Still on alternating current, the Blues, already qualified for the final phase of Eurobasket 2022, overcame a total breakdown in the third quarter to sign a third success, against Bosnia and Herzegovina (81-68) in Cologne tuesday.
Eve of a back-to-back against Slovenia by Luka Doncic.
“
There were times when we could have really lost our minds
,” admitted Rudy Gobert.
“
I'm proud of the way we kept our control.
We stayed together and we kept moving the ball and playing despite everything that happened in the game.
Namely a catastrophic third quarter, with only 8 points scored and a 13-0 conceded straddling the last two rounds.
"
It's a mark of maturity for us: we never let mistakes get us down
," appreciated the three-time best NBA defender.
More than 1,000 points for Evan Fournier
Like Captain Evan Fournier.
Often in check and only five points before the last quarter, the rear of the Knicks stacked nine in the last round to exceed the symbolic mark of 1,000 points scored in the France team.
With 1,008 units, he is now ahead of Jacques Monclar in the ranking of markers in blue (24th).
Last meeting of the group stage on Wednesday against Luka Doncic's Slovenia (5:15 p.m.), a little over a year after the victorious semi-final of the Tokyo Olympics where a counter by Nicolas Batum at the buzzer had saved the Blues .
“
Big test
” against Slovenia
“
We don't need to introduce the Slovenians (defenders, editor's note).
It's a very big team, so an opportunity to continue to progress
, ”displays Rudy Gobert (11 pts, 12 rebounds on Tuesday).
“
It's a big test for us.
“Tuesday's victory ensures the French at least third place in Group B and reassures after a narrow success against Hungary.
Especially since the Bosnians, winners of Slovenia Luka Doncic the day before and especially superior to the Blues ten days earlier in Sarajevo (96-90, after two extensions), played their qualification.
Hence the noisy support of the Lithuanians, more numerous than the French in a three-quarters empty Kölnarena.
The supporters of the “
Lietuva
(in the original version), holders of a day ticket, were in the absolute necessity of a reverse of Bosnia to hope to qualify.
There was a marked improvement compared to Sunday but the context was different.
Vincent Collet
“
Thank you
” therefore fell from the green bend at the very end of the match.
“
I thought it was great, that they encouraged us and said thank you at the last minute
, delivered Evan Fournier.
It's a superb audience and the coaches even came to thank us.
Defensively, in the wake of Terry Tarpey, author of four interceptions and the origin of a multitude of stray Bosnian balls, Vincent Collet's men confirmed their newfound mentality, with a third game less than 75 points conceded.
“
There was a marked improvement compared to Sunday but the context was different
”, noted Vincent Collet who sees the attack as a construction site still in progress.
"
We scored 81 points, I would like us to get closer to 85, or even 90. But it's linked to stray bullets
, ”observes the coach.
The Blues, guilty of 18 turnover, have one last game, without much at stake, except to grab second place to correct themselves before the knockout stages on Saturday.
