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Can Nikola Jokić hold Crew USA from Olympic gold? Plus, investigating Rudy Gobert vs. Canada

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We have now a couple of hours to seek out out if Serbia was enjoying possum towards us the primary time round.

Quest for Gold

Joker stands between USA and gold medal recreation

For those who’ve been studying this text through the Olympics, you already know I, Zach Harper, have absolutely embraced the position of obnoxious American basketball fan. I’ve been telling you no person can contact Crew USA in basketball, and that the world has not, the truth is, caught as much as us like so many speaking heads like to say. I don’t purchase it, it doesn’t matter what value you’re promoting it for. I merely refuse to agree (as long as Crew USA sends our A Crew).

I haven’t even been that apprehensive about dealing with somebody like Nikola Jokić and Serbia as a result of he’s however one man, and so they don’t have the surface taking pictures or depth to deal with a loaded American squad. Serbia and Crew USA play in the present day at 3 p.m. ET with the winner headed to the gold medal recreation. That group will play the winner of Germany and France (11:30 a.m. ET).

Nonetheless, one thing occurred inSerbia’s 95-90 extra time win over Australia that gave me slightly pause in my American braggadocio.He didn’t come by way of on the finish of the fourth quarter, so Serbia wanted a spark in OT to maintain Australia at bay. Right here’s what Jokić did in 84 seconds with Serbia down 90-89:

  • Cleared a Patty Mills layup try off the rim earlier than it went in.
  • Turned the ball over to Mills.
  • Stole it again from Mills 4 seconds later.
  • Hit a half hook within the lane to go up 91-90.
  • Grabbed a defensive rebound.
  • Hit his patented Sombor Shuffle turnaround to go up 93-90 with 25 seconds left.

That one sequence of takeover did rattle me slightly. I nonetheless consider Crew USA is a lock to win. I’ll nonetheless be obnoxious. Of their group-play matchup, the groups have been even with Jokić on the ground because the U.S. gained by 26. I dare him to play 40 minutes. He gained’t. However … what if he did? Go 🇺🇸!

Elsewhere in Paris, the American ladies proceed to roll towards gold …

For as robust as the boys’s group appears, there’s even much less of an opportunity of peril for the Crew USA ladies’s gold medal hopes. On Friday, they’re going to face Australia within the semifinal (11:30 a.m. ET). That winner goes on to the gold medal recreation, the place they’ll face both France or Belgium.

The American ladies simply dealt with Nigeria 88-74 to set this up, using the commanding play of A’ja Wilson, who is certainly the most effective participant on the planet. She had 20 factors, 11 rebounds and two blocks to flex her muscle tissues.

Wilson will discover herself in a battle with Australia’s Alanna Smith, who’s a stable ahead for the Minnesota Lynx. Smith simply had a dominant efficiency (22 factors, 13 rebounds) in ‘Stralia’s win over Serbia. Until Smith can channel a very heroic effort to greatest Wilson in a means that scares Crew USA into submission, we’ll be taking a look at Crew USA towards, most likely, France within the gold medal recreation on Sunday.

Bounce Investigation 🕵️

What occurred to Rudy Gobert vs. Canada?

We had an enormous showdown on Tuesday, with France taking down the Canadians 82-73. Crew Canada has been on the rise for years, however an absence of Olympic-qualifying success left them out of the particular Video games. However after a powerful push and a bronze medal within the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Canada was prepared to point out out in Paris. Sadly for them, they didn’t have sufficient gamers present as much as execute.

Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s unimaginable effort Tuesday was thwarted by teammate Dillon Brooks and a savvy determination by French coach Vincent Collet. He determined to take Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier out of the beginning lineup and change them with Guerschon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier. The truth is, Gobert didn’t examine into the sport till 7:41 was left within the second quarter as he finally performed solely three minutes. Was he sick? No. Was he damage? Sure. Case closed? Not precisely. 🔍

  • After the sport, Gobert advised a smattering of reporters he had surgical procedure on an injured finger and was blissful simply to have the ability to be a part of his guys. OK, that makes a ton of sense. Nowis the case positively closed? We will transfer on, proper? Maintain your horses! It’s a must to know what Coach Collet stated.
  • Collet clarified to reporters that Gobert didn’thave surgical procedure. He had an MRI and an examination on his finger. Gobert was cleared to play, however the finger isn’t why he didn’t begin or play a lot.
  • Collet wished to go small towards the perimeter-oriented Canadian assault, so shifting Victor Wembanyama to the 5 was the way in which to perform that. He wished versatility, and it labored.

However I’m nonetheless as confused as you might be. Did Gobert even have surgical procedure or not? What’s occurring? We have now extra from L’Equipe on the matter: Gobert reportedly stated he was “on the working desk” however that every part was fantastic and he needs to be good to go once they face Germany on Thursday with an opportunity to advance to the gold medal recreation. However … I don’t assume he had surgical procedure. I believe he had an examination and perhaps one thing was misplaced in translation.That is over, proper? You idiot! Don’t you see one other paragraph of The Bounce proper beneath this sentence?

Draymond f—in’ Inexperienced weighed in on his enemy Gobert on his podcast! Due to course he did! Right here’s what Draymond stated:

“We don’t know what’s true. I don’t assume we have now any purpose to consider Rudy’s mendacity, aside from the coach saying that it was for matchups. And within the three minutes Rudy checked in, Shai began getting off. Wemby had a tough night time, however coach stated, ‘I can’t have each of my bigs not enjoying nice.’ Properly, you resolve who bought to go. I do know who I’d choose, however I’ll depart it to you to select.”

Draymond continued, saying that to be an NBA participant on any Olympic group not named Crew USA and be taken out of the lineup is “form of loopy.” That is Draymond’s Christmas. 🎅

Oh, Canada

Crew Canada: Choked, or simply unhealthy luck?

As you noticed above, Crew Canada didn’t even make the medal spherical for these Olympic Video games in Paris. Canada’s males’s group hadn’t made the Olympics since 2000 in Sydney, Australia. And it hasn’t medaled since 1936, when it grabbed silver in Berlin, Germany. That’s proper! The final time Canada’s males’s group grabbed an Olympic medal was three years earlier than “Gone With the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” hit the talkies theaters!

  • This yr was speculated to be completely different: Canada was armed with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, Lu Dort, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks and 6 different NBA gamers.
  • This group is loaded with expertise, and that was not solely speculated to get them to the medal rounds, Canada was speculated to problem Crew USA for the gold (they beat USA’s C Squad final yr within the FIBA World Cup for the bronze medal).
  • However Crew Canada didn’t medal as a result of they couldn’t remedy the bully-ball from France.

SGA confirmed up. Dort confirmed up. Barrett was good. Everyone else was extremely disappointing, particularly Murray. It led to loads of memes of Murray solely being good towards the Lakers, and perhaps a couple of playoff video games right here and there. The 27-year-old is coming off a tough postseason and doesn’t look completely wholesome. Brooks talked a great recreation and stared down opponents earlier than going 1 of 9 from the sphere whereas getting lit up on protection at occasions.

Canada has little or no measurement, until they create Zach Edey subsequent time. However any of their gamers are so younger. They’ve time to construct.And you may chalk this as much as operating into a sensible France group that was way more seasoned.Perhaps that’s all truthful. However Canada was speculated to announce their presence with authority, and as an alternative simply regarded like they’re nonetheless not prepared for the Olympic stage.

Bounce Passes

Sam Amick’s must-read characteristic on teaching legend David Blatt, who’s battling MS.

As we talked about being attainable earlier this week, Lauri Markkanen simply signed an extension with Utah for over $200 million.

Grant Hillspoke to Joe Vardon about how he constructed Crew USA’s roster.

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(High photograph: Gregory Shamus / Getty Pictures)

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