Save the Date: Team USA 1st Showcase July 10th vs Team Canada

[Real Men Wear Green]

One of the two toughest opponents. (https://www.usab.com/teams/5x5-mens-olympics/schedules)

Them and France.

As far as I know the starters have still not been announced. I think Curry will get a starting guard spot and don't feel sure about anything else. Embiid is the best center but healthwise he arguably shouldn't even be playing. Durant would be a solid choice for floor spacing so I think he starts. James may then also start to be the true point guard of the team. Unfortunately for my rooting interests that would make Booker a better starter offensively than Tatum for more shooting and floor spacing. The best defensive line up would have Tatum in it but I'm expecting James's leadership and popularity to dictate the offensive team. The silver lining for us long-suffering Celtic fans being that Tatum still managed to be the second leading scorer backing up Durant last time around.

[Mask the Embiid]

From NBA champion to 10th man on team usa hahahahaahaha....ya hate to see it


imagine kawhi durant or lebron coming off the bench for that guy......


"ayo p! they said they need me to come off the bench" :oldlol::roll:

[Real Men Wear Green]

It's about as hard to imagine as the Celtics winning a championship.

[BurningHammer]

Team Canada will let USA win easily.

You won't get the real team til they probably meet again deep into the actual tournament.

[Thorpesaurous]

I don't think they'll do it a lot, but I do think we'll see significant stretches where Tatum plays on high end defensive groupings. So long as they're not playing an opponent who's ultra physical with size, something like Tatum, Lebron, Kwahi, Edwards, Durant, or Bam or AD if you need a bit more size, or even Holliday if there's a real undersized handling threat. Some combo of five of those eight I think will get one or two 6 minute stretches in some of these games and have some explosive stretches by creating turnovers, playing in the open court, and exploiting mismatches on the other end. I know there's a little question about age on a couple, three, of these guys. But I think in shorter stretches you could see them flip the switch a bit. There are absolutely teams this wouldn't work against though. I wouldn't want to do it against France for example.