Team USA earned a resounding 122-87 victory over Brazil in the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympics, but one decision left fans a little baffled.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid raised his game in his final group stage matchup against Puerto Rico after a slow start to the summer. Tuesday’s win was perhaps his The best performance of the summer, recording 14 points, 7 rebounds and a block with 83.3% in field goals, scoring each of his three-pointers.
The stats become even more impressive considering he only appeared in the first half.
It’s understandable that Embiid wants to avoid injuries at all costs, but in an elimination game, benching the leading scorer is confusing. The Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis split the minutes between the centers in the second half, combining for 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
The risks of leaving Embiid on the bench right after halftime seemed too great, even though his presence was clearly unnecessary. The United States is the favorite to win the gold medal, meaning anything less than that will cause a huge stir.
Team USA will face three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Serbia in the semifinals.
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