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By Noah Camras
Contributing Sports Writer
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The United States men's basketball team has received their first real test of the 2024 Paris Olympics, as they trailed Serbia by 11 points at halftime.
While the team struggled to slow down Serbia, another overarching storyline has taken over the game: Jayson Tatum.
Tatum did not play in the first half against Serbia, which was Team USA's worst half of basketball this tournament. Tatum famously didn't play in the United States' first game of the Olympics, which was also against Serbia. The U.S., however, dominated Serbia in that game, 110-84. On Thursday, it's a different story.
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Read more: Jayson Tatum Responds to Not Playing in USA Basketball Men's National Team Olympics Opener
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Why is Jayson Tatum Not Playing for Team USA?
United States head coach Steve Kerr called himself an "idiot" for not playing Tatum in the Olympics opener against Serbia. However, he clearly sees something in the matchups that have kept Tatum off the floor against Serbia again.
Read more: Steve Kerr Explains Decision to Bench Jayson Tatum in Team USA Opener
"Jayson handled it really well. I talked to him today before the game that it may play out this way just with Kevin coming back and the lineup that I wanted to get to," Kerr said after that game. "But that'll change. Jayson's gonna play. Every game's gonna be different, based on matchups. Jayson's First Team All-NBA, three years in a row. I felt like an idiot not playing him, but in a 40-minute game you can't play more than 10. You really can't."
Now, Tatum is yet again looking like a "DNP" in this semifinal matchup with a trip to the Gold Medal game against France on the line. Tatum and guard Tyrese Haliburton are the only Team USA players to not appear in Thursday's game. They are the two players who sat out the first game of the Olympics against Serbia, too.
It remains to be seen if Kerr alters his plan and brings in Tatum as the U.S. continues to fight back into the game. Through three quarters, the United States trail Serbia by 13, 76-63.
The Americans face a tall task ahead of them if they want to make a comeback and advance to the Gold Medal match for the fifth straight Olympics. The Americans are vying for their fifth consecutive gold medal but will need a nearly perfect fourth quarter if they want to make that dream a reality.
More news: Victor Wembanyama, Guerschon Yabusele Power Team France to Olympic Gold Medal Game
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