4, 7, 8, 10, and 11: That’s how Joel Embiid has contributed to the team throughout the Olympic preseason despite being there on the starting roster. Contrarily, Anthony Edwards and Anthony Davis delivered more than expected, starting in the second unit. Every time Davis and Ant-Man entered the court, they delivered with their rebounding as well as scoring capabilities. So, Fox Sports’ media analysts voiced the agenda of the NBA community requesting coach Steve Kerr to start Ant-Man and AD, instead of Joel Embiid.
The buildup for the issue was caused by the continuous slow starts from Team USA. However, it blasted over when the hoopers barely managed to secure victory against underdogs like South Sudan. The most prominent event of that game was the opponents choking off Team USA with their three-pointers; Anthony Davis stepped into the paint and recorded a staggering 11 rebounds. Mad over such close showdowns from the Dream Team 2.0, Martin Weiss shouted the aforementioned claim, “If Steve Kerr doesn’t move Anthony Edwards and Anthony Davis minimum into the starting lineup. I don’t think what the hell he’s doing there.”
Well, the concern seems apt, considering the team full of NBA All-Stars that should be sweeping wins is being dominated in the first stretch, whether it be an 18-point lead from Australia or the nail-biting encounter with Sudan with close winning margins. Going further on the roster debate, the Fox analyst then proposed a starting unit including Stephen Curry. Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James and Bam Adebayo. Though he did not ignore Embiid, Weiss put him on the bench in sixth place along with Tatum.
Coming to Joel Embiid’s failure as a starter, the Fox Sports analyst explained why Embiid’s presence as the star is adversely affecting the roster equations while Davis can be a great boost.