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Tops / Flops France-Italy: Batum and Gobert show the way, rain of ball losses

2021-08-03T12:18:49.420Z


The French executives at the rendezvous, the ball losses… The Tops and Flops after the French victory over Italy in the quarterfinals of the Olympic basketball tournament (85-74) this Tuesday, in Saitama.


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Nicolas Batum, the engine of the Blues


The impact of a player like Nicolas Batum is not always judged on the statistics sheet. Against Italy, yes. "Batman" took out his superhero costume and set the tone for the Blues, difficult winners of this eye-catching Italian selection (85-74) in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics. 15 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, as many interceptions and 2 blocks for the captain of the Blues, in the oven and at the mill a few hours after the announcement of his future extension with the LA Clippers. With Rudy Gobert (see elsewhere), it was he who set the tone in this almost perfect start to the second half. "

I have had an extraordinary season. Statistically, it's not crazy. But find this confidence, this pleasure… What the Clippers and especially Ty Lue have done for me this year, it's great,

”he said in recent weeks, he who had been placarded in Charlotte before reliving in Los Angeles. Suddenly, Vincent Collet and the Blues can also thank the Californian franchise. We will forgive him his 5/12 on shots. The MVP is him.

Rudy Gobert too powerful


The Blues pounded Italy in the paint in the first period, already with 10 points from Rudy Gobert. The pivot of Jazz made his presence felt even more at the start of the second, especially in defense, before disappearing a little offensively. It was only to better emerge in the "

money-time

", with 6 points in the last minute, including a 360 ° to close the score. 22 points at 10/13, 9 rebounds.

Failing to be perfect, Evan Fournier does the job


If he left the “title” of best French scorer of the match to his friend Gobert, Evan Fournier still split 21 points against Italy, with 3 rebounds and 4 assists bonus.

All has not been perfect for the new New York player ($ 78m over 4 years), with 4 losses and only 39% on shots (7/18), but he has generally assumed his role of boss and scored important points, like these two baskets at the very end of the first period to allow France to return to the locker room in the lead.

Read also: Olympics: in pain, the Blues of basketball dismiss Italy and will find Slovenia

FLOPS

Loss of bullet like an open door


The Blues had happy hands Tuesday morning in Saitama. 10 losses of the ball in the first period, as many after the break, 20 in total. Too much, too much ... It was these losses of the ball that allowed Italy to stand up to them early in the game and come back to blow them in the neck at the end of the match. Especially since the Italians have lost only 9 balls, including 2 in the first period. There is no doubt that Vincent Collet will insist on this point before the semi-final on Thursday against Luka Doncic and Slovenia. With 20 losses of the ball, the doors of the final are unlikely to open for France, qualified in the semi-finals for the first time since Sydney, 21 years ago.

Nando De Colo, chiaroscuro


First tricolor player in the evaluation on the first round (17.7), best passer also (6), Nando De Colo was less visible than the other executives on Tuesday. Quickly hampered by faults in the first period, the Northerner did not return a single basket in this match (0/5), still converting his 4 throws (4 pts) and delivering 7 assists. We found his vista during the big blue passage in the third quarter, but his 5 stray balls hurt and he finished with a +/- negative (-1). It happens even to the best ...

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-08-03

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