In an early setback to Team USA's Olympic campaign, both Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis are dealing with illnesses that could impact their performance on the court. Embiid was absent from Saturday's practice, joining Davis on the sideline, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst. Despite missing practice over the past few days, Davis managed to participate on Saturday.

However, Coach Steve Kerr remains optimistic that the team will be fully ready for their game against Serbia on Sunday. Kerr assured reporters that he was "confident we'll have everybody ready" despite the setbacks. Another player on the radar is Kevin Durant, who has been nursing a calf injury and missed all five exhibition matches. Kerr expressed hope regarding Durant's condition but remained noncommittal on whether he would start.

Team USA has had an underwhelming run during their exhibition matches, securing narrow victories against Germany, South Sudan, and Australia. Nevertheless, they emerged victorious with a commanding 105-79 win over Serbia in Abu Dhabi on July 17, albeit without Bogdan Bogdanovic. Davis acknowledged the challenge presented by Nikola Jokic, stating that Jokic's international game may see him playing with higher usage than in the NBA.

While Team USA remains the heavy favorite to clinch gold for the fifth consecutive time, they are likely to face strengthened competition from teams such as France, Canada, and Serbia, among others. LeBron James emphasized the differences between the NBA and the Olympics, pointing out that the Olympic tournament is more of a sprint than a marathon.

As the highly anticipated Tokyo Olympics approaches, Team USA must overcome these injury concerns to ensure they are fully prepared to defend their position as Olympic champions. With adrenaline running high, the stage is set for an exhilarating battle as the basketball tournament commences tomorrow.