Going into the 2024 Summer Olympics, there was some real concern that Team USA men’s basketball could suffer an upset loss and leave Paris without a gold medal after looking vulnerable in its exhibition games.
Sure enough, it fell behind early in Thursday’s semifinal game to Serbia, a team it had defeated twice already in recent weeks, and it trailed by as many as 17 points.
The United States was still down by 13 at the start of the fourth quarter, but it flexed just enough to come out with a 95-91 victory.
Joel Embiid had 19 points, and Skip Bayless praised him while predicting he would “destroy” France in the gold medal round.
Joel Embiid, who could’ve played for France, will make USA-France for gold a JOKE. pic.twitter.com/BKQBLDTfxj
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 8, 2024
As Bayless pointed out, Embiid, who grew up in Cameroon, could’ve played for France in these Olympics, as he is both a French and American citizen.
The journalist said that since Embiid decided to suit up for the Stars and Stripes, he will make the gold medal game against France “a joke.”
France has an excellent big man duo in Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, but the United States has the big men to counter them, starting with Embiid.
Team USA’s biggest advantage, however, is its speed and shot-making on the perimeter, so it will need to hold Wembanyama and Gobert off the offensive boards, limit France to one shot and create as many fast-break opportunities as possible.
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Analyst Says Team USA Players Thought Serbia Would Be A ‘Cakewalk’
