"I had plenty on… Tonight with Luka, and I'm going to fix the other in two days."
"Still soaked in sweat from his fierce defense against the Slovenian genius Luka Doncic in the semifinals, Nicolas Batum preferred to smile on Thursday at the mention of the next non-category pass that awaited him and the Blues for the final stage of these Olympics.
The mountain is called Kevin Durant, and is complicated to climb.
Even impossible when the guy decides that this final will be his, French abnegation or not.
Result: 29 points, including 21 in a first period where the American showed the gap that exists between excellent basketball players and a monster of this sport, elected MVP of the NBA in 2014. “They sometimes have trouble starting their career. match, but he did not let them do this this time, underlines the pivot of the Blues Moustapha Fall.
He put them on the right track of entry.
Afterwards, we adjusted to defend on him, but he still managed to return shots.
It's complicated, he's a great player.
"
The podium for Team USA's best scorers in Olympic campaigns:
1️⃣ Kevin Durant 2021 - 20.7pts 🥇
2️⃣ Kevin Durant 2012 - 19.5pts 🥇
3️⃣ Kevin Durant 2016 - 19.4pts 🥇
That's it, everything is said… pic.twitter.com/07QGX1QFtE
- 50 Shades of NBA (@ 50NuancesDeNBA) August 7, 2021
Unstoppable the Durant of this final?
"What we did in the second half is very good," says French coach Vincent Collet.
But sometimes, he does exploits, and there… In addition, they indicate 2.06 or 2.07 (Editor's note: 2.08 on the NBA website), but in fact he measures 2.10 m.
In the first half, we defended him a little too much like any other player.
We insisted on him, but despite everything… This is also what makes this American team exceptional.
"
USA's top scorer in quarter, semi and final
Forget the player that the Blues had maintained at ten points less than two weeks ago.
"The first time, he did not play at his own pace," says Gobert, who too often crosses the road of the phenomenon in the NBA to have been fooled.
Bring him an endgame, and the Brooklyn Nets winger transforms.
29 points against Spain in the quarter, leading American scorer.
23 in the half against Australia, best scorer of the meeting.
To finish with a last demonstration on the floor of Saitama in the first period, before leaving Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard to take care of the rest.
Kevin Durant celebrates the Olympic title just after the victory against the Blues.
AFP / Mohd Rasfan) MOHD RASFAN
"He is the best player in the world, the hardest against whom to defend in one against one", loose Evan Fournier.
At 32, the Nets star behaved like the real boss of this team to bring home gold again, his third gold medal after that of London and Rio.
The first of its coach Gregg Popovich, who came at 72 to breathe Olympic air after five NBA titles with San Antonio.
"He is not so special for his talent as for the way he works on his matches, the pleasure he has of playing basketball and what he manages to pass on to his teammates", paid tribute to him. usual Spurs coach.
Beside him at a press conference, the colossus smiles.
“We finished the job, we have this gold medal, he blurted out.
It's always amazing to be a part of something so special.
"
It is probably this feeling that we thought we read a few minutes after the end of the match. "KD" had just greeted the Blues, his victims of the day. An American flag on his head, he straightened his face before lighting up with a gigantic smile. That of a job unfortunately too well done.
