Doubleheader disappointment
Call me a basketball nerd if you'd like, but I was excited for a big doubleheader Monday night. In the opener, Team USA was facing Brazil in what promised to be a competitive exhibition. Then my favorite NBA team, the New Orleans Hornets, was facing the Milwaukee Bucks in NBA Summer League action.
Although it was a good game, I was totally let down by the fact that Anthony Davis never got off the bench for Team USA.
Anthony Davis
If anyone clicked on this article looking for the answer to the headline, you're going to have to trust your judgment on the believability of a quote from Team USA Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski. In his postgame press conference, Krzyzewski cited Anthony Davis' lack of practice time with Team USA and his youth compared to Brazil.
Krzyzewski's quote concerning Anthony Davis is laughable. The only way for Davis to get more experience with Team USA is to play! Besides, Team USA's game against Brazil was only an exhibition so who cares if Anderson Varejao gets the better of Anthony Davis? It makes no sense that Davis, Team USA's youngest player, wouldn't see action in an exhibition.
I understand that Krzyzewski needs to get Team USA's top stars playing time to establish a rhythm and cohesion going into the Summer Olympics. But with a roster as thin as it already is in the frontcourt, Krzyzewski will look foolish if Tyson Chandler gets injured late in an exhibition game in which Anthony Davis could have played for Team USA.
As for Anthony Davis' youth, it's not like that was a surprise when he was named to Team USA. I've heard of baseball players faking their age to get an MLB contract, but we all knew Davis was only 19 years old. If Krzyzewski feels that Davis' age is a detriment, why in the world did he even put him on the Team USA roster?
Not only does Krzyzewski's bizarre logic impede Anthony Davis' development but it also hurts Team USA in the Olympics. Are we to believe Team USA in effect has only center for tight, competitive games? If that's the case, then Krzyzewski made a foolish decision naming Anthony Davis to Team USA instead of a more experienced NBA center.
As a Hornets' fan, I know I shouldn't get too worked up about this. On a positive note, every minute that Anthony Davis is not playing for Team USA is another minute in which he's not getting hurt. And even if he rarely plays, the experience of going against Tyson Chandler every day in practice will do wonders for Anthony Davis' game.
I just don't see why Krzyzewski wouldn't play Anthony Davis in an exhibition game.
Patrick Michael was born in New Orleans and currently resides in the Big Easy. A loyal New Orleans NBA fan, Patrick was a diehard New Orleans Jazz fan and now cheers for the Hornets. Patrick was in attendance the night the Hornets were one win away from the Western Conference Finals. Follow Patrick Michael on Twitter at patmichael84.
Source
Mike Rutherford, "Kentucky Fans Think Davis' Lack of Playing Time Is Personal," sbnation.com
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