Less and less by the day. It definitely appears the players don't care about playing for their country this time around so I don't particularly care about any of them. We're sending a less-than-stellar team to the tournament so at some point it starts to look like Olympic soccer and I don't care.

 

I get your point. But as long as I have an option to watch basketball I'm taking advantage. I'm sick of baseball at this point.

Joker, I've noticed you mentioning Kawhi Leonard as someone you would like to see on the team. You are aware he declined, right?

Joker, I've noticed you mentioning Kawhi Leonard as someone you would like to see on the team. You are aware he declined, right?

 

Yea I was disappointed . I'm guessing he was told by the Spurs just like Parker and Ginobli he couldn't play.

I did let's not act like plumlee points were on cousins and he had a 2 min span when the game was in a blow out got some hustle points. I give him credit for that . But he still only had 4 rebounds. A role playing big man needs to rebound . The point against cousins was they don't need a big man who can score. So plumlees points are irrelevant because we all know cousins is the more talented scorer. The fact Cousins was the best rebounder in the game proves even more he needs to be on the team.

 

 

Those points came in the 3rd quarter when there was a big gap but if I recall the game got a lot closer and was looking to be a great finish until Paul George got hurt. My point in bringing up the scrimmage is that people are saying Plumlee shouldn't even be there, he wouldn't start for Trinidad and Tobago, nepotism, Coach K, blah, blah blah....when the truth is that anyone who watched that scrimmage saw Wall, Beal and Drummond stink up the joint, saw Lillard hit a 3/4 court shot for his only bright spot, saw Plumlee and Cousins play to a draw if you want to cancel out Cousins' mental mistakes against Mason's first half and saw Rose look better than he did last season.

 

Not one time have I ever said Plumlee is better than Cousins but there was a reason word filtered out that Plumlee might get chosen ahead of Cousins. Everyone who spoke out against it hasn't been at the practices to see what is really going on.

Those points came in the 3rd quarter when there was a big gap but if I recall the game got a lot closer and was looking to be a great finish until Paul George got hurt. My point in bringing up the scrimmage is that people are saying Plumlee shouldn't even be there, he wouldn't start for Trinidad and Tobago, nepotism, Coach K, blah, blah blah....when the truth is that anyone who watched that scrimmage saw Wall, Beal and Drummond stink up the joint, saw Lillard hit a 3/4 court shot for his only bright spot, saw Plumlee and Cousins play to a draw if you want to cancel out Cousins' mental mistakes against Mason's first half and saw Rose look better than he did last season.

 

Not one time have I ever said Plumlee is better than Cousins but there was a reason word filtered out that Plumlee might get chosen ahead of Cousins. Everyone who spoke out against it hasn't been at the practices to see what is really going on.

 

There is no way you can say Plumlee and Cousins was a draw. I can agree with the rest. But I'm also not going to put one game ahead of what all the players did last season. I just can't be convinced Plumlee deserves to still be there. Cousins put up a double double. Cousins was one of the most efficient defensive rebounders in the NBA last year and it showed in the game. Like I said Plumlee gets some credit for hustle points in the 3rd quarter, but you also can't ignore how clueless he looked in the first half and the lack of rebounding.

 

I will say with KD and George gone it seems they need Cousins more now than they did a week ago. KD, George and Davis were the probable starting front court. Now they lose the two front runners to be leading scorers on the team. Cousins won't start but I think they need to keep someone in the front court who can score and while Cousins scores in a different way with 15 ft jumpers and back to the basket he does fit the bill for points.

Also PP92 on your comment earlier I agree adding Jabri Parker is probably a good idea at this point. Gordon Hayward and Chandler Parsons are the best two SF's left aren't they?

Not trying to rain on this debate but I feel so distant from this. Am I the only one who doesn't really care who makes this team?

 

^

Don't believe this for one second, you must not have the facts to outdue PP92:lol2:

There is no way you can say Plumlee and Cousins was a draw. I can agree with the rest. But I'm also not going to put one game ahead of what all the players did last season. I just can't be convinced Plumlee deserves to still be there. Cousins put up a double double. Cousins was one of the most efficient defensive rebounders in the NBA last year and it showed in the game. Like I said Plumlee gets some credit for hustle points in the 3rd quarter, but you also can't ignore how clueless he looked in the first half and the lack of rebounding.

 

I will say with KD and George gone it seems they need Cousins more now than they did a week ago. KD, George and Davis were the probable starting front court. Now they lose the two front runners to be leading scorers on the team. Cousins won't start but I think they need to keep someone in the front court who can score and while Cousins scores in a different way with 15 ft jumpers and back to the basket he does fit the bill for points.

 

 

Cousins had multiple mental lapses that resulted in turnovers and easy points for the other team. Hell, he threw the ball right to other team on one occassion. He also can't be getting beat down the court by Plumlee either. Cousins is easily the best rebounder on the court. That's not debatable. Neither is the fact that he is likely their best low post threat on offense. We can sit back and take in the whole body of work of an 82 game season and come up with a lineup but as I stated earlier, that coaching staff is going to go by what they see in practices and scrimmages and for everyone who isn't perceived as a lock to make the team things like not getting back on defense, silly turnovers and mental lapses on defense will cost you dearly in these settings.

Also PP92 on your comment earlier I agree adding Jabri Parker is probably a good idea at this point. Gordon Hayward and Chandler Parsons are the best two SF's left aren't they?

 

Yeah.......yeah. Been hearing that Parsons and Korver will likely make the team.

So you haven't seen any Team USA practices or any of the scrimmage but that qualifies you to make decisions on who should and shouldn't be on the team? Gotcha.

 

#merica

 

 

I've seen enough basketball to tell you that I don't need a scrimmage to tell me that Cousins would demolish Plumlee. I'm a numbers guy. That's what we have and can quantify. You can't make up stats, you can only misconstrue them. In today's advanced metrics, Plumlee isn't a guy team USA needs unless he's came out and became an entirely different player. Trust me, I watch tons of basketball. One or two weeks off probably won't change my opinion on that.

 

If I watch the games and practices, will Plumlee's numbers change any? It's not like his stat clips are setting the world on fire. I know that's not the end-all, be-all, but what numbers are you going to point to that'd justify Plumlee?

 

This isn't a "Cousins is better than the world" thing. It's an "I think Plumlee is overrated and doesn't deserve a spot" thing. It's not an "I hate Duke" thing, I've even went as far as to say I'd be fine with Jabari Parker.

 

I just don't understand the love for Plumlee and think it could really cause as much of a rift on the team if there's the appearance of nepotism on K's part and guys start forming factions on the team. That has just as much potential to cause a rift as Cousins getting in Rose's face about not getting a touch.

 

I got nothing but love for you regardless PP92, but I don't have that love for ya' man Plumlee.

Joker, I've noticed you mentioning Kawhi Leonard as someone you would like to see on the team. You are aware he declined, right?

 

Didn't know he declined, but it's understandable. He was an example, and I think that minds can be changed as roles are hammered out, etc. It's what was done in preparation for 2008. LeBron's agent was the only one allowed in practices. That comes with getting LeBron. Concessions are made. It happens.

 

Regardless, my point was that there are many names I'd have above Plumlee.

Yea I was disappointed . I'm guessing he was told by the Spurs just like Parker and Ginobli he couldn't play.

 

Makes sense because he hasn't really "gotten paid" yet and still has a ton to lose. Also makes sense from an organizational standpoint because the Spurs basically forced Ginobili and some other guys to shut down, so it's an equality thing. That's just the Spurs.

Cousins had multiple mental lapses that resulted in turnovers and easy points for the other team. Hell, he threw the ball right to other team on one occassion. He also can't be getting beat down the court by Plumlee either. Cousins is easily the best rebounder on the court. That's not debatable. Neither is the fact that he is likely their best low post threat on offense. We can sit back and take in the whole body of work of an 82 game season and come up with a lineup but as I stated earlier, that coaching staff is going to go by what they see in practices and scrimmages and for everyone who isn't perceived as a lock to make the team things like not getting back on defense, silly turnovers and mental lapses on defense will cost you dearly in these settings.

 

Cousins has lapses, but he also has moments that Plumlee just can't give. We need some GAMs to go out and bang with the Gasols and Ibaka. Rudy, the guy from Invincible, and Pete Rose together can't hustle enough to knock Marc Gasol off the block and defend him one on one when Davis is occupied with chasing Pau out to 15' or 18' and can't clean up mistakes at the rim. If Spain weren't the only real threat, it wouldn't matter NEARLY as much.

Crowd sourcing: SportsNation: Sports Chats, Polls, Trivia, and More - ESPN

 

Check the polls on Team USA/FIBA (not relative to the Cousins/Plumlee rabbit hole that I've dragged us into).

I've seen enough basketball to tell you that I don't need a scrimmage to tell me that Cousins would demolish Plumlee. I'm a numbers guy. That's what we have and can quantify. You can't make up stats, you can only misconstrue them. In today's advanced metrics, Plumlee isn't a guy team USA needs unless he's came out and became an entirely different player. Trust me, I watch tons of basketball. One or two weeks off probably won't change my opinion on that.

 

If I watch the games and practices, will Plumlee's numbers change any? It's not like his stat clips are setting the world on fire. I know that's not the end-all, be-all, but what numbers are you going to point to that'd justify Plumlee?

 

This isn't a "Cousins is better than the world" thing. It's an "I think Plumlee is overrated and doesn't deserve a spot" thing. It's not an "I hate Duke" thing, I've even went as far as to say I'd be fine with Jabari Parker.

 

I just don't understand the love for Plumlee and think it could really cause as much of a rift on the team if there's the appearance of nepotism on K's part and guys start forming factions on the team. That has just as much potential to cause a rift as Cousins getting in Rose's face about not getting a touch.

 

I got nothing but love for you regardless PP92, but I don't have that love for ya' man Plumlee.

 

 

I've seen enough basketball to know Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player ever yet he didn't win MVP every year for some reason.