*USA Basketball* WOMEN EARN GOLD v. ESP (101-72)! MEN EARN GOLD v. SRB (96-66)!

[rck3sactown]

 

Real talk. If I'm one of the veteran guys and I already have a gold medal, I'm sitting this one out.

So far, Chris Paul, Steph Curry, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Anthony Davis, and John Wall officially opted out. Melo, LeBron, and Westbrook are considering opting out too apparently.

Basketball might be a little more competitive in the Olympics this year. The ratings will plummet though.

Like I said earlier in the thread:

 
Yeah, man, it's going to be 2004/1988 again.

Shiny bronzes.

And I said in 2004: I was not a huge Iverson fan, but as people started dropping out left and right, I gave major props to him for his stay on the team, and also for the way he played.

by the power of Coach K, I think

A) enough of the important/returning guys will still be in, whether its the '12 team or the '14 team (my guess is 9/12)

B) his coaching, lineups will be much more effective than whatever the asterisk Larry Brown was doing in 2004.

I BELIEVE 

 

[lawdog1]

by the power of Coach K, I think

A) enough of the important/returning guys will still be in, whether its the '12 team or the '14 team (my guess is 9/12)

B) his coaching, lineups will be much more effective than whatever the asterisk Larry Brown was doing in 2004.


I BELIEVE 

As do I. I think even our "D" team should be good enough to compete for gold, if it even comes to that. And, I think it's very possible that some NBAers from other countries might pass on the Games because of Zika as well. Like, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Pau said he's not going.

 

[nick.]

Kings' DeMarcus Cousins has been told he has earned a roster spot on USA Basketball's 2016 Rio Olympics team, a source told The Undefeated.

 

[rck3sactown]

very happy for the young man

a few weeks with Coach K is always good

 

[pmatic]

Westbrook withdraws.

Damn, last chance at peak Westbrook in Olympic action.

 

[licensed to ball]

Cant blame him or Steph.
I wouldn't wanna be in Rio right now as an athlete. :x

But yeah, as a fan this sucks.
Would be been amazing to see both of them in the backcourt together for our country

Hope this means my dude Dame gets a spot on the roster now.

 

[lawdog1]

I honestly am not that upset about all the guys dropping out. First, I don't blame them. Second, kind of excited to get a look at a mostly new group. Kind of more of a challenge for us that way.

I bet Klay bails too. I believe Draymond said he still plans to go.

Going to be something like

Dame
Beal
Dray
Boogie
Faried

 

[licensed to ball]

I honestly am not that upset about all the guys dropping out. First, I don't blame them. Second, kind of excited to get a look at a mostly new group. Kind of more of a challenge for us that way.

I bet Klay bails too. I believe Draymond said he still plans to go.

Going to be something like

Dame
Beal
Dray
Boogie
Faried

:x at that grade C level USA squad

 

[Fresh Like Will]

I don't think KD has officially opted out, but after Russy, I wouldn't be surprised if he did.

 

[AZwildcats]

This squad

 

[lawdog1]

I don't think KD has officially opted out, but after Russy, I wouldn't be surprised if he did.

Fully expecting him to. He has enough to deal with already w/ free agency

 

[lawdog1]

:x at that grade C level USA squad

Might not be quite that bad. Still got guys like Wall, PG13, Kiwi, Jimmy Butler and Harden potentially in the mix. I think George will go considering he didn't get a chance to go to the last international competition. And Harden's not going to let the Zika virus scare him away from the Rio Olympic Village.

 

[Fresh Like Will]

^ John Wall withdrew.

 

[dman14]

they should've changed the location of the olympics months ago when the zika news and health concerns were brought up.
i wished all the US olympians withdrew

when doctors and scientists are telling you to postpone it or change venue, you have to put the health of people above the games


need a healthy klay, dray,. steph to 3peat

 

[triple white]

People dramatize everything these days so I understand the chatter surrounding the withdrawing players, but whoever they pick from the available pool would still wash their way to the gold medal.

Stop acting like there's "C-Level" talent available within that pool.

 

[dmbrhs]

Harden out now as well.

 

[pmatic]

Good strategy putting the news out on a Friday afternoon.

 

[lawdog1]

Harden out now as well.

That's surprising. He's the one guy I figured would easily prioritize partying in Brazil over potential viral illness.

But in all seriousness, I'm really starting to worry about all the NBA guys bailing . . .

 

[Fresh Like Will]

Just promote the select team already.

 

[T0INE]

Most of the big names dropping out.

I fully expect KD to drop out and Lebby as well after this Finals lost.

Interested in seeing how this team comes together.

 

[krispacinla]

I agree.. Just send the select team...

So that way RAT BOY AND RANDLE CAN COOK OVER THERE

 

[rck3sactown]

so far we got:

Cousins

Durant

George

Thompson

George

I'm good with it so far.... get Kiwi and a few PGs and we will be set

 

[nick.]

Warriors forward Draymond Green has accepted an invitation to play on USA Basketball's 2016 Rio Olympics team, a source told The Undefeated.

 

[leavemeglazzies]

Those who are worried about the zika virus should consider having their sperm frozen. I heard Pau Gasol might be doing that.

It's too bad about all this negative stuff about Brazil that has players reconsidering. At full strenght, this team could've been the greatest since 1996.

 

[lawdog1]

Royce Young ‏@royceyoung · 15m15 minutes ago

Kevin Durant on playing for Team USA this summer: "I'm excited about it. I'm looking forward to it."