ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — USA coach Steve Kerr didn’t commit to Joel Embiid as his starting center for the Olympics when given the chance Monday, saying instead the lineup is “still a work in progress.”
Some context is needed. Embiid’s backup in Team USA’s two exhibition games, Anthony Davis, has played like Wilt Chamberlain, including in the Americans’ 98-92 win over Australia on Monday.
Embiid, meanwhile, has not looked like his best self, although he showed marked improvement against the Aussies over what he showed last week against Canada.
So, Kerr was asked Monday evening at Etihad Arena, by a member of the foreign press, if he was considering starting Davis or, for that matter, Bam Adebayo over Embiid, given Embiid’s struggles in the early part of this Olympic exhibition season.
“These next few games, I’m going to continue to experiment with the lineups,” Kerr said. “Joel is getting better and better every day. It usually takes big guys a little bit longer to get rhythm and flow, but I love Joel, he’s a dominant player, and I think it’s going to be important for us to figure out the best combinations and putting the right people together, and that’s still a work in progress.”
Kerr has been consistent on his lineups, insofar as during the exhibition season, they would be inconsistent. Through two games, Embiid, LeBron James and Stephen Curry have started twice.
Embiid played through a surgically repaired knee during the NBA playoffs. He appears to be trying to play his way back into shape with Team USA, and against Canada last week, he scored 5 points with six rebounds and fouled out in the third quarter. Embiid scored 10 points with five rebounds against Australia but committed three turnovers.
Davis, on the other hand, has posted double-doubles in both games, including a 17-point, 14-rebound banger against Australia. Davis and Anthony Edwards are tied for the team lead in scoring, and Davis has also been dominant defensively. Team USA loves playing Davis and Adebayo together on the second unit — which has been the stronger of the two units through two games.
The American starters have spent considerable time in these games trying to establish Embiid on offense — not a bad idea for a 7-footer who averaged nearly 35 points per game for the Philadelphia 76ers last season with a 38.8 3-point percentage. But the force-feeding has led to awkward possessions, and Embiid plays at a different speed than James, Curry and Edwards, who scored 14 points as a starter against Australia
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