Struggling at instances in the course of the 2024 Olympics, Joel Embiid stepped up Thursday towards Serbia, ending with 19 factors, 4 rebounds, two assists and a block in Workforce USA’s 95-91 come-from-behind victory. However, towards France within the gold-medal recreation, he could also be a matchup nightmare.
France boasts a number of formidable large males, led by Victor Wembanyama, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Yr, and Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Participant of the Yr. Regardless, if Embiid goes toe-to-toe with both, he’ll seemingly play confidently, contemplating his historical past towards the pair.
Embiid has a tiny pattern dimension towards Wembanyama — just one recreation — however oh, what a recreation it was. When the 2 met in January for the primary time, Embiid scored a career-high 70 factors whereas including 18 rebounds in a 133-123 Sixers win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Conversely, Embiid has had Gobert’s quantity when the 2 have met. In 10 video games towards Gobert, he is averaging a double-double, recording 28.4 factors and 11.4 rebounds per recreation, per Stathead.
In additional unhealthy information for France, Embiid has used Gobert as motivation prior to now, particularly when Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Keith Pompey hinted that he was afraid of the matchup. After dropping 40 factors and 19 rebounds on the massive man towards the Utah Jazz in the course of the 2020-21 season, Embiid instructed reporters, “It seems like I used to be very, very petrified of him.”
Wembanyama hasn’t needed to carry his fellow countrymen, however he has been impactful. He posted 11 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists and three blocks in France’s 73-69 win over Germany to clinch a spot within the gold-medal recreation.
Gobert has been disappointing for France, seeing his utilization drop to solely 5 minutes Thursday towards Germany. But, relying on who you imagine, his position has diminished down the stretch both due to current finger surgical procedure or ineffectiveness.
In the meantime, Embiid appears to be hitting his stride on the proper time. Though he is already one of many high gamers within the recreation, a motivated Embiid is likely to be probably the most harmful model.
Following his efficiency on Thursday, he seemed as pushed as ever, reveling within the boos that rained down on him from the French crowd, Forward of Saturday’s gold-medal recreation, that is likely to be an inauspicious signal for the nation he as soon as known as residence.
