The Team USA lineup has been susceptible to multiple changes. To begin with, Steve Kerr did a lot of experiments with his starting 5 for the exhibition games. But now, when the stakes are so high, against Puerto Rico, Kerr wanted to keep it safe. He wanted to rely only and only on his most trusted group of 5. So, Joel Embiid was to return to the starting unit and Jayson Tatum would be exchanged by Jrue Holiday is increase their on-ball intensity. However, it won’t be possible now.

When coming off the bench against South Sudan, the defensive expert Holiday suffered a minor ankle injury. It isn’t severe, but the USABMNT is operating with every precaution possible. According to Evan Sidery, Holiday is officially out for Team USA’s last group-stage game against Puerto Rico.

Not having the Boston Celtics’ All-Defensive guard curbs the pressure Team USA wishes to apply on Puerto Rico. With sneaky and rapid guards like Jose Alvarado leading Puerto Rico, Holiday’s high-octane defensive activity would have been invaluable to the squad. Furthermore, he also provides an additional perimeter threat while being an intellectual passer.

In two games, Jrue Holiday has averaged 10 points and two assists per game during the Paris Olympics. Apart from Holiday, Anthony Davis and Derrick White were also initially viewed as questionable. However, they will feature in the game against Puerto Rico after attending practice on Friday.

Team USA is looking to dominate Puerto Rico

Team USA has done its job to qualify for the quarterfinals. They have recorded a vast point differential of +43 in their two games. Previously, that saw them be the highest-ranked team in the pool. That was until Germany demolished hosts, France, yesterday. Now, they hold the top seed.

And Steve Kerr and Team USA aren’t willing to rest until they reclaim their position.

“We want the No. 1 seed. It gives you the best matchup in the quarterfinals. So if we drop down to two or three — which I think is unlikely, but we’ve got to take care of our business — we possibly have a much tougher opponent,” Kerr told the media at practice on Friday.

Even without Jrue Holiday, Team USA has substantial firepower to overthrow Puerto Rico, who has the worst point differential in the entire Olympics. MVP center Joel Embiid is returning to the starting lineup while the kingpins LeBron James and Kevin Durant remain to be the pivotal drivers for Team USA.

The basketball fraternity can expect Team USA to leave no stone unturned before the final buzzer.