Cousins Back for Team USA

[hrdboild]

What this means is that the Team USA coaches were so spoiled by years of Lebron, Melo, Wade, and Kobe leading the team from the perimeter (in one of the worst eras ever for the C position) that they stubbornly refuse to adjust their approach even though the perimeter heavies now are Durant, George, Harden, and Rose. Inviting a fleet of scoring PFs and one 7 footer was already an indication of the direction they planned to go. This staff doesn't want Cousins trying to create in the post, they want their bigs to set screens, roll to the basket, and block shots. Such is the state of basketball today. Miami used the same strategy to make it to four straight NBA finals. I'm not sure it's going to work as well without Bron and Wade but by all means fire away from outside. We'll see how it goes for them.

 

[KingMilz]

At least Cousins will be fresh for regular season so I can't complain if it's true

 

[Bricklayer]

What this means is that the Team USA coaches were so spoiled by years of Lebron, Melo, Wade, and Kobe leading the team from the perimeter (in one of the worst eras ever for the C position) that they stubbornly refuse to adjust their approach even though the perimeter heavies now are Durant, George, Harden, and Rose. Inviting a fleet of scoring PFs and one 7 footer was already an indication of the direction they planned to go. This staff doesn't want Cousins trying to create in the post, they want their bigs to set screens, roll to the basket, and block shots. Such is the state of basketball today. Miami used the same strategy to make it to four straight NBA finals. I'm not sure it's going to work as well without Bron and Wade but by all means fire away from outside. We'll see how it goes for them.

Its worth noting that EVERY team hat has used that strategy to make it to the Finals at either level has had LeBron James on it. Something the staff perhaps should have considered before committing to it without James, Melo, Kobe etc.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Mason Plumlee just played in the Orlando summer league a few weeks ago

 

[rainmaker]

Did anybody else see the televised practice Tuesday? There was a long conversation between CP3 and Colangelo. Now what do you suppose one of their topics of conversation was? "Yeah C, he said he don't like me in the media. What you gonna do about it?" "Remember how he stopped that little IT guy from shaking my hand after I kicked their butts?"

I'm sorry Colangelo and Coach K don't impress me. They have the best players in the world scrimmaging like its a JV tryout.

Sorry, but no. Not how it works.

Most athletes don't pull crap like that. They may very well not like one another, but when on the same team for Team USA or an All Star game, guys act professional. They understand the greater cause and that what happens between NBA teams is an entirely different setting.

Read up on how much CP3 and Reddick hated each other. Same team now, get along fine.



BTW, if there's an ounce of truth to all this, a factor in my mind would be Coach K doesn't have experience coaching dominant bigs. He makes his money off guards and wings in college and for the USA, off the elite 1's, 2's and 3's. There's actually not much in Coach K's history suggesting he knows what to do with a guy like Boogie. Now, if Pop ever gets the USA job.....

 

[Agent23]

I fear for the health of all big men that have to guard Demarcus Cousins next season if he doesn't make the team. I actually hope he doesn't make it because he will be so pissed off he'll carry this team into playoff contention next season. He'll put both Plumlee's on the disabled list as well lol.

 

[Agent23]

Sorry, but no. Not how it works.

Most athletes don't pull crap like that. They may very well not like one another, but when on the same team for Team USA or an All Star game, guys act professional. They understand the greater cause and that what happens between NBA teams is an entirely different setting.

Michael Jordan kept Isiah Thomas off the Dream Team because of his distaste for him.

 

[rainmaker]

Michael Jordan kept Isiah Thomas off the Dream Team because of his distaste for him.

Exactly my point. You had to dig up the rarest of circumstances with the greatest player ever to make your point and that wasn't just Jordan not wanting Isaiah there either.

This generation's version of Jordan, Durant and Lebron, speak highly of Cuz. Situations aren't all that similar. Kobe campaigned for Cuz last summer.

 

[Chupacabra]

Ignore the part about Plumlee beating out Cousins for team USA for a moment. Mason Plumlee playing for team USA!? Sweet baby Jesus, why is Mason Plumlee even being given a tryout invitation? This is quickly becoming a laughing stock. Just the thought of us trotting a USA team onto the court with current Mason Plumlee on it. Please call Colangelo, let him know that he's been fired, have security escort him out.

 

[Glenn]

Exactly my point. You had to dig up the rarest of circumstances with the greatest player ever to make your point and that wasn't just Jordan not wanting Isaiah there either.

This generation's version of Jordan, Durant and Lebron, speak highly of Cuz. Situations aren't all that similar. Kobe campaigned for Cuz last summer.

Cuz spends a lot of time talking to Durant. There's a link somewhere. It would be hard to understand if that turned out to be a negative. Anyway, Cuz can play and is one of the best. He would either not make the team because he doesn't fit with the kind of offense being used (not unlikely) or thee is still a hangover from the past.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

Plumlee wouldn't even be in Spain's top five bigs, let alone top three or four for the US.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

There is no adult diaper large enough to hold all of the crap I will lose if Mason Plumlee is picked over Cousins. This cannot happen in a rational world. The fact that the concept itself has even been floated is somebody's idea of a sadistic joke.

Just in case this is some cowardly, simpering attempt by Colangelo and Coach K to divine which way the wind is blowing instead of just manning up and picking the eminently more qualified and talented player to play on the team that is going to represent the United States of America, I ask any interns scouring the web for reaction to read this, and read it well: Tell your bosses that if they don't want to be the biggest laughingstocks in international basketball since the referees in Munich in 1972, that they need to swallow their pride and do their jobs. Put the best player on the team. I don't care if Cousins rubs you the wrong way. I don't care if Coach K went on a recruiting trip and sipped tea on the couch with Mason Plumlee's mommy. You do not, ever, ever pass on an offensively devastating, rebounding monster of a center with size and strength and passion in favor of a benchwarming, Summer-League-playing, towelboy. Because that's Plumlee's role on this team - to use his 6'11" wingspan to pass out Gatorade to the entire bench without having to get up from the cooler. Choose wisely.

 

[jcwkings]

Clearly what they want from the bigs(which is really just one position as KD will be playing the 4 most of the time) is only defense, rebounding, shot blocking, good team defender, guys that will run up and down(aside from rebounding, the rest are DMC's weakest attributes). It would suck for him not to make it, but it makes some sense, Davis, Drummond and Plumlee already play those roles day in and day out on their NBA teams. If it is Plumlee over Cousins, im sure it comes down to who will be content getting scrap minutes/ riding the pine for most of the time.

The team will clearly be built off of defensive rebounding and pushing the pace first, drive and kick to shooters, and there are plenty (Durant, Curry, Irving, Thompson, Lillard, George, Harden, Parsons). With all the dynamic/ ball dominant guards on the team(and Kevin Durant), its just not in the cards to feature DMC over Durant or any of the guards.

 

[Chupacabra]

What role would Plumlee fill if Davis, Drummond and Jordan are already on the team? Hes a repetitive piece that wouldn't even get onto the floor. Cousins would give the roster some needed diversity and would serve well as a strategic piece .

 

[Albatros]

Wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Like I said before the camp they will find a way not to take him. I read someone say kevin love would be re-added too.

 

[jcwkings]

What role would Plumlee fill if Davis, Drummond and Jordan are already on the team? Hes a repetitive piece that wouldn't even get onto the floor. Cousins would give the roster some needed diversity and would serve well as a strategic piece .

You answered your own question, if Davis and Drummond are getting all the big minutes, they probably feel DMC will be pissed riding the pine(as he feels he is the best big on the team), where as Plumlee will just be happy to be there and provides what they need from the position if he is indeed needed for scrap minutes. I really hope DMC makes the team, but what I said above is pretty much what the coaches will be thinking if they indeed cut him.

 

[jcwkings]

What needs to happen is for Cousins just to come out tomorrow and bust his tail off against Plumlee, run up and down, rebound like a mad man, play good defense, and just punish him inside, get offensive boards on him, man handle him.

 

[swisshh]

I feel like whatever he does tomorrow, Cousins will be seen as doing the wrong thing. If he goes out and takes it to Plumlee then it'll be seen as immature and not playing the team system. If goes out and plays within the system, it'll be seen as not competing for the spot.

 

[Chicken Chaser]

My glass globe foresees Cousins grabbing a defensive rebound and launching an outlet pass to any of the 4 guys running to the other end. Cousins tallies a rebound and an assist. Repeat 20 times. You don't need Plumlee for that!

 

[Albatros]

The scrimmage is being broadcast on league pass in case anyone who has it wasn't aware.

 

[KingMilz]

O wow I didn't know it was Mason I thought it was Miles the one who played solid D for the Suns, O crap Mason is beyond garbage he would not even get playing time on our squad behind JT and Reggie and he's going to make it over Cousins?

 

[KingMilz]

The scrimmage is being broadcast on league pass in case anyone who has it wasn't aware.

Do you have to buy a seperate thing for it or if you got premium last year you don't have to?

 

[HereWeBoogie]

The best part is, Cousins opponent FG% at the rim was lower than Plumelee's last season......

 

[HereWeBoogie]

What needs to happen is for Cousins just to come out tomorrow and bust his tail off against Plumlee, run up and down, rebound like a mad man, play good defense, and just punish him inside, get offensive boards on him, man handle him.

too bad knowing this team USA staff, Cousins will get like 4 minutes of playing time so he won't be able to impress much

 

[HereWeBoogie]

If this somehow happens, this is going to be an even more interesting upcoming season...and seasons to come. Unleash the monster. Old school NBA feel (before dream team) "us" against "them"

Shaq's career panned out pretty well after being snubbed from the dream team for Laettner

 

[Albatros]

Do you have to buy a seperate thing for it or if you got premium last year you don't have to?

I'm an premium member and I got this email. Can't say beyond that sorry.

 

[Tetsujin]

Do you have to buy a seperate thing for it or if you got premium last year you don't have to?

I'm pretty sure it's included with your league pass package.

 

[Chupacabra]

ESPN

 

[Kingster]

What this means is that the Team USA coaches were so spoiled by years of Lebron, Melo, Wade, and Kobe leading the team from the perimeter (in one of the worst eras ever for the C position) that they stubbornly refuse to adjust their approach even though the perimeter heavies now are Durant, George, Harden, and Rose. Inviting a fleet of scoring PFs and one 7 footer was already an indication of the direction they planned to go. This staff doesn't want Cousins trying to create in the post, they want their bigs to set screens, roll to the basket, and block shots. Such is the state of basketball today. Miami used the same strategy to make it to four straight NBA finals. I'm not sure it's going to work as well without Bron and Wade but by all means fire away from outside. We'll see how it goes for them.

Fitness (chemistry) over talent.
The devaluation of the low post scoring center.

Familiar themes?

 

[Kingster]

Sorry, but no. Not how it works.

Most athletes don't pull crap like that. They may very well not like one another, but when on the same team for Team USA or an All Star game, guys act professional. They understand the greater cause and that what happens between NBA teams is an entirely different setting.

Read up on how much CP3 and Reddick hated each other. Same team now, get along fine.



BTW, if there's an ounce of truth to all this, a factor in my mind would be Coach K doesn't have experience coaching dominant bigs. He makes his money off guards and wings in college and for the USA, off the elite 1's, 2's and 3's. There's actually not much in Coach K's history suggesting he knows what to do with a guy like Boogie. Now, if Pop ever gets the USA job.....

And maybe this is the key to the entire situation, although there may be some chicken and egg thing going on - does he not want to coach scoring power bigs because of his lack of experience, or does his experience tell him that he'd rather not have the scoring power big as the center of his attack? For whatever reasons, he values the wings more than a scoring power center. He'd rather the center play off the wings than the wings playing off the center. One thing for sure, it isn't going to improve his recruiting success in recruiting power scoring centers.