Team USA had a showcase game against South Sudan in London tonight. So naturally, Team USA players took the London Underground public transportation to reach the O2 Arena, where the game was taking place. Jayson Tatum shared the visuals on his Snapchat story, showing Bam Adebayo and Derrick White on the ‘tube’ with him.
"We're on the tube!"
Team USA used public transportation to their exhibition game in London 😅
(via @jaytatum0 / Snapchat)pic.twitter.com/3Or0Httiiu
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 20, 2024
Perhaps Team USA players were not used to the rhythm of the London Underground, which caused them to struggle against South Sudan in their showcase game. They barely secured a 101-100 victory over South Sudan, thanks to a LeBron James layup. James said after the game he loves the thrill of a late-game win even more than a blowout.
But there will be some questions asked about key players on the team. Stephen Curry followed up his solid performance against Serbia with a really poor showing against South Sudan, putting up just 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and going 3-10 from the field.
Jayson Tatum again had an underwhelming showing, contributing 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 block, and 1 steal while coming off the bench. It looks likely that he will eventually be replaced by Kevin Durant, or even some other players come time for the tournament.
This game is perhaps the first stutter-step for Team USA going into the Olympics. They had been dominant in their previous warm-up games, especially considering the tougher level of competition they were facing. Head coach Steve Kerr will have some tinkering to do ahead of the Olympics to make sure the squad is back to its best.
Team USA Must Figure Out Their Starting Line-Up
Team USA have made several rotations to their roster in their warm-up games ahead of the Olympics. Head coach Steve Kerr has all but confirmed that starting spots are only reserved for LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Joel Embiid. The rest of the line-ups will depend on player form and their opposition.
The absence of Kevin Durant has seemingly impacted Kerr’s plans. One can imagine that his return to the squad will be a big boost to the squad going into the tournament. He is expected to play some type of role in the team during the tournament, depending on the extent of his injury and recovery.
A starting five that includes Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid appears to be their strongest squad for the Olympics. All five players are elite on the offensive end of the court and can play defense at different levels when called upon.
They have the star power to win it all. But some players, notably Joel Embiid, don’t feel that they are the undisputed favorites to win the gold medal. Considering the strong roster they have, it’s hard to agree with Joel Embiid and people who think like him.
For Team USA, a good showing in the tournament is vital. Not only are they looking to win their fifth consecutive gold medal at the Olympic games, but they are also looking for redemption on the world stage after a humiliating semi-final exit from last year’s FIBA World Cup against Germany.
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