Team USA head coach Steve Kerr faced criticism after not playing Jayson Tatum in the Olympic opener against Serbia, and found himself in a similar situation when he chose not to play Joel Embiid in the next game against South Sudan. Embiid, an NBA MVP and star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, did not see any playing time in the game against South Sudan, despite being a starter. Kerr opted to play Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo instead, citing that their speed matched up better against the opponents. Kerr explained that Embiid will be in the starting lineup against Puerto Rico in the upcoming game.
Tatum, who was the odd man out in the opener, was among the starting five in the game against South Sudan. However, he didn’t make a significant impact during his 17 minutes on the floor, scoring only four points. Kerr faced challenges in managing a loaded 12-man roster for the Summer Games, leading to lineup decisions based on matchups. In the NBA, not every player sees playing time in games, and the same goes for the Olympics where the goal is to win gold. The decision to bench Embiid, the NBA’s leading scorer from the previous season, raised eyebrows and sparked social media jokes.
Despite not playing in the game against South Sudan, Embiid had an impressive performance in a previous matchup, scoring 14 points and contributing significantly to the team’s success. With more games ahead, Kerr will have to make tough decisions regarding playing time for the talented roster. The exclusion of players like Tatum and Embiid in certain games may come down to matchup preferences and game strategies. Kerr’s choices have sparked discussion and criticism, as fans and media evaluate the impact of his decisions on Team USA’s performance in the Olympics.
Kerr’s decision to bench Embiid in the game against South Sudan was based on the perceived matchup advantages of Davis and Adebayo against the opponents. Despite his absence from the court, Embiid remained composed on the bench, hinting at his readiness to contribute in future games. Kerr took ownership of his decisions, acknowledging the pressure of managing a team of elite players with limited playing time available. As Team USA progresses through the Olympics, Kerr will face continued scrutiny and challenges in balancing the talents of his roster to achieve success on the international stage.
The absence of Embiid in the game against South Sudan raised questions about Kerr’s coaching strategies and player selections. While Tatum saw playing time in the second game, his limited impact on the court highlighted the challenges of managing a deep roster of talented athletes. Moving forward, Kerr will need to make tough decisions regarding playing time allocation, considering the strengths and weaknesses of each player in different matchups. As the competition intensifies in the Olympics, Kerr’s coaching decisions will be pivotal in guiding Team USA towards their goal of winning gold.
