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Gregg Popovich could help build chemistry for Boston Celtics this summer

By Andrew Hughes

LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 06: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker talk during the 2019 USA Basketball Men's National Team Training Camp at Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus on August 06, 2019 in Las Vegas Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 06: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker talk during the 2019 USA Basketball Men's National Team Training Camp at Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus on August 06, 2019 in Las Vegas Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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No matter the rotation configurations  needed to make it happen, the Boston Celtics trio of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown need to get minutes together for Team USA.

ESPN released an interesting tweet that listed the following five for a potential starting lineup: De’Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell, Khris Middleton, P.J. Tucker and Brook Lopez. Upon first glance, I (like any rational fan of the Boston Celtics or the NBA at large) raised my eyebrows at the notion that Kemba Walker isn’t in ESPN’s proposed starting lineup.

Walker is the only All-Star on the roster. His 25 points per game last season was the highest total for anyone on Team USA’s roster. Hell, why wouldn’t Kyle Lowry be considered to start after bringing an NBA Championship to Toronto and solidifying his status as a Raptors legend?

I took a deep breath and thought about it rationally. This lineup is not the best five Gregg Popovich can put out, but it does open up a wonderful possibility: the Boston Celtics all getting minutes together on the second unit.

In international basketball, there is one alpha. Team USA has built a rich history of having superior athleticism, treating us all to draw-dropping plays and having competitive NBA superstars form on-court camaraderie that leads to the formation of super-teams.

That two-way dominance leads to blowouts on a fairly regular basis. In that case, Walker, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will be soaking up plenty of minutes together likely embarrassing opposing second units during garbage time. Of course, garbage time in a Team USA game could start as soon as the second quarter.

I’ve said it before and I will reiterate: the FIBA World Cup and the Olympics are Team USA’s to lose until further notice. With an accomplished NBA coach in Popovich now running the show, Team USA should be a more cohesive unit than ever before.

Just think about what Popovich has done with the San Antonio Spurs the past two decades. The man is a basketball genius who is best known for coaching three of the most humble all-time greats in Tim Duncan, Manu Ginóbili and Tony Parker.

With this current team skewing very young (Walker is one of the elder statesmen at a tender 27 years old), Popovich has a chance to have transformational impact on the careers of the young men who are about to win gold for their country.

What he can do for the Boston Celtics could have a positive impact on the franchise for years. If Walker, Brown and Tatum could kick off their time as teammates together with fireworks, Boston could ultimately benefit.

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Let’s hope the Boston Celtics quartet takes everything they learned back with them to training camp. If Popovich can create a Team USA prodigy out of Derrick White, who knows what can happen with two top-three lottery picks in Brown and Tatum.

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