It is not Team USA's problem to worry about which superstar player might not play on any given night; rather, it could become their trademark.
The depth of this team will continue to cause some awkward situations as the coaching staff tries to figure out how to handle it all, but it will also motivate the Americans as they aim for a fifth straight gold medal.
On Wednesday, Team USA defeated South Sudan 103-86 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Olympic competition and move to 2-0 overall. Once again, depth was the key to this victory.
With 66 points (against just 14 from South Sudan) and two crucial runs that practically decided the game, the Americans' bench was devastating.
Joel Embiid, the former NBA Most Valuable Player, started the game and never came off the bench on Wednesday. After being benched in the previous 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 best 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.
"To put it simply, we have an embarrassment of riches on this roster," Kerr remarked. "To put it another way, these guys 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 steals, 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 tied 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 even 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 recognize 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 group in addition to excellent defenders.
Adebayo remarked, "I just think Steve trusts us." "We really got a boost tonight, and I feel like he looks at the benches, that spark, to come off the bench."
With a group of former NBA players and shooters and exceptional athleticism, South Sudan is a dangerous team with a bright future. However, it is simply 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 lead 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 declared 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 he was ignoring the fact that he was aware that his lineup choices had already been questioned to some extent.
"We acknowledge that the NBA is immensely popular worldwide and that the regular season is akin to a soap opera; however, social media has taken over and intensified the drama," Kerr stated. "And I believe that these guys deserve more recognition. To take home a gold medal is their goal. They are experts. They have a commitment to one another."
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