Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon. This is Mike Sykes.
What’s happening, family. Welcome back to Layup Lines. Can we talk a little FIBA World Cup today? Team USA has me feeling a bit uneasy as of late.
It started when Anthony Edwards spoke to the press after a dominant win against Jordan earlier this week. He said Team USA was “not really worried” about the other teams in the competition.
Lithuania had gone undefeated in their pool play so Edwards was asked how he thought his team stacked up to them. Of course, he kept that confidence and swagger that he always has about him.
But the quote also felt a bit…dismissive. Take a look.
“We’re unbeaten also,” he said because the questioner pointed out that Lithuania did not lose in pool play, either. “So yeah, I think we got a great chance to win. We’ve got a great coaching staff, we’ve got great players. Our confidence is at an all-time high. We’re not really worried about those guys.”
I’m a big fan of Gregg Popovich’s “appropriate fear” belief, which basically says that no matter how good your team is you should always fear your opponent. Just a tiny bit. But maybe it’s fine. Team USA is that good. Edwards and the crew should be fine. They’ve got this. I let it go.
Then, the team had its biggest scare yet against Montenegro and Nikola Vucevic.
Montenegro actually led Team USA at the half. Vooch put up big numbers, too. He finished with 18 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks as he dominated the paint throughout the game. All of a sudden, this previously invincible Team USA squad looked beatable.
Look, last week I said it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if Team USA lost. I still believe that. But I’m still rooting for them. I’d definitely love to see them get a medal and, obviously, it looks like they can. But it’s also very possible for them to slip up here.
Just look at what happened to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Team Canada on Friday. They were 20-point favorites against Brazil and completely blew it.
Anything can happen in these games, man. This isn’t the NBA. It’s never that easy. The international talent out there is incredible. These players have played in these systems for years. Yes, it’s all basketball. But it’s just…different. Team Canada — with all of their NBA talent — learned that the hard way with a loss.
I’d hate to see Team USA hit in the same way. They’ve advanced to the quarterfinals now. The road only gets harder from here.
They’d best be prepared for it.
On the WNBA side…
The WNBA’s playoffs are right around the corner and we’ve had some pretty surprising developments as the playoff picture is beginning to shake out.
I figured it was as good a time as ever to start painting that picture a bit. So let’s dig into it.
Who’s in: So far only three of the eight teams in the W have clinched playoff positions so far.
- No. 1: Las Vegas Aces (30-7)
- No 2: New York Liberty (28-7), 2 games back
- No. 3: Connecticut Sun (25-11), 5.5 games back
Still in the mix: There are seven teams still fighting for the last five playoff spots available and they’re all extremely close in the standings. These teams are only separated by 4.5 games in total.
- No. 4: Dallas Wings (19-16), 11 games back
- No 5: Atlanta Dream (17-19), 13.5 games back
- No. 6: Minnesota Lynx (17-19), 13.5 games back
- No. 7: Washington Mystics (17-19), 13.5 games back
- No. 8: Chicago Sky (15-21), 15.5 games back
- No. 9: Los Angeles Sparks (15-21), 15.5 games back
Cooked: There are only two teams completely eliminated from the playoffs so far. The Indiana Fever are close to eliminated (11-24), but they’re still mathematically alive and they have Aliyah Boston.
- No. 11: Seattle Storm (11-25)
- No. 12: Phoenix Mercury (9-27)
Take a look at the complete standings here.
One to Watch
Y’all. Have you seen Josh Giddey lately? He’s playing like an absolute star. The dude is over in the World Cup looking like Australia’s best player.
But it’s not his passing this time — he’s proving himself as a legitimate scoring threat for his team. He’s averaging the 8th most points in World Cup play at 20.5 so far through four games.
Australia has only gone 2-2 in those games so far, but it’s not because of a lack of effort on his part. The dude outperformed Luka Doncic in a loss to Slovenia on Friday.
These big, skilled playmaking guards DUELED in today's #FIBAWC action!
Luka Doncic 🇸🇮 20 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST
Josh Giddey 🇦🇺 25 PTS, 8 REB, 4 ASTSlovenia advances to the quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/QjATh6WKg2
— NBA (@NBA) September 1, 2023
Thunder fans, you should be highly encouraged by what you’re seeing here.
Things certainly won’t be the exact same once the NBA season rolls around. He’ll go back to being the pass-first point guard we know him to be, setting up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and the other talent on the roster.
But still. If he can showcase this sort of consistent scoring for the Thunder this season there’s no ceiling for what that team could be.
Look at the FIBA World Cup Standings so far here.
Shootaround
— The Eric Lewis social media thing just got extreeeeemly fishy, y’all. I wrote about the league dropping the investigation after his retirement announcement. Something is up here.
— Bryan Kalbrosky chopped it up with Jeremy Sochan and the convo was riveting. Of course, they talked about Victor Wembanyama. Tap in.
— Coco Gauff seems a bit spicier lately on the tennis court and it’s all Jimmy Butler’s fault. I love it.
— Paul George’s Charles Barkley impression is spot on. This is great. I love it so much. Prince Grimes has more.
That’s all, folks. Have a happy Labor Day weekend! Be well.
