Las Vegas – When the U.S. takes on Canada on Wednesday night, it’s best not to think too hard about who will start.
“We’re going to purposely try all sorts of combinations,” USA coach Steve Kerr said. “We’re going to try and move around the starting lineup for the first few games, try different things. Everybody understands this is a very unique situation. Not only are all of these guys starters, they’re all superstars, future Hall of Famers, so they all deserve to start, but we can only have five of them. We’ll figure it out.”
Kerr has options, but if Paris Saint-Germain’s starting five are not available against Canada, With Kevin Durant out, that certainly won’t happen. — So who will start in Paris? Let’s take a closer look.
Anchor: Joel Embiid
Steve Kerr learned a hard lesson last summer at the World Championships in the Philippines: His small-ball lineups don’t work as well in the internationally recognized physical game as they do in the NBA, and the U.S. struggled to match up to the size.
Enter Joel Embiid. He’s the most dominant physical big man in the NBA (at least on par with Nikola Jokic). If Team USA can win another gold medal, it’ll be because Embiid can physically match up with anyone inside, with help off the bench from Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo (Kerr used them together in scrimmages, pushing Adebayo to the No. 4). Kerr added that this style of play might require an adjustment for Embiid, as he’ll have to spend more time dropping back on the block.
“Nothing’s going to change,” Embiid responded. “I’m going to be dominant like I always have been. I’m just going to get a few more touches in the low post and go from there.”
Mandatory starters: Curry, LeBron, Durant
There is a political element to coaching in the U.S., especially with this team, because Coach Kerr has to start these three legends. Even on a team of superstars, you can’t have these three icons off the bench.
That’s not a bad thing. The plan in the scrimmage seemed to be for LeBron to start the attack as a point forward, setting everyone up with his good decisions and passing, then for Curry to be more aggressive off the ball and become a secondary shot creator. (And yet, USA NBA double-teamed Curry as soon as he got the ball and started moving.) Durant, returning from a sore calf, will fit right into that situation.
But don’t be surprised if Kerr ends up naming one of these players the sixth man because other lineup combinations work better. It would be weird to see Curry or LeBron come off the bench, but it’s not unlikely.
Final starter: Kawhi Leonard
That last position could go in a variety of directions, but whoever is selected will need to confront Kobe Bryant’s “tell me who to stop” defensive mentality from the 2008 Olympics.
I’d pick Leonard. He remains one of the best on-ball defenders in the league, is physical (which would translate to FIBA play), tall, knows how to play the game, and if you ask him to stop you, you’re going to lose.
“Kawhi’s been fun to coach, just fun to watch him up close,” Kerr said. “His physicality, his strength, his skill. It’s awesome to see him back on the court.”
If not Leonard, Kerr could go a few directions. Jayson Tatum or Anthony Edwards could take on the role, or Anthony Davis could start if the U.S. needs to field a bigger guy against the opposition. If Kerr wants to go with an undersized guy, there’s Jrue Holiday or Devin Booker.
That versatility is key for Team USA. It’s not about who starts the game, it’s about who finishes a close one. Kerr has options when that happens. He can play everyone on his roster in those games and ride a winning hand at the end.
It’s Booker’s night, Holiday’s night or Tyrese Haliburton’s night. Kerr just has to go with it.
That’s what makes Team USA so dangerous.
