Fastbreak Breakfast: Where would Team USA finish in the NBA standings?

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Kemba Walker of the USA runs with the ball during game two of the International Basketball series between the Australian Boomers and United States of America at Marvel Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Kemba Walker of the USA runs with the ball during game two of the International Basketball series between the Australian Boomers and United States of America at Marvel Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images) /
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The newest episode of Fastbreak Breakfast discusses travel, Caris Levert, and ponders how many games Team USA could win if they played an NBA schedule.

Grab a Nick Van Exel-approved iced coffee and hunker down for a new, meandering episode of Fastbreak Breakfast discussing summer travel and Team USA. Fresh off of their first defeat in over 12 years, the US men’s national team is looking to avoid another gaffe at the upcoming FIBA World Cup. While deep and talented, the American squad will be in the unusual position of not having the best player at the tournament, with Giannis Antetokounmpo representing Greece and Nikola Jokic playing for Serbia.

Though the US is still favored to win gold, we started wondering (at the behest of a listener) how well would this US team, led by Kemba Walker and Donovan Mitchell, do if they were in the NBA? What is the ceiling for an NBA team without a consensus top 20 player, even if they are loaded with multiple potential starters at every position?

So we try to sift through that hypothetical, plus engage in the following topics:

  • How many All-Star games would Mike Conley have made if he played his entire career in the Eastern Conference?
  • Did Caris LeVert take a discount on his contract extension with the Nets? How much money could he lose based on not waiting until restricted free agency? How much more will this allow Buddy Hield, Jaylen Brown and other restricted free agents to make next summer?
  • What important tips for enjoying Walt Disney World also apply to Las Vegas?

Fastbreak Breakfast is a podcast for serious NBA fans that is incredibly not serious. All episodes are available on Apple Podcasts and Soundcloud or any other major podcast service.

Music provided courtesy of New Man and Codaphonic.

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