Team USA Defeats South Sudan Advances to Olympic Basketball Quarterfinals
Depth Drives USA to Comfortable Olympic Victory
However, this unparalleled depth has also become a trademark of the American team as they pursue a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. On any given night, a different player can step up and lead the way.
That was the case once again on Wednesday, as Team USA's bench unit proved to be the difference in a 103-86 win over upstart South Sudan. The American reserves poured in 66 points, compared to just 14 from South Sudan's bench.
This depth-fueled performance allowed the U.S. to pull away and secure a spot in next week's quarterfinals, remaining undefeated at 2-0 in Olympic play.
Notable lineup shuffles saw former NBA MVP Joel Embiid go from starter to DNP, while Jayson Tatum moved into the starting five after being benched in the previous game. This interchangeability among the American players is a testament to the team's wealth of talent.
Though managing all of these egos and minutes will continue to be an "uncomfortable" challenge for the coaching staff, it's a luxury problem that fuels the Americans' gold medal aspirations. Their unrelenting depth ensures they will always have fresh legs and scoring threats to overwhelm opponents.