Getting the Full Jo Experience at the Olympics & Being Ready to Hate Other Teams Again
The Olympics already has us in late-preseason form.
We got the full Jo experience in Paris — and I hope he took away some gems from his Team USA run! For instance….
Every rep matters
I know this seems futile but it’s true. I couldn’t help but read the stories about how everyone was blown away by LeBron’s attentiveness and intensity in everything leading up to each game and how he kept hammering home playing with proper pace and awareness — and seeing how well it paid off in the semis and gold medal final really drove the point home.
Get your ass in gear
A bit of a pass for Jo here because he’s clearly still recovering and playing on one leg — but all of his olympic teammates showed up already in shape, and he went through his customary six-game ramp-up period to get where they were. But for the fifth year in a row, I wonder just how much better he would feel 15-20 lbs lighter.
Keep battling
This is really simple. You have to keep fighting, no such thing as “get them next time.” When you’re chasing a championship there may not be a next time.
Rise to the occasion
Jo was superb against Serbia, saving the summer for the boys in red, white and blue, and did it previously scoring 50 in a must win playoff game a few months ago. I hope he bottles that effort up and prepares to unleash for the latter part of next season and all playoffs.
Be a great teammate
Not insinuating that he already isn’t — but Tyrese Maxey himself has said that Joel’s evolution as a teammate has been great, so I hope time with guys he doesn’t normally see everyday will help that.
Be a leader
Not just in words but in actions as well.
The great ones are rarely denied
Notice I said rarely denied and not undefeated, because LeBron and Steph and KD have all experienced their share of defeat as well. But still, there’s a gear in all of them that when they click it, good luck.
Trust your guys to do their job
I know he has implored Tyrese Maxey to take over and lead the pack more in crunch time, but with a true third running mate now in the fold, it’s going to be even more incumbent upon him to set the tone and remind guys that everyone has a job to do and are being trusted to do it.
Sacrifice
Devin Booker took a backseat, resigning himself to be the resident 3-and-D guy and man did it make a difference. He set the blueprint for not being too proud, regardless, if it means the end result is a much higher chance at a win.
SPIKE’S CORNER - READY TO HATE ALL THE OTHER TEAMS AGAIN
I’ll admit it, watching Nikola Jokic win the title the same year as Joel Embiid did a disappearing act against the Celtics in the same playoffs broke me. I said Jokic was the best player in the NBA, and the Nuggets were going to win several titles.
I let you down, I let me down, I let all of us down.
But watching the Olympics re-radicalized me, and I’m prepared to return to my old form – making fans of opposing teams hate me with my relentlessly “sorta true but unfair” criticisms of their teams. All the while acknowledging the Sixers deficiencies, but not quite enough for their liking. It’s a delicate balance.
In honor of my return, I figured I’d give you some good talking points for online or real life arguments with fans of some teams you might run into. It’s important to note, these are things you say smugly, and then either just end the argument (you’re too busy and good for it) or repeat them over and over again.
Boston Celtics: Brown and Tatum hate each other. It’s going to blow up. Brown hates Tatum because he was on the Olymic team and Tatum hates everyone because he didn’t play. Porzingis is always hurt and Horford is cooked.
New York Knicks: Cute story. The Manhattan Grit and Grind Grizzlies. Their best player is six feet tall, you can’t win a title that way. And they haven’t gotten past the second round either.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis and Dame hate each other. Neither guy will be on the team in two years. Also the only title Giannis won is a Covid title with a season of empty arenas. Also… I mean… Doc Rivers.
Denver Nuggets: One and done title team. They’re too cheap to keep the team together and Jokic doesn’t really care that much. Also, Jamal Murray – maybe stinks now?
Minnesota Timberwolves: KAT is a loser and Gobert has cement for feet. Real hoopers know this.
Cleveland Cavaliers: You can’t win a title starting two six foot guards and two centers. Not a serious team.
San Antonio Spurs: Of course Wemby is good, he’s eight feet tall. If he was that good he’d score every time down the court. Nobody can reach his hands if he holds the ball over his head. Why isn’t he just like Kareem?
Indiana Pacers: Cute story. Siakam wants to score every time and he’s going to ruin the team. Everyone knows that the best point guard on that team is TJ McConnell.
Orlando Magic: Honestly I don’t even know who’s on the team aside from Banchero, who is just an overhyped Tobias Harris.
Los Angeles Lakers: The Disney title is fake and they’re a play-in team every year.
Golden State Warriors: It’s over. Feel bad for Steph that his career is going to end this way.
Dallas Mavericks: Never going to win a title with an out-of-shape ball hog taking the ball on every offensive possession. (This coming from a Sixers fan will particularly drive them nuts).
Oklahoma City Thunder: Just like last time, more likely the team is broken up before they win a title.
Phoenix Suns: Don’t worry you won’t ever have to deal with this.