Team USA - Evans, Cousins
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I think in both cases, the right move would be for Evans to sit back and work on HIS game, and I think the best case scenario for Cousins would be to join Team USA in some capacity so he can learn some off the court lessons... lessons in leadership and what it takes to be great. Stuff I don't think he can learn on his own.
Good for both guys.
Good for both guys.
Good, very good. Tyreke is going to have time to work on his game, and I'm sure this experience will be great for DMC. I'm sure he will make the team if he goes to Vegas, and that's great. He will play with the best players for some weeks, learning from them and living the atmosphere of a winning team. This could be a great step in his development, I'm really happy about that.
I think it is the right decision for each player. Playing for the NT team would be a fantastic thing for Cousins and I have no doubt he would be the perfect C for the international game.
For Tyreke, its the last thing he needs at this point. He needs an off-season to work on his shot more than anything. While it would be good for Reke to get involved with the stars, the timing is not good for him. Maybe next year or the year after but this off-season he needs to develop that shot to be more respectable than it is currently.
For Tyreke, its the last thing he needs at this point. He needs an off-season to work on his shot more than anything. While it would be good for Reke to get involved with the stars, the timing is not good for him. Maybe next year or the year after but this off-season he needs to develop that shot to be more respectable than it is currently.
Hopefully going there will help DeMarcus completely change his defensive approach to the game(or rather lack of).
Especially in the 2nd half of the season it seemed like he just even try to defend. Hopefully he gets a wakeup call in the summer, cause that along with his post-game is a major issue for him to work at imo - and he has the ability to do both things in a good way but just doesn't want to right now.
Especially in the 2nd half of the season it seemed like he just even try to defend. Hopefully he gets a wakeup call in the summer, cause that along with his post-game is a major issue for him to work at imo - and he has the ability to do both things in a good way but just doesn't want to right now.
Putting this down purely on not wanting to make fouls is wrong imo.
It's part of it - but it's still bad habits he picks up with him as a young player, and him not valuing the defensive side of the floor as much.
Again - the way he played for most of the 2nd half of this season especially, was just embarrassing to watch imo and I felt ashamed. flat out dogged it for WAY too many possessions, hardly moved his feet at all, gambled on steals on far too many occasions that imo caused more harm then good, and in general had a bad basketball IQ defensively in terms of team defense when to help, rotate etc and showed little to none effort most times then not.
He has the ability when he wants to - but he doesn't really understand the defensive side of the floor - and imo right now he doesn't want to understand it - and having Smart as our coach might do him good offensively in terms of progression - but it also damages him defensively.
Practicing and player with Team USA could help him in that area as he'll either try alot harder, or get called on it there and understand he must improve it and commit to it more
It's part of it - but it's still bad habits he picks up with him as a young player, and him not valuing the defensive side of the floor as much.
Again - the way he played for most of the 2nd half of this season especially, was just embarrassing to watch imo and I felt ashamed. flat out dogged it for WAY too many possessions, hardly moved his feet at all, gambled on steals on far too many occasions that imo caused more harm then good, and in general had a bad basketball IQ defensively in terms of team defense when to help, rotate etc and showed little to none effort most times then not.
He has the ability when he wants to - but he doesn't really understand the defensive side of the floor - and imo right now he doesn't want to understand it - and having Smart as our coach might do him good offensively in terms of progression - but it also damages him defensively.
Practicing and player with Team USA could help him in that area as he'll either try alot harder, or get called on it there and understand he must improve it and commit to it more
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I'm going to disagree with you a little bit. I think Cuz was between a rock and a hard place. Some of it self induced. Getting on the wrong side of Ref's is nonproductive going forward. But he did, his first year in the league. Plus, like a lot of young players, he's never had to play much defense. Unless you go to one of the highschool basketball academy's, which he didn't, its all about offense. So I think its a combination of lack of experience, and trying not to foul out. For a while, I noticed that he was holding his fouls down in the first half, almost as though he was saving them up for the second half. Unfortunately he ended up using them up at too fast a rate in the second half.
Golden rule for Bigs, and actually anyone playing defense. You play defense with your feet and not your hands. Cuz has the bad habit of trying to play defense with his hands, which is either the lazy or stupid way to play defense. In his case, I think its a combination of both. When he gets tired, he reaches. Plus, I think he thinks he has the greatest hands in the world. Well, he may, but if the ref's see's you reach, they usually blow the whistle.
In short, there were times when he played very good defense, and the majority of time, when he didn't. He needs to get in a little better shape, and probably lose another 10 pounds. Hopefully he'll aquire the services of a good defensive big man coach to work with him on his fundamentals. He'll never be a shotblocker surpreme, but he can certainly be Kendrick Perkins, who is an excellent man defender, and is as ground bound as Cuz is. Maybe even more ground bound than Cuz. Defense is all about desire with intelligence. We all know that Cuz is smart, so no excuses from here on out.
Golden rule for Bigs, and actually anyone playing defense. You play defense with your feet and not your hands. Cuz has the bad habit of trying to play defense with his hands, which is either the lazy or stupid way to play defense. In his case, I think its a combination of both. When he gets tired, he reaches. Plus, I think he thinks he has the greatest hands in the world. Well, he may, but if the ref's see's you reach, they usually blow the whistle.
In short, there were times when he played very good defense, and the majority of time, when he didn't. He needs to get in a little better shape, and probably lose another 10 pounds. Hopefully he'll aquire the services of a good defensive big man coach to work with him on his fundamentals. He'll never be a shotblocker surpreme, but he can certainly be Kendrick Perkins, who is an excellent man defender, and is as ground bound as Cuz is. Maybe even more ground bound than Cuz. Defense is all about desire with intelligence. We all know that Cuz is smart, so no excuses from here on out.
I still disagree or moreso stand by what I said - he dogs it way too much for me, and the charges he takes or gambles for steals don't change THAT much(while atleast the charges are positive - the steals I think hurt us more then they help with him trying to gamble too much)
He's giving up too much points on his late rotations and bad understanding of help defense, him gambling for steals, and just not moving his feet or trying hard on a consistent basis.
Not saying he's a defensive cancer in general(Although in that 2nd half of the season I prolly would) and he does positive stuff when he's in the mood - but just not nearly enough. as the center of this team he needs to commit more to wanting to play defense and wanting to know how to play defense - and while some is on the foul thing - I don't think all of it is, and quite a bit is on DeMarcus himself.
He's giving up too much points on his late rotations and bad understanding of help defense, him gambling for steals, and just not moving his feet or trying hard on a consistent basis.
Not saying he's a defensive cancer in general(Although in that 2nd half of the season I prolly would) and he does positive stuff when he's in the mood - but just not nearly enough. as the center of this team he needs to commit more to wanting to play defense and wanting to know how to play defense - and while some is on the foul thing - I don't think all of it is, and quite a bit is on DeMarcus himself.
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Fairly large insult, although inevitable given the Davis hype. Reminds me of Christian Laettner back in the day over Sahq. Boogie should go to the select thingie and snap unibrow in half just to make a point.
One of the reasons I think I tolerate Cousins's nonense better than most is because if anything he is not ornery enough for me. When I was his age I felt every slight, and I had the memory of an elephant. If you didn't want me on your Olympic team now as I am emerging, well I would make that personal, and publicly say **** you every time you came begging me to play as the best center in the game. Real personal. I would make a public apology the price of my return.
Now Big Cuz on the other hand will probably do the seclt team and go try to prove himself again.
One of the reasons I think I tolerate Cousins's nonense better than most is because if anything he is not ornery enough for me. When I was his age I felt every slight, and I had the memory of an elephant. If you didn't want me on your Olympic team now as I am emerging, well I would make that personal, and publicly say **** you every time you came begging me to play as the best center in the game. Real personal. I would make a public apology the price of my return.
Now Big Cuz on the other hand will probably do the seclt team and go try to prove himself again.
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Davis is a very nice college player and a sure fire 1st pick in the draft and will be an all star in the future. However this selection is more about PR than putting players on the court to win. Spain is going to punish Team USA inside with the current roster. Davis isn't strong enough nor has he played enough against pros to be of much help now.
And just when you think Gasols are done, in comes Ibaka to swat away everything.
Sorry but I completely disagree with that. I cannot think of another American centre whose game is more suited to international game than Cousins. He would be the american version of a more skilled, just as strong and bigger Nikola Pekovic who has been best C in Europe for some time now. Cousins would absolutely abuse teams in the paint in international basketball. He can play on the low block, out at the elbow, is an exceptional rebounder and would be more than a good defender against other team. If nothing else he would pack the paint and be an immovable object in there.
Sorry but I completely disagree with that. I cannot think of another American centre whose game is more suited to international game than Cousins. He would be the american version of a more skilled, just as strong and bigger Nikola Pekovic who has been best C in Europe for some time now. Cousins would absolutely abuse teams in the paint in international basketball. He can play on the low block, out at the elbow, is an exceptional rebounder and would be more than a good defender against other team. If nothing else he would pack the paint and be an immovable object in there.
In a team that got a lot of talent everywhere like USA team, it's better to have a "just inside center" who protect better the paint like Howard or Davis than Cousins. His double dimension (inside and outside) is perfect in FIBA basketball, you're right, but depends how he uses it. What I mean... For example, the spin move he usually uses in low post in NBA it's almost always a travel violation in FIBA. And he's too many times out of control when he's playing, so according to me it's better have another kind of center in a team with a lot of talent.
I'd probably take Davis aswell.
Considering you've got Love, Griffin, Bosh etc already as offensive options and considering all 3 of KD, Melo and Lebron can and probably will play at the 4 at times - you need defensive minded guys out there and someone who could maybe fill in for Chandler, guys who help you win without having the ball, and again with All-World offensive power this team has, Davis defense stands out for me aswell and also what he has shown with his ability to play as a role-player somwhat and still affect the game without forcing himself on it.
I do have questions regarding his man to man defense in the post - but not big enough to rule him out.
For what that team needs, he is the ideal pick imo. doesn't mean he's better - he just fits that role - and he most likely won't make the cut anyways.
I love DeMarcus just as much as anyone else - but I can't tell you having him on a superstars team, where he will hardly get the ball or have plays set for him offensively and pretty much be pushed to the side along with his ego - isn't something that concerns me, about how he'll react, how he'll adjust, and how much can he contribute to that type of team as a role player with him NOT having the ball, as again i've already stated my opinion regarding his defense.
Considering you've got Love, Griffin, Bosh etc already as offensive options and considering all 3 of KD, Melo and Lebron can and probably will play at the 4 at times - you need defensive minded guys out there and someone who could maybe fill in for Chandler, guys who help you win without having the ball, and again with All-World offensive power this team has, Davis defense stands out for me aswell and also what he has shown with his ability to play as a role-player somwhat and still affect the game without forcing himself on it.
I do have questions regarding his man to man defense in the post - but not big enough to rule him out.
For what that team needs, he is the ideal pick imo. doesn't mean he's better - he just fits that role - and he most likely won't make the cut anyways.
I love DeMarcus just as much as anyone else - but I can't tell you having him on a superstars team, where he will hardly get the ball or have plays set for him offensively and pretty much be pushed to the side along with his ego - isn't something that concerns me, about how he'll react, how he'll adjust, and how much can he contribute to that type of team as a role player with him NOT having the ball, as again i've already stated my opinion regarding his defense.
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How do you figure that? I always saw the international game as more ball movement and transition opportunities. It's why the US has always gone after defensive centers and loaded up on wing threats. I mean, Odom was a reserve center on the national team. The inside game offensive center hasn't been in USA basketball since 2000/2004. 2004 only had Duncan, and he was much more versatile than DMC.
Most recent centers: Chandler, Howard. Two mobile, defensive big men who protect the paint and don't need the ball to be effective.
Most recent centers: Chandler, Howard. Two mobile, defensive big men who protect the paint and don't need the ball to be effective.
think about international big men for a miinute. Including the Gasol brothers, the frontline of the best Euro team. They play inside/outside ball. They can handle and pass. They are frequently hidden from individual defensive assignments by zone work. Cousins youth/discipline aside, he is PERFECT for that role.
Its the U.S.'s more conventional bigs that have long been fish out of water over there. The rules and culture were for a long time heavily tweaked against traditional post play.
Its the U.S.'s more conventional bigs that have long been fish out of water over there. The rules and culture were for a long time heavily tweaked against traditional post play.
Did I miss something? I thought that it was reported that they had narrowed it down to three players for the final two spots between Cuz, Monroe, and Anthony Davis, but that no decision has been made yet. I know I'm coming in late on this, but is sounds like most of you believe that Davis has already been chosen. I've been busy lately working on a project, so maybe I missed some info.