The quarterfinals have been all about double-digit comebacks in Males’s Basketball on the 2024 Paris Olympics. After watching Greece give up a 12-point result in Germany for 76-63 loss and Serbia rally again from 24 right down to beat Australia 95-90 in time beyond regulation (regardless of extra FIBA Patty heroics), France discovered itself staring down the same scenario. After getting out to a fast begin and main by as a lot as 19 within the first half, Canada got here roaring again within the second, getting as shut 5 factors a number of instances late earlier than some well timed protection from Victor Wembanyama and heroic pictures from Evan Fournier sealed the deal, 82-73.
Guershon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier mixed for 44 factors to guide France, whereas Fournier and Mathias Lessort had all 28 of their bench factors. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett had been the one Canadians to attain in double figures with 27 and 16 factors, respectively.
Observations
It wasn’t sport for Wemby on offense, as he shot simply 2-10 from the sphere and 0-6 from three. Most of his makes an attempt got here later within the sport, as he sat with simply three makes an attempt for a lot of the third quarter. Guard play was and stays France’s weak point, and say what you need concerning the Spurs’ struggles getting Wemby the ball his rookie season, however they had been nonetheless higher at it than France is, and when the threes aren’t falling, it stands out. My unofficial suggestion can be to begin Bilal Coulibaly as a substitute of Frank Ntilikina at guard since he has performed with Wemby on the membership degree they usually have chemistry collectively.
That being mentioned, Wemby contributed loads in every single place else. He led everybody with 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and three steals, and his defensive presence was essential down the stretch. He had an enormous (and satisfying for Spurs followers) block of Dillon Brooks with lower than 3 minutes left to maintain the lead at 7, assisted Fournier on the largest shot of the evening — an extended three to stretch the result in 10 with lower than a minute to go — and a tip-in with with 21 seconds left to squash any remaining hope Canada could have had. It was factor different gamers stepped up within the scoring division since each Wemby and Batum (0 factors) had dangerous capturing nights, however Wemby confirmed but once more that he’s far more than a one trick pony.
An fascinating change was Rudy Gobert coming off the bench for France, and even then, he solely performed three minutes, so there was about 10 minutes of gametime when France went with out both of its rim protectors when Wemby sat. It was comprehensible contemplating Canada lacks a conventional heart, however whereas France survived these minutes within the first half, Canada — notably, SGA — made a concerted effort to assault the glass in these minutes of the second half, and that’s when their comeback try started. This can be have simply been a matchup transfer, or it may have been an try to enhance the offense, so it will likely be fascinating to see if Gobert receives common minutes once more going ahead.
Right here’s a FIBA rule I used to be unaware of (and it appeared just like the announcers had been too): apparently, if an offensive foul happens after the shot is launched, the bucket nonetheless counts. To wit, with 2:26 remaining, Fournier made a driving layup, however a cost was known as. Nevertheless, as a result of the ball had already left Fournier’s arms when the contact occurred, the basket nonetheless counted, and Dwight Powell additionally bought two free throws for Canada as a result of they had been over the restrict. Fairly fascinating within the sense that it principally offset each the bucket and the foul as a result of each groups got here out of it two factors richer.
France will now face Germany within the semifinals in a rematch of their solely loss in group play. The winner may have a shot at gold (worst case, silver) within the finals, and the loser of that sport will play for bronze within the third-place sport.
