Pop: Team USA critics are 'immature, arrogant'

[Play Boban]

Does this sound like the musings of a winner? Celebrating a 7th place embarrassment? But we beat Poland! :cry

https://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/27611517/pop-team-usa-critics-immature-arrogant?platform=amp&__twitter_impression=true


"Some people want to play the blame game. There's no blame to be placed anywhere," Popovich said. "They want to play the shame game, like we should be ashamed because we didn't win a gold medal? That's a ridiculous attitude. It's immature, it's arrogant, and it shows that whoever thinks that doesn't respect all the other teams in the world and doesn't respect that these guys did the best they could."

[Ibleedslvrnblk]

ST: Hey guys Pop found a cure for cancer!
Response: Took him long enough! Selfish ass letting all those people die.

Nothing better to do on a Saturday morning then at that same old broken record? Move on...

[Play Boban]

ST: Hey guys Pop found a cure for cancer!
Response: Took him long enough! Selfish ass letting all those people die.

Nothing better to do on a Saturday morning then at that same old broken record? Move on...

If you can't have a mature conversation, then why are you posting in here?

[Smithie]

If you can't have a mature conversation, then why are you posting in here?
Start a mature conversation and you will receive mature replies.

[Play Boban]

Start a mature conversation and you will receive mature replies.
I did.

GNSF :lmao

[UZER]

Retire already.

[TimDunkem]

Say what you want about the talent on the team, but 7th place?

[Bojo]

My god...I watched most of Team USA's games this world cup. And yes, the match vs Turkey should have been a loss already and losing in the quarterfinals can't be the standard for Team USA.
I still think it's got more to do with the sad fact that the other countries' teams are way better at playing organized basketball than the average NBA player by now. Knowing the FIBA rules helps too (see Harris' late foul vs Turkey), as does playing together for a long time.
What I really don't get about the criticism - most of the guys here clown players like Kemba, Mitchell, Turner, etc on a regular basis. If RC and Pop would aquire this iteration of Team USA for the Spurs over the offseason you would bust their balls. These guys are all okay, but who has led his respective team anywhere over the last years? Maybe Tatum for one season, but he didn't play after the Turkey game iirc.
Look at the quarterfinals. Everyone know before tipoff that the most impactful player on the court will be Gobert, and it wasn't even close. This team was just not talented enough to win every game by 20 points and didn't execute when it mattered (see the Turner play vs Turkey). Perhaps that's why Pop turned to Kemba isolating in the closing possesions vs France, which did not work as well.





Or USA lost cause Pop doesn't like Orange Man.

[Pavlov]

The only international competition that matters to USA players and fans is the Olympics. I'm going to go out on a limb and say better players will show up for those.

[SpursDynasty85]

Very telling quote and fact in this article:

"Much has been made about 31 of the 35 players who started last summer on Team USA's roster pulling out of playing for the team."

Basically we sent our C squad with and assembled them a few weeks ago. Of course we lost! This ain't 1992 anymore. International players are getting pretty good.

[cd98]

I like Derrick White, but to go from a 2nd year player to a roster spot on the national team without being an all-star and spending his first year in the G-League, you can tell that the USA was hurting in their attempts to land the best players.

That said, no one star wants to go unless they all go or unless they get a guarantee to be on the Olympic roster. I can understand why mid-tier stars didn't go.

[FrostKing]

How bad did Popovich wanna call USA fans deplorable?

[therealtruth]

Let's see how much Coangelo follows through on his threats of remembering who pulled out.

[FrostKing]

Let's see how much Coangelo follows through on his threats of remembering who pulled out.
Dumb logic. He essentially said they are hopeless without certain players so his solution is to punish these certain players by not allowing them to play?

[KobesAchilles]

Dude we invented the sport. And we won like a million games in a row against some of these countries. It’s not arrogance, it’s the fucking standard.

[Frenchfred]

If you can't have a mature conversation, then why are you posting in here?

Coming from somebody who is beating a dead horse. Just pathetic. Get a life

[Keepin' it real]

Does this sound like the musings of a winner? Celebrating a 7th place embarrassment? But we beat Poland! :cry

https://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/27611517/pop-team-usa-critics-immature-arrogant?platform=amp&__twitter_impression=true

:cry

[Keepin' it real]

Does a 7th place finish qualify for a trip to the White House?

[SupremeGuy]

Is he being purposely ironic or is he too stupid to see it?

[TheRemix]

Who really gives a fuck about fiba or the world cup. No country is good enough to compete with USA when they have the absolute best players on the roster and are motivated to win it. Team USA steam rolls through the competition when they want to. Let other countries have a win. It really isn't a big deal. American players have more important things to worry about

[TheRemix]

Dude we invented the sport. And we won like a million games in a row against some of these countries. It’s not arrogance, it’s the fucking standard.

Didn't a canadian invent it?

[FrostKing]

Who really gives a fuck about fiba or the world cup. No country is good enough to compete with USA when they have the absolute best players on the roster and are motivated to win it. Team USA steam rolls through the competition when they want to. Let other countries have a win. It really isn't a big deal. American players have more important things to worry about
This made me laugh. American athletes are the most pampered bitches on the planet

https://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-31-at-3.37.26-PM-832x447.png

[Play Boban]

Who really gives a fuck about fiba or the world cup. No country is good enough to compete with USA when they have the absolute best players on the roster and are motivated to win it. Team USA steam rolls through the competition when they want to. Let other countries have a win. It really isn't a big deal. American players have more important things to worry about

Yeah, like Taco Tuesday? SMH.

[Play Boban]

Didn't a canadian invent it?

Canada is the USA.

[Genovaswitness]

This made me laugh. American athletes are the most pampered bitches on the planet

https://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-31-at-3.37.26-PM-832x447.png

lebron is such a massive piece of shit. I hope he gets a career ending injury next year

[TheRemix]

This made me laugh. American athletes are the most pampered bitches on the planet

https://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-31-at-3.37.26-PM-832x447.png

They're getting paid millions to put a ball in a hoop, no shit they're living a luxurious life

[TheRemix]

Yeah, like Taco Tuesday? SMH.

Still more important than fiba

[Dennis the Menace]

Lol it’s like Pop is describing himself to the media

[cd98]

Let's see how much Coangelo follows through on his threats of remembering who pulled out.

I think there are mid level stars he’ll exclude. But guys like Durant that have injuries, or guys that have a colorable excuse to have stayed home will make it bc they don’t want a repeat of the world championships.

The world can compete with USA superstars. USA superstars would be favored. But even favorites can have one bad night and the underdogs can have a great night. And the talent level in some countries is almost as good as us. It’s the new reality when basketball became a global sport.

[KobesAchilles]

Didn't a canadian invent it?
Dude is from Springfield Massachusetts isn’t he? Isn’t that why the hall of fame is there? I know for a fact he got his degree in Denver though

**edit: the dude was Canadian but moved over to the US and became a citizen. Either way basketball was invented HERE in the U.S :lol

[KimmyGib]

Lol @ stars pulling out excuses.

:fight But but we didn't have a completely stacked team of all-stars to zerg through the competition!

[Dex]

lebron is such a massive piece of shit. I hope he gets a career ending injury next year

Dude actually tried to trademark "taco Tuesday" like he invented that shit.

[Proxy]

lebron is such a massive piece of shit. I hope he gets a career ending injury next year

He’d still be the goat

[Genovaswitness]

He’d still be the goat

3-6 :lmao

losing twice the amount of finals after steamrolling through a shit east :lmao

1-2 against the spurs (would be 0-3 if not for poop) :lmao

cuckold millenials love leshit

[Proxy]

3-6 :lmao

losing twice the amount of finals after steamrolling through a shit east :lmao

1-2 against the spurs (would be 0-3 if not for poop) :lmao

cuckold millenials love leshit
You ever reread your posts and feel disappointed in yourself?

[ZeusWillJudge]

The only international competition that matters to USA players and fans is the Olympics. I'm going to go out on a limb and say better players will show up for those.


It obviously didn't matter to the players. If it didn't matter to the fans, who is Pop bitching about?

I think a lot of people don't know that there are two Olympic slots reserved for the two best teams from the Americas. Team USA has to send a squad to the World Cup, to make sure and qualify for the Olympics. I get the impression from a lot of places - from the selection process to Pop's comments - that securing the Olympic bid was the goal, and beyond that he focused a lot on developing and encouraging young guys, teaching "life lessons", etc. I don't think he dove into it like his life depended on winning gold. I'm not saying it did - just that attacking that way makes a difference in performance.

Before you start arguing (like you always do), that pretty much ties in to your own idea that nobody much cares about any international competition other than the Olympics.

I think there was a time when Pop wouldn't have been so philosophical about a loss, even in a meaningless World Cup. That's all I've ever said on this subject. Maybe he's just learned with age, and this way is better. But I'd still rather see him fake it, if that's what it takes, and pretend like winning is really important. I'm a pretty solid defender of Pop, and I think a lot of the criticism he's gotten is bullshit. But his, "Life will go on" comment left me cold.

[venitian navigator]

I think the "life will go on" comment by Pop is simply a way to show how bitter he is against the kind of mentality that took a lot of players to renege their committments to the team...looks to me that the words of Colangelo confirm this.
The point is simple...all this was frankly unexpected...and for the times, manners and kind of players (young guys with no particular contract problems) that refused to play, it showed not only a disrespect for the organization but also for the nation...against teams that play with the same players all the time and have developed chemistry during years and years you can't assemble a team in two weeks.

[Genovaswitness]

You ever reread your posts and feel disappointed in yourself?

leshit fan on a spurs messageboard who would’ve thought :lmao

fucking SWEPT in 07 :lmao

largest point differential loss in finals history in 14 :lmao

[ducks]

Pop you go to win
Someone is to blame
The players who refused to go or the players that went or coaches

[ducks]

Maybe the players would want to play for the USA if pop you stopped bashing the President of the USA

[kobyz]

Pop and his spins... Pop deserve the most blame for this failure!

[kobyz]

The sad part is just by Pop coaching the team, you know it's something that opening the lanes for a failure and underachievement like that, Pop coaching became such a weakness to anywhere he is while always being the most overrated thing...

[Yogatti]

What Popovich is trying to say is “I can’t win without Tim Duncan”

[Budkin]

You Pop haters seriously need to find a new hobby. It’s pretty embarrassing at this point.

[Frenchfred]

Maybe the players would want to play for the USA if pop you stopped bashing the President of the USA

The players probably hate the embarrassment who is sitting in the white house right now. Hard to represent your country when your president is a fascist moron

[daslicer]

Pop's favorite song right now
W69SSLfRJho

[daslicer]

The players probably hate the embarrassment who is sitting in the white house right now. Hard to represent your country when your president is a fascist moron

Ducks is a deranged Trump supporter that has 20 different alts in here. He also believes #2 was a Trump supporter and that Pop being anti-Trump was one of the reasons why he forced the Spurs to trade him.

[Pavlov]

It obviously didn't matter to the players. If it didn't matter to the fans, who is Pop bitching about?

I think a lot of people don't know that there are two Olympic slots reserved for the two best teams from the Americas. Team USA has to send a squad to the World Cup, to make sure and qualify for the Olympics. I get the impression from a lot of places - from the selection process to Pop's comments - that securing the Olympic bid was the goal, and beyond that he focused a lot on developing and encouraging young guys, teaching "life lessons", etc. I don't think he dove into it like his life depended on winning gold. I'm not saying it did - just that attacking that way makes a difference in performance.

Before you start arguing (like you always do), that pretty much ties in to your own idea that nobody much cares about any international competition other than the Olympics.

I think there was a time when Pop wouldn't have been so philosophical about a loss, even in a meaningless World Cup. That's all I've ever said on this subject. Maybe he's just learned with age, and this way is better. But I'd still rather see him fake it, if that's what it takes, and pretend like winning is really important. I'm a pretty solid defender of Pop, and I think a lot of the criticism he's gotten is bullshit. But his, "Life will go on" comment left me cold.Good for you.

He's been this way from the beginning. Frontrunners just get pissy the further away from the last championship for which they take credit.

[tbdog]

Who really gives a fuck about fiba or the world cup. No country is good enough to compete with USA when they have the absolute best players on the roster and are motivated to win it. Team USA steam rolls through the competition when they want to. Let other countries have a win. It really isn't a big deal. American players have more important things to worry about

They should care about the world cup. It's the world cup. Soccer doesn't care about the Olympics, but apparently the US Basketball team does? I wonder if it has anything to do with screwing young hot athletics at the Olympic village!

[Play Boban]

What Popovich is trying to say is “I can’t win without Tim Duncan”

Truth nuke

[Play Boban]

You Pop haters seriously need to find a new hobby. It’s pretty embarrassing at this point.

You need to find a new hobby besides hating on Pop truth tellers. It's pretty embarrassing at this point tbh.

[Proxy]

Truth nuke

funny part of that is, he's always said that himself

[Play Boban]

funny part of that is, he's always said that himself

Cool story, kid.

[Spurtacular]

Does this sound like the musings of a winner? Celebrating a 7th place embarrassment? But we beat Poland! :cry

https://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/27611517/pop-team-usa-critics-immature-arrogant?platform=amp&__twitter_impression=true

#RespectTheParticipationPrize

[TrumpLovesPop]

Pop is a deranged leftist. I think Kawhi does like Trump, but don't it had anything to do with him leaving.

[SequSpur]

Dude we invented the sport. And we won like a million games in a row against some of these countries. It’s not arrogance, it’s the fucking standard.

Exactly. Fuck Popovich.

[Clipper Nation]

I think the "life will go on" comment by Pop is simply a way to show how bitter he is against the kind of mentality that took a lot of players to renege their committments to the team...looks to me that the words of Colangelo confirm this.
The point is simple...all this was frankly unexpected...and for the times, manners and kind of players (young guys with no particular contract problems) that refused to play, it showed not only a disrespect for the organization but also for the nation...against teams that play with the same players all the time and have developed chemistry during years and years you can't assemble a team in two weeks.
Maybe Pop should ask himself why nobody wanted to play for him.

[Frenchfred]

Maybe Pop should ask himself why nobody wanted to play for him.

Easy. The thing that americans value the most is money, this is their capitalist nature. So, teams, sponsors and fans are the source of income for the NBA players. So they don’t want to jeopardize that by playing for the national team.

[TimDunkem]

Easy. The thing that americans value the most is money, this is their capitalist nature. So, teams, sponsors and fans are the source of income for the NBA players. So they don’t want to jeopardize that by playing for the national team.

Fox pulled out because Pop's guy White was being forced on the team and taking his minutes.

[cutewizard]

Dude we invented the sport. And we won like a million games in a row against some of these countries. It’s not arrogance, it’s the fucking standard.


Canada invented basketball

[Frenchfred]

Fox pulled out because Pop's guy White was being forced on the team and taking his minutes.

So? White played 15 minutes a game. Only two players played less. Plus Fox hardly qualifies as a superstar

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

pop playing the bad guy to shield his players from the brunt of criticism

[ducks]

You Pop haters seriously need to find a new hobby. It’s pretty embarrassing at this point.

Yes like worshipping the dirt pop walked on
His wife died so it is terrible leave him alone
Because no one ever lost their wife
If he can not handle the heat
Get the hell out of basket
Like he says it is just basketball

[Clipper Nation]

Easy. The thing that americans value the most is money, this is their capitalist nature. So, teams, sponsors and fans are the source of income for the NBA players. So they don’t want to jeopardize that by playing for the national team.
Weird how that wasn't an issue with Coach K, but it suddenly is with Pop.

[TimDunkem]

So? White played 15 minutes a game. Only two players played less. Plus Fox hardly qualifies as a superstar

White shouldn't have made the team.

[Frenchfred]

Weird how that wasn't an issue with Coach K, but it suddenly is with Pop.

Not an issue, you surely know how to rewrite history

In 2014, many players withdrew from the team when called upon: LaMarcus Aldridge (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaMarcus_Aldridge), Carmelo Anthony (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelo_Anthony), Tyson Chandler (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyson_Chandler), Dwight Howard (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_Howard), Andre Iguodala (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Iguodala), LeBron James (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeBron_James), David Lee (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lee_(basketball)), Kawhi Leonard (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawhi_Leonard), Chris Paul (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Paul), Russell Westbrook (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Westbrook), Williams (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deron_Williams), Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Kevin Durant.

[Othyus Lalanne]

How bad did Popovich wanna call USA fans deplorable?

They are.

They are sheep herded by ESPN.

[monty4329]

Canada invented basketball

+1 :rollin

[KobesAchilles]

Canada invented basketball
No we did. It was invented by a Canadian who got his US citizenship and who lived in the US while he invented the game and started a basketball program in fucking Kansas. It’s like saying America didn’t invent the A bomb bc German scientists ran the program.

[ZeusWillJudge]

I just saw an article on ESPN "reflecting" on the 7th place finish. This sentence sort of stood out to me:


"From the day before its first game in China to the end of the tournament, the U.S. never practiced on days between games, choosing only to get in the gym for one-hour shootarounds in the morning on game days."

With intensity like that, I just can't figure out why those guys didn't develop any real chemistry. :lol

A bunch of guys who never played with each other, and all they ever did was some 1-hour shootarounds? I'm sorry, but you can't tell me Pop was focused on winning gold. He wanted to get the Olympic bid tied down, make it a pleasant experience, maybe teach some life lessons or something. Drink some wine together and build culture. Pop has been a great coach, but 1-hour shootarounds isn't preparing. Well, actually it is preparing... for seventh place. If you don't care about winning enough to work for it, stay the fuck home. Hell, send Becky. I bet she would at least have held a few practices.

[ducks]

Dude is a idiot
Spurs hardly practice when season starts to
How do they improve !

[ducks]

Pop wanted to go over there drink win and watch Rachel meadows and Clinton news network

[MultiTroll]

ST: Hey guys Pop found a cure for cancer!
Response: Took him long enough! Selfish ass letting all those people die.

Nothing better to do on a Saturday morning then at that same old broken record? Move on...
ST: Holy phuck, Pop has Patty Mills guarding Durant on the block. By design, with the game on the line.

Slurpers Response: Ya well he's not perfect. He's won 5 titles, more then any of you have.

[TD 21]

Anyone who's not trolling and genuinely believes all the absences were because of who was coaching, is delusional and places way too much importance on coaches, especially in a short term format.

Still, he deserves criticism and not because any other coach was more likely to win given the factors against them (they weren't), but because any other coach would have received plenty anyway . . . and despite all they didn't have, they still had the best depth of talent to work with.

Instead, as usual he comes out of it unscathed. Can't have it both ways.