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'd be shocked if there was a rift on the team over Plumlee/Cousins. Shocked. For all we know the team may want Plumlee instead also.

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.

 

By the numbers Plumlee is a better shot blocker than Cousins.

 

IMO we need Plumlee and Cousins on the team with Davis to guard Pau, Mark and Ibaka. Davis gets Pau, Cousins gets Mark and Plumlee on Ibaka.

By the numbers Plumlee is a better shot blocker than Cousins.

 

IMO we need Plumlee and Cousins on the team with Davis to guard Pau, Mark and Ibaka. Davis gets Pau, Cousins gets Mark and Plumlee on Ibaka.

 

I'm not sure Plumlee can do it and stay out of foul trouble. I do like all of the match ups you listed if those are the 3 though, that's for sure. Pau will keep Davis away from the rim. Even if he didn't, I'm not sure that Davis is able to really negate Marc inside without risking serious foul trouble.

If Plumlee hadn't played for Duke, this would be almost a non-issue. Predictable, really.

 

Thats incorrect

On the other hand if Plumlee didn't attend Duke nobody would be making a case for him.

 

Plumlee sucks, he is the 75th best big man in the NBA and that's being generous.

I'm not sure Plumlee can do it and stay out of foul trouble. I do like all of the match ups you listed if those are the 3 though, that's for sure. Pau will keep Davis away from the rim. Even if he didn't, I'm not sure that Davis is able to really negate Marc inside without risking serious foul trouble.

 

He's only being asked to play 5-12 minutes a game. Cousins is the only one I would worry about with fouls.

Thats incorrect

 

No it's not. UK fans can help themselves on this one.

On the other hand if Plumlee didn't attend Duke nobody would be making a case for him.

 

Plumlee sucks, he is the 75th best big man in the NBA and that's being generous.

 

You are correct because the only reason people think he is being discussed as making the team is because he went to a Duke and Coach K picks the team. Name fifteen guys at his position who weren't asked to attend the tryouts who are better.

You are correct because the only reason people think he is being discussed as making the team is because he went to a Duke and Coach K picks the team. Name fifteen guys at his position who weren't asked to attend the tryouts who are better.

 

As national team coach, part of the gig is coaxing stars to play. Whether or not that should be a part of the job description is a different debate, but you have to admit that there's a recruitment and "show me love" aspect.

No it's not. UK fans can help themselves on this one.

 

True and a good point. I know I wouldn't care enough to defend it to the length I have if it were Cousins. Doesn't mean I'd necessarily feel differently if I gave the issue the same thought, just that I wouldn't give it the same thought as I have since it involved Cousins and I'm so familiar with him.

 

I will say that I think Bill Simmons raised a great point in his recent interview with Cousins when he asked why UK fans had so much love for him and why they were so defensive over him. Part of that defensiveness stems from UK fans having to debate with people whether he's a better player than Mason Freakin' Plumlee.

 

One guy is top 5 in the league in PER and is expected to carry his franchise. The other guy can't crack a rotation with Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez for over 20 minutes per game. The fact that we're even having this debate in and of itself is kind of ridiculous if we're looking at it from a standpoint of talent.

 

Saying Plumlee is better than Cousins would be like a UK fan trying to say that Alex Poythress is better than Jabari Parker.

He's only being asked to play 5-12 minutes a game. Cousins is the only one I would worry about with fouls.

 

Statistically, I don't think you have a very good argument, especially if we're talking about defending Spain's bigs. Maybe if we're talking defending the average big in the game, the numbers shift more toward Plumlee, but I'm not convinced any team aside from Spain matters.

True and a good point. I know I wouldn't care enough to defend it to the length I have if it were Cousins. Doesn't mean I'd necessarily feel differently if I gave the issue the same thought, just that I wouldn't give it the same thought as I have since it involved Cousins and I'm so familiar with him.

 

I will say that I think Bill Simmons raised a great point in his recent interview with Cousins when he asked why UK fans had so much love for him and why they were so defensive over him. Part of that defensiveness stems from UK fans having to debate with people whether he's a better player than Mason Freakin' Plumlee.

 

One guy is top 5 in the league in PER and is expected to carry his franchise. The other guy can't crack a rotation with Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez for over 20 minutes per game. The fact that we're even having this debate in and of itself is kind of ridiculous if we're looking at it from a standpoint of talent.

 

Saying Plumlee is better than Cousins would be like a UK fan trying to say that Alex Poythress is better than Jabari Parker.

 

But who has said that? Not one person in this world has said that. Once again this is exhibit A of UK fan paranoia and UK fan irrational behavior. I've never heard anyone say Plumlee is better than Cousins. Not ever. Not in middle school, high school, AAU, college or pros. Never heard those words. Ever. From anyone.

Statistically, I don't think you have a very good argument, especially if we're talking about defending Spain's bigs. Maybe if we're talking defending the average big in the game, the numbers shift more toward Plumlee, but I'm not convinced any team aside from Spain matters.

 

You missed my point. My point is that if Plumlee makes the team he won't average more than 8 minutes a game and nobody will care if he gets in foul trouble. If Cousins is on the team he'd play more than Plumlee and concern about his fouls would be a real concern. Nobody cares if Plumlee fouls out in the short amount of time he would be on the court.

By the numbers Plumlee is a better shot blocker than Cousins.

 

IMO we need Plumlee and Cousins on the team with Davis to guard Pau, Mark and Ibaka. Davis gets Pau, Cousins gets Mark and Plumlee on Ibaka.

 

There was .2 blocks a game between Cousins and plumlee and that is the only stat Plumlee sniffs cousins in . There is no basketball reason to take Plumlee over Cousins . Now Coach K does feel comfortable with Plumlee having coached him. Won't convince me any other coach in America would have him in the running. He was a slightly above average college player and a below average NBA player. No reasonable person who watches basketball would think he is Team USA material .

 

Like I said in a earlier post I have no problem taking role players. But they need to excel in a category that team USA may need help with. Shooting and rebounding standout to me and Plumlee doesn't help with either . But that is why Korver and Fareed make sense. Plumlee may be a good player at some point. But he has no distinguished still outside of maybe raw athleticism that could help this team and that skill is a dime a dozen in the NBA.

You missed my point. My point is that if Plumlee makes the team he won't average more than 8 minutes a game and nobody will care if he gets in foul trouble. If Cousins is on the team he'd play more than Plumlee and concern about his fouls would be a real concern. Nobody cares if Plumlee fouls out in the short amount of time he would be on the court.

But I would rather have 8 minutes of Cousins than Plumlee.