Team USA has advanced to the gold medal game of the 2024 Olympics basketball tournament, yet people are still criticizing Steve Kerr 's coaching decisions.
The latest criticism of Kerr is the same as the original one - the benching of Jayson Tatum . Once again, Hall of Famer and 1992 Dream Team star Charles Barkley was one of those who was vocal against Steve's coaching decisions. Speaking to SiriusXM NBA Radio, the Chuckster said the Dubs coach should give every player at least 10 minutes of playing time.
"Everybody on the team has to play, first and foremost," said Barkley. "Do we have to play twenty-five, thirty minutes? No. But it's the Olympics. There's not a huge downgrade putting Jayson Tatum in the game. Like, come on, man."
Tatum is All-NBA First Team in the last three years
Barkley says that Kerr can't expect anybody, especially JT, to go to Paris and practice and then not play in the actual games.
The 26-year-old is one of the best players in the NBA and is coming off winning his first NBA championship. You can argue that Jaylen Brown outplayed him in the 2024 Playoffs, but being a First Team All-NBA selection during the last three NBA seasons is no joke.
"Chuck Daly did a fabulous job," Barkley added. "He had two starting units. He says, 'You guys are going to start when we think we're playing against the best team. That was me and Michael and those guys. But he said, 'I'm going to have a second starting five for a certain game.' And what he did was 'You guys are going to play the first ten minutes, you guys are going to play the next ten minutes'. Th at's what we did. Go back and look."
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Kerr said it was a math thing
As he has done throughout the tournament, Steve had to defend himself after a victory. Following their semifinal win over Serbia, the Golden State head coach explained that Tatum not getting playing time for the second time against the same team was more of a 'math problem than anything.'
"Our second unit was not great last night, but that group has been one of the bright spots on this team, especially on the defensive end. So it's not about what Jayson is doing or not doing. It's just about combinations and the way that group has played together, the way Kevin (Durant) has filled in since he came back from his injury. It's just a math problem more than anything," the USAB coach said .
The good thing for Kerr is that he has to endure the backlash for only one more game. If Team USA beats France, then he should silence his doubters. However, if, by chance, the hosts pull off the monumental upset, you bet Chuck and the rest of the critics will go at him like never before.
Related: "Unacceptable and makes NO SENSE" - Jayson Tatum's mother takes a shot at Steve Kerr after her son's DNP vs. Serbia
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