Steve Kerr benched Jayson Tatum for Staff USA’s 95-91 win over Serbia within the Olympics semi-final on Thursday. It was the second time the Boston Celtics star had acquired a DNP-CD throughout the event, with the primary occurring throughout the opening group-stage recreation, additionally towards Serbia.
When talking to the Boston Globe, Boston Celtics legend Bob Cousy pulled no punches in his evaluation of Kerr’s choice to bench among the finest gamers on this planet.
“When Kerr did it final week, he was in no hazard of dropping the sport, however on this case, they acquired down by 17 factors, and he’s acquired to fret about dropping the sport,” Cousy stated. “After which to not let Tatum get off the bench — to me, there’s acquired to be some sort of bias that he’s acquired towards the Celtics…He should suppose Tatum is a detriment, and I don’t see how he can really feel that manner and know something about basketball.”
Cousy is a six-time NBA champion, a 13-time All-Star, the 1957 MVP and his quantity hangs within the rafters of the TD Backyard. He’s seen as one of many biggest level guards in historical past.
At 96 years previous, Cousy has watched an amazing quantity of basketball in his lifetime. He understands the sport from each angle. He is been a participant, a coach and a fan.
Whereas benching Tatum actually induced a stir to start the event, Kerr’s choice to double down on not taking part in him towards Serbia has raised some eyebrows. The USA’s triple-guard lineup seemed prone on the defensive finish, and Kerr’s group struggled to manage the glass.
Tatum is among the greatest rebounders on the group and may function as a main playmaker within the half courtroom. His presence may have solved two of the largest points the USA confronted on Thursday. Moreover, Cousy is not the one former NBA expertise to query Kerr’s decision-making. Former NBA guard Theo Pinson shared his bewilderment in a submit on X on Friday.
