Joel Embiid appears to be finding his footing and LeBron James took over late as Team USA won its final warmup game for the Olympics over Germany Wednesday.
Team USA had arguably its finest performance of its USA Basketball Showcase games, knocking off reigning FIBA Basketball World Cup champion Germany 92-88 Monday in London.
Joel Embiid and LeBron James weren’t messing around, connecting on this transition play for Team USA’s first bucket. This might be the best outlet pass Embiid has ever thrown — and LeBron with the nasty finish.
LeBron Raymone James Sr!
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— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 22, 2024
Embiid had another nice assist to Jrue Holiday. Embiid found himself double-teamed directly underneath the basket and was able to find Holiday after an excellent relocation to the corner for three. It seems like Embiid is realizing he just needs to make the simple play and not do too much.
It looks like Embiid is playing less total drop coverage, more often meeting ball handlers at the level of the screen before retreating. Drop defense takes a lot of communication and discipline and it’s been a bumpy road for Embiid and the starters. The defense has been getting progressively better for the starting group since the second half against South Sudan.
Team USA was up one when Embiid left the floor and the second unit pounced as Germany cooled off from deep (they started the game 3-of-7 before missing five straight). The Americans took their largest lead, 29-19, after one.
Germany chipped into the advantage a bit, making it 33-26 when the starters checked back in. This stint was easily Embiid’s best. Embiid delivered another beautiful pass to Holiday who unfortunately smoked the bunny before Embiid gathered the offensive rebound and was fouled. Embiid made a smart cut off a LeBron drive but missed a normally automatic short jumper. A couple possessions later, Embiid grabbed another offensive rebound off a LeBron drive for an easy put-back bucket.
It’s almost funny to watch Germany pay so much attention to Steph Curry and LeBron and leave Embiid open. Talk about unfamiliar territory. Embiid has looked more comfortable relocating and cutting. Curry found him for a midrange shot where Dennis Schroder got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He also started another solid possession by passing out of a double before being forgotten about at the basket for an easy dunk.
When is the last time you’ve seen Embiid with an easy dunk like this?
J EL.
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And then, holy shit, Joel Embiid.
JOEL EMBIID, ARE YOU SERIOUS?
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— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 22, 2024
THE FINGER WAG. ☝️
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— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 22, 2024
A special play by a special player. Team USA went up 48-41. This is where we’d put Embiid halftime stats in, but the Team USA box score was broken (again).
Embiid started the second half decently as well, getting another basket off a little duck-in cut. He then nailed one of his patented trail threes. The Americans built a 62-57 lead before the starting group checked out.
swooooosh
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— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 22, 2024
The Germans took a lead against the second unit and Team USA found itself down three heading into the fourth. The deficit was 73-71 when the starters came back in.
Embiid has been more and more impactful defensively. He was able to corral this loose ball, throw an outlet to Curry who found Devin Booker for this absurd and-1.
A textBook circus act.
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— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 22, 2024
A couple possessions later, LeBron found Embiid for a quick turnaround post jumper over Daniel Theis. Then Embiid found LeBron after a double in the post for a drive and layup. Those two seem to be developing more chemistry with each passing game.
It’s been something to watch Embiid as a screener. By the end of this one he was actively trying to screen for every player on the court. He’s adjusted really well offensively after a rocky start.
The story of this one will rightfully be LeBron, who was absolutely sensational to close this game, but Embiid deserves plenty of credit for helping Team USA secure a 92-88 win. The Sixers star finished with 15 points (5-of-8), eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, one (incredible) block and only one turnover. Safe to say he’s figuring things out.
The next one will count as Team USA will take on Nikola Jokic and Serbia in the group phase of the Paris Olympics Sunday at 11:15 a.m. ET.