U.S. topples South Sudan to make Olympic basketball quarters

Introduction

France’s LILLE It might become a hallmark rather than Team USA’s concern over which star player might not participate on any given night. The coaching staff’s constant struggle to handle the depth of this team will likely result in some awkward moments, but the Americans will be motivated by this as they attempt to win a fifth gold medal in a row.

In a 103-86 victory over South Sudan on Wednesday, Team USA advanced to 2-0 in Olympic play and guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals the following week. Depth was once again the team’s main weapon.

With 66 points (as opposed to just 14 from South Sudan), the American bench was extremely potent, going on two crucial runs that practically decided the game.

Joel Embiid, the former NBA Most Valuable Player, started the game and never came off the bench on Wednesday. After being benched in the last game, Jayson Tatum is now in the starting lineup.

Because Embiid sat, Bam Adebayo played more minutes than usual and ended up having possibly his finest game ever for the national team. Out of the six players who scored in double figures, he led the team with eight rebounds and eight points on eight of ten shots after coming off the bench.

Additionally, American coach Steve Kerr made it apparent that this would be the norm.

“We have an embarrassment of riches on this roster, that’s the best way to put it,” Kerr stated. “To put it another way, these men are all champions, All-Stars, and Hall of Famers. Thus, the main question is: Are we dedicated to the objective? And that’s it. That concludes it.

Derrick White scored 10 points with three thefts, a block, and three steals while returning to the bench to support Kevin Durant, who scored 14 points in a game that featured several outstanding defensive plays.

What ended up being the game’s most crucial play occurred when Durant came off the bench in the opening quarter of Sunday’s victory over Serbia. The shrill horn at Stade Pierre-Mauroy blared six minutes into the match against South Sudan, with the score poised at 10-10 and the Bright Stars beginning to gather momentum. Kerr then substituted players.

It’s very natural and very tempting to watch who initiates these well-known games. And the fact that Tatum, the odd man out in a contentious decision against Serbia, was with the opening group made it much more intriguing this evening. So were athletes with six MVP awards and nine championship rings between them: LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Anthony Davis.

However, that fails to recognise this roster’s fundamental strength.

The game was altered when Durant, White, Adebayo, Jrue Holiday, and Anthony Edwards entered. There are still plenty of offensive punch members in that bunch, in addition to great defenders.

Adebayo remarked, “I just think Steve trusts us.” “I feel like he looks at the benches, that spark, to come off the bench and give us a boost, and we did that tonight.”

With a mix of former NBA players and shooters and exceptional athleticism, South Sudan is a dangerous team with a promising future. However, it is just unable to match that depth.

With Devin Booker adding to the mix, the U.S. team went on a 23-4 run in the first and second quarters that effectively won the game. The group played the same role in the second half as South Sudan defeated the American starters, cutting the margin from 19 points to 10 behind scorching shooting from Nuni Omot (24 points) and Bul Kuol (16). By the end of the third quarter, the bench had increased the lead to 16 points.

The starting trio of James, Davis, and Booker then made plays in the closing minutes to maintain a comfortable lead—they scored 30 points apiece.

Following the match, Kerr said that Embiid and Holiday will be back in the starting lineup on Saturday when Team USA plays Puerto Rico to finish pool play. And then he made it plain that he was ignoring the fact that he was aware that his lineup choices had already been questioned to some extent.

“The NBA is so popular worldwide, and the regular season is kind of a soap opera, so we understand that, and social media takes over and everything becomes so dramatic,” Kerr stated. “And I believe that these men deserve more recognition. To take home a gold medal is their goal. They are experts. They commit to one another.”