For a fan of the American league, there was some heavy stuff, some very heavy stuff on the floor of the LDLC Arena in Décines on July 12. The winners of the three most important trophies of the year. The MVP, best player in the world, this Nikola Dokic who knows how to do everything, the defender of the year that is Rudy Gobert and the rookie of the year, Victor Wembanyama with such a promising destiny. The three together on the same field: excuse me for saying so.
To honor Tony Parker, whose jersey is to be retired later in the evening, the French federation had dreamed of inviting Team USA. But it is (much) too expensive. But Serbia, vice-world champion and favorite for the Olympic gold medal with the American Avengers, is not bad either. Especially if we add to this collective that scares opponents, a player like Bogdan Bogdanovic. We can’t wait to see this team challenge the American stars on July 28 in the North.
To challenge these geniuses of the game, Vincent Collet has started by trusting his 5 Major since the beginning of the preparation. Around the two towers Gobert and Wembanyama, he launched Mathew Strazel, Bilal Coulibaly and Isaïa Cordinier. Perhaps we should see in this choice the five that will start the tournament in two weeks against Brazil.
Also true to his principles, Collet rotated after 10 minutes. It was still testing time and the coach wanted to see everyone at work. His second rotation consisted of Franck Ntilikina, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, Mathias Lessort and Guerschon Yabusele. It also held up. In any case, it allowed the Blues to stay ahead after the first quarter (23-18). In the second, we were treated to the expected face-off: Wemby vs Jokic. A clash of titans in which the rookie did not give up an inch of ground. He even started by taking a small logical advantage: Jokic had not found his bearings with the FIBA game on a court that must seem slightly smaller to him, a ball without the same grip and referees who did not whistle the same fouls as in the NBA.
But the Serbian guy learns quickly and without anyone noticing with his 17 points at half-time (against 12 at Wemby), he allowed the Serbs to take a significant lead (32-45). “We were facing the vice-world champions, with the best player in the world. We expected an intense match. We had a burst of pride at the end of the match, we fought a lot more. We’re going to get our ideas back in place. We’re going to have to see how we can get into place more easily. It’s good that it’s happening to us now” admits Nicolas Batum.
“Getting a slap like that feels good.”
The lead melted away in the second half thanks to a tight defense by the Blues (52-60, 30th). Both teams entered in Olympic mode with contact, intensity and everything that goes with it. With 4 minutes to go, the gap fell back to -6 (63-69). Wemby himself made MVP Jokic commit his fifth personal foul (37th). The LDLC Arena got a little carried away. But the Serbs, skillful in all corners of the field, stayed ahead (67-79). “We have to be able to impose our game more on both sides of the field,” regrets Rudy Gobert. I take this defeat personally because I made too many mistakes. We showed good things that we were not able to maintain over time.”
And now Canada and Australia
This defeat, the second after the one conceded on Monday against Germany, is a stone in the garden of those who think that with the pair of giants Gobert and Wembanyama, a strong racket like never before, France is already assured of an Olympic medal. The Serbian school, with its incredibly skillful players and its brilliant interior has just reminded it that the competition is formidable. Before starting serious things, the Blues will realize it again in Orléans on July 19 against Canada and two days later against Australia at the same place. They will have to negotiate these two matches well to arrive in Lille with confidence. “For the future, we don’t have time to be worried. Taking a slap like that, in the end it feels good provided you learn the right lessons from it.”
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