After Team USA’s 4th exhibition game, it’s now abundantly clear that the 2024 Paris Olympics aren’t going to be as easy as people thought. South Sudan gave Team USA the cold shoulder, and if it weren’t for LeBron James, Dream Team 2.0 would have gone into the Olympics with an L on their scoreboard. Some of the issues can be attributed to the different rule set used in FIBA ​​competitions, and Joel Embiid learned the hard way that his NBA flops and foul-baiting antics just weren’t going to work here.

Team USA narrowly escaped South Sudan, which only proves that there’s more to their Group C games than meets the eye. To get around that, the team is going to need a collective balm, and Joel Embiid would likely be the No. 1 player on that list who needs to improve his game. This was one of the talking points on the Off Guard podcast on Ringer NBA, where Austin rivers discussed Embiid’s disappointing performances during the exhibition series.

Co-host of Rivers’ podcast, Pausha Haghighi pointed out that Embiid may not be in the best shape of his life. After a season in which the Sixers C had to overcome meniscus surgery and Bells Palsey, that could be a reason for Embiid’s subpar play right now. “He was coming off a bad injury and he kind of dragged the play-offs on in the play-offs. It seems like he a bit of the James Harden cheating type of things that don’t work as a couple,” Haghighi said. Rivers interrupted him and replied: “There are viral clips of him trying to do that, and FIBA ​​won’t do that.”

“So he’ll get out quick. I think because he tried and a couple of them were so blatant, and the referee just looks at him, I think even he knows, okay. We’re going to have to figure it out (),” Rivers added. Pointing to the deep weaponry Embiid had at his disposal, the former Timberwolves guard said: “Well, he’s got a plethora of other righties. Tools that he can use. The guys that I believe if Joel figures this out in the next game or two, he’s absolutely going to dominate. I’m telling you.” If plans with Embiid fall through, Team USA has a backup plan. Rivers pointed that out, adding: “Listen, we have insurance. We have Anthony Davis who is probably going to play more minutes than Joel. They are going to finish games with Anthony Davis.”

That was clearly visible in the game against South Sudan. AD came off the bench and booked a double-double performance with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Embiid scored 14 points in the game, but constantly seems like an outsider in the group, but in his mind he is one of the best players to ever step on the hardboard.

This is a developing story…