America has dominated males’s basketball on the Olympics because it started utilizing execs beginning with The Dream Staff within the 1992 Barcelona video games. For the primary time, it appears like this system’s supremacy is being challenged. After an embarrassing fourth place end finally yr’s FIBA World Cup, Staff USA referred to as in its greatest and brightest stars for the 2024 Paris Olympics. With the remainder of the world catching up, USA Basketball is out to show it nonetheless units the usual.
LeBron James is again on the roster after sitting out the Tokyo Video games within the final summer season Olympics. Stephen Curry is taking part in within the Olympics for the primary time in his profession. Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Jrue Vacation are again within the combine, whereas Joel Embiid joined the group for the primary time after changing into a U.S. citizen two years in the past. This group goes to be must-see TV, they usually lastly took the courtroom collectively throughout Wednesday night time’s opening exhibition in opposition to Canada.
The U.S. beat Canada, 86-72, within the first tune-up for the Paris video games. Towards a group loaded with NBA expertise and anticipated to be america’ greatest competitors for gold, the People confirmed how good they are often at their greatest, whereas additionally hinting at the place they should enhance. Right here’s what we discovered from first exhibition sport from the 2024 males’s USA Basketball group.
Joel Embiid wants to regulate to FIBA play
Embiid’s inclusion on Staff USA was arguably the largest piece of reports in constructing the roster. The U.S. wanted one other large man to deal with the physicality of FIBA play, and Embiid picked the American aspect over his native Cameroon and France. The thought was that securing Embiid’s dedication made Staff USA an amazing favourite for gold … but it surely’s clear he nonetheless must work out the kinks, each when it comes to FIBA guidelines and his personal function on the group.
Embiid fouled out halfway via the third quarter with simply 5 factors and 6 rebounds. The 30-year-old middle is used to being the focus of his group, however that’s not occurring on this roster. As a substitute, Staff USA wants Embiid to defend the rim, rebound, set arduous screens, and end when he will get a mismatch. What it doesn’t want is Embiid making an attempt to grift for fouls the identical method he does within the NBA, as a result of that doesn’t work in FIBA play. It’s going to be an adjustment.
Embiid was struggling to attain in opposition to Canadian middle Dwight Powell all night time. At one level, he appeared to hit him with an elbow out of frustration.
Nobody will get to the foul line greater than Embiid within the NBA. He’s not going to get those self same calls within the Olympics, and he’s not going to get the quantity of touches he desires, both.
Thankfully for Embiid, this was solely the primary exhibition sport. He has loads of time to enhance from right here.
It’s superb watching LeBron James and Stephen Curry as teammates
LeBron James and Stephen Curry are the defining NBA stars of their technology. We’ve by no means seen them as teammates in a aggressive setting (the All-Star Recreation doesn’t rely) till now. The outcomes are already unbelievable.
Curry completed with 12 factors within the win, whereas James ended with seven factors, 5 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. The connection between two all-time legends would be the most thrilling subplot to observe on Staff USA in Paris.
The two-big lineups with Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo are fascinating
You hardly ever see two non-shooting bigs sharing the ground collectively within the NBA, but it surely’s a extra palatable technique in FIBA play as a result of small courtroom and allowance for extra physicality. USA head coach Steve Kerr experimented with taking part in Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo collectively within the first exhibition, and the outcomes have been devastating for Canada’s offense.
Davis and Adebayo each provide a lot floor protection on the perimeter, whereas additionally having the ability to defend the rim and supply a bodily barrier within the paint. Whereas the U.S. halfcourt offense would possibly get clunky with each sharing the ground collectively, the chance for transition run outs after defensive stops goes to be immense.
Gifted large males gave the People main points within the final two FIBA World Cup competitions. The U.S. lastly has an antidote to that this time round, and it’s not simply Embiid. Bam and AD will play a giant function on this group.
Staff USA’s depth is unreal
Is that this the strongest 12-man roster USA Basketball has ever delivered to the Olympics? It may be. Staff USA is bringing authentic MVP candidates off the bench in Paris, and they need to be capable of overwhelm opponents with recent legs in a smaller function.
Anthony Edwards was the People’ main scorer within the win over Canada with 13 factors off the bench. He’d be the perfect or second greatest participant on each different group within the discipline. On Staff USA, he’s simply one other weapon.
Jayson Tatum was simply the perfect participant on an NBA championship group with the Celtics. It looks like he’s going to come back off the bench within the Olympics, and that’s an incredible luxurious to have.
Staff USA opens the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 28 in opposition to Nikola Jokic and Serbia. This group goes to be a lot enjoyable to observe.
