson, Zach LaVine, Damian Lillard, JaVale McGee, Khris Middleton vs Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis Anthony Edwards Joel Embiid Tyrese Haliburton LeBron James Derrick White. That's a big margin

Not really.

[MU82]

you would be wrong
Bam, Booker, Holliday and Taytum are better now than they were then
Durant might be worse
So that leaves    Jerami Grant, Draymond Green, Keldon Johnson, Zach LaVine, Damian Lillard, JaVale McGee, Khris Middleton vs Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis Anthony Edwards Joel Embiid Tyrese Haliburton LeBron James Derrick White. That's a big margin

Agree with this. Up and down the lineup, this year's team is better. On paper, anyway.

[lawdog77]

Pointing out that the talent gap is narrowing and that the U.S. shouldn't expect to win every game by 20-plus - something that hasn't happened since 1996 - is "self-hate?"
OK, Lee Greenwood.
Wait until you see all the hate that comes out of Vegas when the lines get set. (U.S. is currently favored by 12.5 in their opener)

The self hate is being snarky calling it ol American arrogance.

[The Sultan]

Agree with this. Up and down the lineup, this year's team is better. On paper, anyway.

Nope. He's wrong. Again.

The marginal difference isn't enough to all of the sudden say "hey they should be winning by 20+."  Silly talk.

[lawdog77]

Nope. He's wrong. Again.

The marginal difference isn't enough to all of the sudden say "hey they should be winning by 20+."  Silly talk.

There's a huge gap between the 2020 and 2024 teams. In a draft of the 2020 vs 2024 players not on the other roster, when would you pick the 1st 2020 player? I would take LBJ, Edwards, Curry, Embid, and probably AD before anyone on the 2020 team.C'mon Jermai Grant, Draymond, Javale McGee, and Keldon Johnson in 2020?

[The Sultan]

There's a huge gap between the 2020 and 2024 teams. In a draft of the 2020 vs 2024 players not on the other roster, when would you pick the 1st 2020 player? I would take LBJ, Edwards, Curry, Embid, and probably AD before anyone on the 2020 team.C'mon Jermai Grant, Draymond, Javale McGee, and Keldon Johnson in 2020?

End of bench players. No difference.

Wrong again.

[lawdog77]

End of bench players. No difference.

Wrong again.

Skipping.over the other point?

the 2020 team only had 2 players from the 3 All NBA teams. How many are on this one? The 2020 big men were Bam and who?  That team had no facilitator. That team had no LBJ.

[The Sultan]

Skipping.over the other point?

the 2020 team only had 2 players from the 3 All NBA teams. How many are on this one? The 2020 big men were Bam and who?  That team had no facilitator. That team had no LBJ.

Your points are irrelevant

[lawdog77]

Your points are irrelevant

Uh , no. The point is that there is a big gap between this team and 2020. Most of the top players sat out 2020.

[MU82]

Nope. He's wrong. Again.

The marginal difference isn't enough to all of the sudden say "hey they should be winning by 20+."  Silly talk.

I never said a word about victory margin. It's simply a better team than the previous one.

[The Sultan]

I never said a word about victory margin. It's simply a better team than the previous one.

Ah. Shifting goalposts. I figured you'd find a way to wriggle out of a bad point.

[The Sultan]

Uh , no. The point is that there is a big gap between this team and 2020. Most of the top players sat out 2020.

How many times are going to be wrong in a day? You've already had a bad week.