The United States hammered the everliving shit out of Brazil on Tuesday afternoon to advance to the men’s basketball Olympic semifinals. Joel Embiid, who had a terrible game against Serbia and didn’t play against South Sudan, is getting comfortable to the point where he’s now telling the French that if they’re not down with it, he’s got two words for them:

It was Joel’s best game so far, and Team USA’s as well. They’re into the semifinals against a Serbia squad they’ve already handled, and will get a crack at France or Germany in the final if they get past Nikola Jokic and company once again. How can you not want France at this point? It’s gotta be France in the final. Joel would have a pretty big role against Wemby and Guerschon Yabusele, who just put up 22 against Canada. But the Frenchies have to get past Germany first, a team they lost to in the group stage, and the U.S. can’t look past Serbia either, because it’ll be the third meeting this summer and both teams know each other inside and out.

Interesting storylines though. Does Embiid play sparingly in the semifinal? They looked better without him the first time around against the Serbs, and it might just be one of those things where you give A.D. and Bam the minutes and play a more switchy defensive game. Then in the final you’re either seeing Wemby/Yabusele or Franz Wagner and Daniel Theis with a chance to avenge the FIBA World Cup loss. It’s compelling no matter how you look at it. Gotta get past Joker for a second time and then take out one of the European big boys. We’re here for it.

Side note: is it low class to put “Frenchies” in the headline? Absolutely not. They’ve booed Embiid incessantly since the tournament began. They booed him when he got off the bus and demanded he return his passport. They boo him every time he touches the ball because they’re bothered that the guy chose USA over France despite living a grand total of zero years in their country. Until the medals are awarded, the baguette eaters are the enemy. Then we go back to being cordial.