In a thrilling showcase of basketball excellence, Joel Embiid and LeBron James dominated their opponents from Brazil in a short but spectacular display of their skills, propelling Team USA one step closer to the coveted gold medal in Paris. The duo shone brightly on the court, outshining any potential threat from the Brazilian squad in a masterclass performance.
If this were a soccer match between national teams, the outcome may have been different. Perhaps Brazil would have fielded star players known by their first names who could have put up a formidable challenge, but in the realm of basketball, there was no Neymar or Ronaldo to match the prowess of LeBron, Embiid, or Steph, among others.
From the opening tip-off, the Americans made their intentions clear, signaling to all that they were a force to be reckoned with in Paris. They addressed any lingering concerns from previous games by asserting their dominance early on, building a commanding 27-point lead by halftime that left Coach Steve Kerr comfortably seated on the sidelines.
“We wanted to make sure we were the aggressor right from the start,” Kerr emphasized, highlighting the team’s strategic approach to the game.
In a day of surprises where lower-seeded teams emerged victorious earlier, the U.S. restored order and showcased their superiority without breaking a sweat. Shooting lights out from beyond the arc at 48% and boasting a stellar 57% field goal percentage, Team USA never seemed in doubt of their victory.
“We wanted to get contributions from everyone, which we did, and obviously when that happens we’re on our game,” remarked Jayson Tatum, acknowledging the collective effort that propelled the team towards success.
Their next challenge awaits in the form of the resilient Serbians, who staged a remarkable comeback from a 24-point deficit against Australia. Despite their impressive showing, the U.S. remains undaunted, having already notched two wins against Nikola Jokic’s squad earlier in the summer.
Here are four key takeaways from USA’s commanding 122-87 victory over Brazil, propelling them into the semifinals and a fifth observation on France’s stunning upset over Canada in Tuesday’s action-packed quarterfinals.
