Team USA basketball has an embarrassment of riches as it starts to make its run at an Olympic gold medal, and that has presented it with a good problem: finding playing time for everyone.
When such a big prize is on the line, a head coach has to go with the players who are getting things done and prioritize winning over placating everyone’s feelings.
In the United States’ blowout win over Serbia in its first group-play game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum didn’t play at all, which caused some people to criticize head coach Steve Kerr.
But analyst Doug Gottlieb said that if Kerr gives Tatum lots of minutes in the team’s next game, coming up against South Sudan, it would be a case of “overcorrecting” and would “cause far more problems” than not playing him, per FOX Sports Radio.
“If you play Jayson Tatum big minutes tomorrow, you are overcorrecting and giving into the pressure of social media. It will cause far more problems.”
🎙️@GottliebShow on Steve Kerr potentially playing Jayson Tatum more minutes due to backlash pic.twitter.com/WTyfhvjQgb
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) July 30, 2024
The situation Team USA is in right now is similar to the one NBA championship contenders face come playoff time when they go from a 10-man rotation during the regular season to an eight-man rotation in the postseason.
Tatum is perfectly capable of contributing toTeam USA, as he has made the NBA All-Star team in each of the past five seasons, which gives him more All-Star nods than some of his Olympic teammates.
But right now, the squad has plenty of depth at the forward position with Kevin Durant and LeBron James, as well as Devin Booker, who can play the 3 when the U.S. team goes small.
The United States will again face South Sudan, an underrated team it had to huff and puff to defeat just days ago in an exhibition contest, and because the overall competition is stiff, prioritizing Tatum’s feelings has to take a back seat to the bottom line.
NEXT:
Charles Barkley Reacts To Jayson Tatum Being Benched