The first match against Brazil was the key to this first round for Victor Wembanyama & Co, because a defeat would have practically condemned the Blues. By winning, however, they opened the way to the quarter-finals…
Because by winning against Japan this afternoon (5:15 p.m.), the French team will have nine and a half toes in the Top 8 of the competition. Only a cataclysmic scenario (victories by Brazil against Germany and Japan, a big defeat by the Blues against the “Mannschaft” for a three-way tie where the Blues would finish worse third in the groups…) could thus prevent the Blues from joining Paris for the second phase of the competition.
Limit ball losses, insist under the circle
For the Blues, the objective is very clear: use their size advantage to bludgeon Japan under the circle, while preventing their opponent from imposing their fast pace of play, in particular by limiting ball losses.
“Reducing the number of turnovers will always be important. The goal is to get below 12. That's fundamental.” explains Vincent Collet. “But above all, we have to adapt to adversity. Here, we're going to play against a team that plays “up tempo”, that runs everywhere, with point guards who are firebrands, difficult to control. We know that Hachimura and Watanabe have real shooting ability, so we'll also have to leave little space to this team on that point. It's a team that doesn't rely much on the inside game so our interiors will have to be able to defend wide, so as not to leave any space. And then afterwards, we'll have to do as we did (against Brazil), that is to say press where we are dominant, that is to say inside.”
With the 2m23 of Victor Wembanyama, the 2m16 of Rudy Gobert but also the physical impact of Matthias Lessort and Guerschon Yabusele near the circle, the Blues have all the weapons necessary to succeed in this strategy.
Japan plays double or quits with its long-distance address
“Obviously, they're going to play low post.” Yuta Watanabe explained to us. “It's clear that we have a size disadvantage and they're going to use it. We have to be ready, we have to be physical. We can't stop everything. They're going to make runs, we know that. We don't have time to lower our heads, we have to keep our heads up.”
Japan, for its part, will try to play quickly, putting pressure on the French ball carriers, to offer themselves counter-attacks and quick baskets. And thus make the Blues doubt for as long as possible.
“What we have to do is play fast, shoot a lot of 3-pointers, keep a fast pace.” continued Yuta Watanabe, banking on a big night of skill to bring down the Blues. See you at 5:15 p.m.!
JAPAN'S MAJOR FIVE
Yuki Kawamura – Hirotaka Yoshii – Yuta Watanabe – Rui Hachimura – Josh Hawkinson
JAPAN'S STAFF
Yudai Baba (1m95, 28 years old)
Rui Hachimura (2m05, 26 years old)
Josh Hawkinson (2m08, 29 years old)
Makoto Hiejima (1m91, 33 years old)
Akira Jacobs (2m03, 20 years old)
Yuki Kawamura (1m72, 23 years old)
Kai Toews (1m88, 25 years old)
Yuki Togashi (1m67, 30 years old)
Keisei Tominaga (1m88, 23 years old)
Hugh Watanabe (2m07, 25 years old)
Yuta Watanabe (2m06, 29 years old)
Hirotaka Yoshii (1m96, 26 years old)
DIFFUSION
The match between France and Japan should be broadcast on France 3 And Eurosport 6from 5:15 p.m.
