Back home after their victorious Badalone getaway, the Blues took advantage of their visit to Accor Arena to honor the neo retirees, Nicolas Batum (177 selections) and Nando de Colo (209 selections), but also “the 200 club [sélections]”. Perhaps disrupted by this exceptional ceremony, the French Team had a lot of trouble finding its pace in front of Spain before reversing the trend in the second half to remain undefeated in this preparation (78-73).
Intentions, but no conclusions …
The second round of this France – Spain starts on a false rhythm, with two players who quickly go out on injury with unfortunate shots, Alberto Albalde and Matthew Strazel. For their part, the brothers Hernangomez do not embarrass it and are quickly in action, including a Dunk of Juancho before the return of Yabusele to the counter.
La Roja gets better into its subject with a 14-7 after 6 minutes. The Blues get stuck offensively, we go well the ball but it remains harmless, on the outskirts. With sometimes “too much” passes, and not enough assault and intervals. The Spaniards will go up to +13 (20-7) before Théo Maledon, future resident of Liga ACB, accelerates for a basket plus the fault. For the first time in the prep in any case, France is in the tough, carried out quite clearly after the first quarter (12-21).
Santi Yusta is
Offensive mismanagement continues on the tricolor side, with 12 bullets lost at halftime, which gives 14 points to the Spanish who did not ask for so much. They who also squat the painting, with 14 points too! We have a few blue clarifications in this slump, including Sylvain Francisco which has an immediate impact in particle accelerator. But, like Jaiteh and Cordinier’s animal faults, the Blues remain at more than 10 lengths in front of their Parisian audience …
Meanwhile, Santi Yusta feasts on 13 points and a little pass gem for Willy Hernangomez, also well served with 9 points. Not in the rhythm in attack and therefore not skillful (3/14 to 3-point), the French team is logically found in the ropes at half-time: -16 (44-28). Another stat is scary: only 3 throws for the Blues … against 17 for Spain.
Strazel rings the revolt
Probably shaken by Coach Faithoux in the locker room, the Blues try to show another face on the return from the locker room. Strazel still shows the way, intercepting it to offer a dunk all cooked in Jaiteh, before infiltrating the basket plus the fault. It is he again who serves Coulibaly for 3 -point, who continues with another success and it brings France to -4 only. That’s it, the Blues are launched … not quite, to tell the truth.
Jaime Pradilla and Josep Puerto take care of air conditioning the public. The Troupe de Fondishoux is more applied but it is not yet that defensively, with a new forgetfulness on a Parrian cup towards the circle. Maledon and Hoard do not understand each other and Spain continues to run in mind before the last quarter (64-58). At 6/22 behind the arc, it is still not that for French shooters.
A scathing 15-5 to overthrow the table
A real satisfaction of this preparation phase, the point of leader still brings, this time with Francisco, back to business. In need of rhythm after his wrist blow, Cordinier manages to bring France back to -1. Finally effective in defense with several consecutive “stops”, the Blues finally equalize, 5 minutes from the end, then pass in front of a beautiful collective sequence concluded from a Dunk of Hoard.
On a 15-5 in 8 minutes, the French managed to muzzle, even suffocate La Roja. The last two minutes unfortunately break this dynamic, the fault of a defense of zone out of the hat of Coach Scariolo. Whatever, the French Team retains its invincibility after Strazel’s stab at 3-point. In difficulty but united, the Blues conclude this beautiful gala evening with a fourth success of rank (78-73).
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