Not his fault really. He had to work with what was left. If it was someone else who was coaching, I don't think they would've gotten as far as he did. I do feel bad for this ugly stain on Pop's very illustrious career.
6 years ago | 17
Everyone left him and you can't even blame them. USA basketball is going to have a hell of a time recovering from that Paul George injury.
6 years ago | 2
Its not his fault the A and B players didn't take pride and playing for the USA.
6 years ago | 1
Why were the centers unplayable in the last couple of games, especially against Gobert? Surely that's where someone like Brook Lopez feasts? Instead they were running small ball with Barnes at the 5. I think this is a 3-way split between roster, stars passing, and play/coaching.
6 years ago
| 1
the question asks if he 'constructed' the team well. I think Derrick White being so integral to the team was not something you want to see. Middleton was another guy I woulda liked to see less of. The USA could have just made it an athletics battle and trounced every team other than France. Where they could have got around Gobert's defence at the rim, and Ntilikina's on the perimeter with more savvy. I guess you gotta put some of that on Pop, but also the decision making from the whole team in the last 6 minutes was horrific, that lost you guys the game. GO TEAM GB????
6 years ago | 1
If you're blaming stars for not playing, realize you're asking them to risk literally tens of millions of dollars to play a game for a country that's led by a guy who went at Lebron with the typical "shut up and dribble". Pop did have enough talent to win this though. France had Rudy Gobert who is really good, but the next best player is Frankie smokes? Who's better: Gobert and Frankie smokes, or Tatum and Brown? That still leaves Kemba, Mitchell, Smart, and Lopez This isn't a lack of talent and that falls onto Pop and Kerr at least in part. I'd say the motivation was lacking, but it's the coaches job to lead the locker room emotionally as well as strategically
6 years ago | 0
It wasn't his fault. A (i fully understand them dropping out, playoffs and all that) and B listers ditched the team to "prepare" for their whack ass lottery bound dipshit teams ( Devin Booker 👁👁). He did his best with the talent at hand and of those left, only Tatum and Brown have been crucial in uber important games in the past. Mitchell will have a great season though I hope, respect to him sticking with the te
6 years ago (edited) | 7
Pop was too much of a Derrick White truther. I feel like that pushed Fox away from the team and might have rubbed some of the other players the wrong way.
6 years ago | 3
The Dime Drop
Did Coach Pop do a good job constructing this team USA roster? 👍👎
6 years ago | [YT] | 58