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Batum, a cons for history
After filling the line of statistics in the quarterfinals, against Italy, Nicolas Batum achieved a more sober match, in the shadow work, in particular the defense on Luka Doncic (see by somewhere else). 3 1/5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 interception and 4 blocks. Including one that will go down in history, with a capital H. "
Nico did" Batman "at the end,
" smiles Evan Fournier. And for good reason, the blue captain countered Klemen Prepelic in the circle at the last second. A cons synonymous with victory (90-89), final against the United States on Saturday (4:30). "
Extraordinary, we are used to Nico
", laughs Nando De Colo. "
This is what makes our strength: we can have difficult times, we know that there is a group behind.
The last action shows it.
We try to pay attention to their strengths, we get beaten anyway, but Nico arrives at the last moment ... It's the strength of the team,
”adds the Fener player.
A statue for Batum.
Read also: Olympics: the incredible against Batum who sends France to the Olympic final
De Colo in maestro mode
Nando de Colo in the flops? It was two days ago, after Italy. Quite the opposite in the face of Slovenia. While Andrew Albicy was forfeited and the Ntilikina / Heurtel tandem was picking up in terms of address (see elsewhere), the Northerner turned the machine in his role of leader, scoring as a bonus. 25 points, 8/17 on shots, 5/12 from distance, 6/6 on throws, 7 rebounds, 5 assists. Look no further for the man of the match on the French side. “
It's hard to realize that we are in the final. I had to take two seconds after the final buzzer to realize what was happening,
”he said, hot. We would be spinning at least. In any case, De Colo kept a cool head and strong nerves during the game, that's what matters.Boss.
Doncic, what a construction site
we were expecting, he responded present. Despite the French defense, and in particular Batum, but also the (very) precious Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (15 pts, see elsewhere), Luka Doncic found a way to finish in a triple-double: 16 points, 10 rebounds and… 18 assists. What a building site… Obviously, any prodigy that he is, the leader of Dallas cannot do everything alone. Targeted by the tricolor staff, he only returned 5 of his 18 shots. Credit to the Habs.
“TLC”, better than a replacement
This is what Vincent Collet said of Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, when the list of 12 for Tokyo was announced: “
Even if we had ruled out two years ago, I I had been impressed with what Timothy had shown in preparation. I didn't feel he was capable of accepting a role behind Evan (Fournier) and Nando. I feared for the collective balance of the team. He has come a long way for two years. He plays in a team (Brooklyn) in which he is even more confronted than in the France team with this problem.
“And indeed, the Nets winger has no trouble existing behind the stars of the France team.
In his role, “TLC” proved to be extremely valuable on Thursday, with his 15 points obviously, but also and above all everything else, those little things that cannot be seen in the figures, his stints on Doncic… A symbol of these Blues who played and won together, united and solid.
Very good pick.
FLOPS
Fournier, mistakes that could have been expensive
Let's be clear: Evan Fournier has his place in the tops of this meeting. Clumsy in the first period, the new player from New York found the sights after the rest and finished with 23 points, 50% on shots. He fully assumed his role as boss of the France team. And on a lighter note, his time on France Télévisions deserves a top too… Côté Ying. Yang side, Fournier was hampered by his two faults early in the game. He also took his fifth in the last minute, 44 seconds from the buzzer to be precise. A passage in force which could have had dramatic consequences. At that time, the Blues were leading 90-86. Prepelic, who had provoked Fournier's 5th, planted a distant banderilla to bring Slovenia back to -1. Behind, the failure of De Colo, the cons of Batum, the deliverance. "
As an individual, being on the bench at the end was heartbreaking.
I'm really happy that we got away with it
, ”he whispered.
It is also proof that these Blues are a team.
But this indiscipline will be crippling against the USA.
To read also: Fournier: "Tonight, we are going to enjoy it, but we have to re-mobilize because we came to look for the gold"
Heurtel and Ntilikina at the wrong address
If he was deprived of Albicy, Vincent Collet could count on Thomas Heurtel and Frank Ntilikina to breathe life into Nando De Colo and give the Slovenes different profiles.
Except that the two leaders have drawn in terms of address: 2/7 for the first, 0/4 for the second.
They were only entitled to 22 minutes cumulatively.
The lack of class of Doncic in the mixed zone
If he praised the behavior and the "
class
" of Nicolas Batum, Luka Doncic, him, lacked in the mixed zone. As reported by our colleagues from
L'Equipe
, the Slovenian superstar lambasted the arbitration to explain the French victory in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games. “
FIBA must be happy. What happened ? FIBA has happened!
», He dared. At 22, Doncic knew there his first defeat in the selection, after 17 victories in his first 17 international matches. We will put this down to disappointment… Note that the Slovenes did not wait until the end of the match to attack the officials. They did it the whole game.