Joel Embiid struggles in Olympic debut, Team USA obliterates Serbia 110-84
Joel Embiid and Team USA opened up Olympic play today, making light work of Nikola Jokic and Serbia, winning their first game in Group C by a final score of 110-84.Â
LeBron James scored 21 points to go along with nine assists and seven rebounds while Kevin Durant caught fire in the first half, scoring 21 points on a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor and 5-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Twitter went CRAZY as Kevin Durant caught fire in the 1st half against Serbia >>
Nikola Jokic tallied 20 points to go along with eight assists and five rebounds for Serbia.
While a win is certainly a win in Olympic play, Team USA’s starting center did not impress in his debut. Joel Embiid struggled to perform like we’re used to seeing here in Philadelphia, scoring just 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting from the field to go along with two rebounds, a block, and two turnovers.
Joel Embiid was the ONLY American player with a negative plus-minus on Sunday (minus-8).
Joel Embiid’s rough first quarter
Embiid won the tip against former Philadelphia 76ers player Filip Petrusev and that was pretty much it in the first quarter of action against Serbia.
He missed a mid-range jumper and failed to connect on any shots from the foul line. Serbia jumped out to a 10-2 lead after Embiid turned the ball over on a rushed backcourt inbound pass that led to Ognjen Dobric hitting in a floater. Shortly after, Steve Kerr called a time out and subbed in big man Anthony Davis for Embiid approximately three minute into the quarter.
Joel Embiid couldn’t get it going the rest of the game
Embiid re-entered the game around the 6:40 mark of the second quarter. He immediately chalked up his first points of the day off a Stephen Curry pass that he used to drill a short spot-up paint jumper over Jokić and set screens that freed James and Stephen Curry for threes.
Jokic took the Embiid bucket personally and proceeded to hunt Embiid in isolation with a post-up spin move where he drew contact while blowing by Embiid and finishing at the rim. When Embiid went to help down low, Jokić received a skip passed and knocked down a spot-up three that Embiid was too late to contest.
Despite a lone jumper, Embiid wasn’t able to establish a rhythm in the first half, even as a passing hub. He initiated dribble hand-offs, but Serbia’s quick screen navigation and defensive awareness blew them up.
Still, Embiid’s screen-setting both on and off the ball, generated a decent amount of open looks for the likes of LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Embiid exited the first half with two minutes remaining after fumbling an entry pass while posting up Jokić.
After being called for a flagrant foul for reaching in and incidentally forcing a Serbian guard to the floor, Joel Embiid made up for it with a string of two-way plays.
Embiid blew up a Serbia pick-and-roll crashing in to help and swatting the ball-handler then posted up Jokić and converting an and-one play while talking some trash to Serbia. He subbed out at the 5:06 mark after picking up his third foul and did not return.
Team USA will rematch South Sudan after a near-upset in their exhibition game on July 31st at 3:00 p.m. EST in Lille, France.
Mandatory Credit: (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Read More
Predictable: Jameer Nelson is a ‘top candidate’ for the Sixers President of Basketball Operations position
Jameer Nelson, the St. Joe’s legend and current Sixers assistant…
Stay or Go: Sixers Free Agent and Contract Option Breakdown
The Sixers’ offseason is officially underway and before the new…
Joel Embiid proudly proclaims his Gooner status in powerful message
Never painted Joel Embiid as a bonafide Gooner. I guess…
Comments (0)