Team USA faces a formidable obstacle in their quest for Olympic gold: My top pick is Nikola Jokic because he is the only player with 65 double-double games, averaging 36.208 meters per game in the NBA season 2020/2021. Serbia’s main player is the three-time MVP and NBA champion, and his effectiveness determines Thursday’s semifinal game. Jokic’s presence looms large, but Team USA has a strategy to counter him: a three-piece of giant men.
Trio of Defenders: Embiid, Davis & Adebayo
A few of basketball’s best big men have: it falls to Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, and Bam Adebayo, in particular, to try and keep Jokic in check. Kerr thinks that his team can contain all the players who have faced Jokic in his NBA career and even though Jokic has moments of success against all of them, combined they should be able to stop him.
‘We know for example we have the numbers on our side,’ Kerr said. In the game strategy, Embiid, Davis, and Adebayo will be changed in a way to confuse Jokic with what he is facing on the defensive end. Davis can guard on the outside while Embiid is taller and can score on the inside and Adebayo plays fast. This strategy is multilayered and entails putting pressure on Jokic to change the ball-handling tempo by frequent passes.
Past Encounters and Rivalries
This places more heat into the game, and as Jokic’s history with these defenders is on record, that adds more pace to the game. He has beaten Davis and the Lakers out of playoffs twice, and most recent was with a sweeping form in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Head to head, Jokic performed immensely well in the 2023 NBA finals to help secure the championship for the Denver Nuggets against the Miami Heat. Embiid, who lost two MVP votes against Jokic, seems to have a chip on his shoulder, he has beaten Jokic in a close regular-season match that decided the MVP award between the two of them.
Kerr intends to front match-up Jokic with at least two big men on the floor at all times. This two-dimensional defense is in place in hopes of preventing Jokic from scoring and performing any playmaking skills he may possess. Still, it is something we can do to assist and that is what Davis had to say: ‘It is good that we can provide such help’. ‘‘That particularly affects him when we have two bigs on the floor. Well, prepare and plan for that.’’
Focused and Determined
Despite Jokic’s impressive track record, Team USA is self-assured and ready. “We aim to remain focused and stick to the strategy,” emphasized Embiid. The three players have a clear objective: to utilize their strengths and fulfill their roles effectively, presenting a united front against Jokic.
This semifinal showdown not only marks a pivotal milestone in the pursuit of Olympic gold but also provides a platform for these NBA superstars to demonstrate their supremacy against one of the top players in the world. Team USA is prepared and resolute, determined to demonstrate that their combined strength can surpass Nikola Jokic exceptional individual prowess.
Comments