[Charania] Team USA is planning to start all-time leading scorer Kevin Durant vs. France in Saturday’s Gold Medal game at the Paris Olympics, per sources. Jrue Holiday is expected to come off the USA bench.
Team USA is planning to start all-time leading scorer Kevin Durant vs. France in Saturday's Gold Medal game at the Paris Olympics, per sources. Jrue Holiday is expected to come off the USA bench. pic.twitter.com/UrYgyhyTUY
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 9, 2024
by Turbostrider27
48 Comments
Kerr saw that 4th quarter lineup go to work against Serbia and realized he had to start all them boys for the gold
They finally learned their lesson
This Olympic run has been increasing my respect for Devin Booker. Man has been hooping good enough to be a sticking point in the starting (and closing) lineups
Boston Media Mafia assembling
Pray4Tatum
That’s good news
Curry, Book, KD, Bron, Embiid probably gonna be the 5.
As is the Kerr way. Exhaust all of the hardest ways possible, before finally going with what seemed like the obvious choice to everyone a long time ago in the end. One thing this man will always be is consistently predictable. Now let’s go get that gold! 😂🫡
France doesn’t really have any perimeter threats so this makes sense. Also Tatum might actually play now lol
LETS GOOO. The Reaper arises
Kerr wishes he had KD back in GSW
So this means Tatum finally gets minutes and White will be relegated to zero minutes. At least we won’t have to hear Tatum got no playing time for the gold medal game.
Starters: Steph, Book, KD, Bron, Embiid
Bench: Jrue, ANT, Tatum, Bam, AD
Alt Bench: White, Jrue, ANT, Tatum, AD
This was probably the original plan at the start of the exhibition games till KD was injured and had to have his minutes monitored.
I’d bet this means Tatum enters the wholesale 2nd unit substitution to add some offense.
Finally
As has been posted before…KD averages 29 points per Gold Medal game. Whoever starts will need a blow or two throughout the game.
But Slim Reaper is primed and ready to go. Let’s have at it.
Thank you Kerr finally
“How can I make Boston hate me more?” – Kerr, probably
Brilliant move, Steve.
Honestly crazy that jrue was still starting
Saturday gold medal game is going to be a LeBron/KD/Steph show. It’s their last hurray in the Olympics.
Shit d white probably not gonna play or its hali again, atleast tatum gets some minutes
Four MVPs in your starting lineup is fucking absurd
Kerr’s war on the Celtics continues I see /s
KD avg 29 in the gold medals games, we’re due for another special performance
If this was not intended to be leaked then shams is a traitor to America and should be jailed without trial
Bout time
I’m pretty sure most fans wanted this starting lineup from the beginning
Jrue, Bam, and AD as a bench unit is fucking insane
Why does he hate the Celtics!
Oh shit. The real death lineup is up.
Wow starting an actual forward at forward. I never would have thought of this
praying for tatum 0 minutes for the shitshow afterwards
Celtics fans entering the chat to complain
2 SUNS starting for this stacked, historic team is almost as good as winning a chip if we win gold!!!
Listen
Start the 2x fmvp, MVP, Olympics leading scorer? Big brain move there Kerr.
This France line is different now but Slim Reaper will still drop bunch of easy buckets !!!
Avengers Assemble!
put France down permanently
I just really hope defensive assignments make more sense…. Watching embiid try to defend the perimeter while booker was guarding jokic in the paint was confusing and went poorly. Tho… Kerr and spoelstra are hof coaches so obviously they saw something there that just didn’t make sense to casual fan me
Makes sense, the need a big/tall lineup against this French team
It’s always a risk to think you can figure out what coaches are thinking because there’s a lot of reasons they are and you aren’t… but I can’t help but read ‘Derrick White will be the odd man out, probably’ into this.
KD in the starting lineup means Tatum could be on the second unit and, well, *someone’s* gotta lose some PT to compensate. Haliburton’s already probably going to play minimally if at all because of skillset fits, so.
e: Alternately, Bam could lose time if the bench mob lineup’s shooting is a concern.
More slights against the nba champion team by a notoriously anti-Celtic coach
Bron,KD,Curry,book, embiid is insane. Literally a cheat code since the king can distribute as a PG. So pumped to see it
Immediately put your foot to their throats and then put in White / Holiday / Ant to hound them. LFG
Hey does any of this matter? Like they’re winning gold anywaysz
Steve Kerr couldn’t help himself, had to bench a Celtic smh
Will they bring in Tatum like the make-a-wish kid at the end if it’s a blowout?