Steve Kerr explains decision to keep Joel Embiid on the bench against South Sudan

Team USA continued their dominance in Paris, France improving to 2-0 in the Group Stage after a win over South Sudan, 103-86.

After riding the bench in Team USA’s win over Serbia in the first Group Stage game on Sunday, Jayson Tatum played 17 minutes against South Sudan, knocking down two-of-four shots for a total of four points.

With Tatum playing, someone had to sit and head coach Steve Kerr opted to play Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo over his typical starting center, Joel Embiid.

Joel Embiid: DNP-CD

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— Jacob Moreno (@jmoreno76ers) July 31, 2024

Joel Embiid logged zero minutes in Team USA’s dominant 103-86 win over South Sudan >>

With Joel Embiid out, Anthony Davis scored 8 points to go along 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Bam Adebayo came off the bench and led Team USA with 18 points and 7 rebounds.

Following the win, Steve Kerr told reporters it was a matchup preference and Embiid will be back in the starting lineup against Puerto Rico on Friday.

Steve Kerr continues to test different Team USA lineups:

Steve Kerr said he Joel Embiid received DNP-CD against South Sudan because USA wanted to better match up with their team speed.
– Kerr will start LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday and Embiid versus Puerto Rico on Friday.

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 31, 2024

Honestly, I don’t know why people make such a big deal over the fact that on Team USA with a roster constructed of the best basketball players in the world, that some guys might not see the count depending on the matchup. 

Seems pretty logical right? 

Yes, it was funny to troll Celtics fans and Jayson Tatum after he didn’t see the court against Serbia on Sunday. And like clockwork, basketball fans are going to troll 76ers’ fans for Joel Embiid on the bench against South Sudan. 

It is what it is, just keep winning basketball games and get Embiid a Gold Medal while he’s surrounded by a bunch of winners. That’s the entire point of him playing with Team USA anyways, right? 

Team USA leads Group C with a 2-0 record and has secured a spot in the knockout stage. On Friday, Steve Kerr will be tinkering with the lineup yet again ahead of the Americans match against Puerto Rico – 11:15 am tip.

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