Not so long ago, he was already leading the game for the Bleuets, vice-world champions, as a perfect launching pad for his teammate Victor Wembanyama. Three years later, Matthew Strazel finds the immense pivot, but this time among the big ones, and this for the Olympic Games, at home!
The 21-year-old point guard is not afraid of anything and seems to have perfectly received the message from the French team's staff. For the moment, he is reciting his score, with his combination of outside shooting, defensive aggressiveness and maturity in management.
Matthew, the outside sector has been rather timid at the start of this preparation, with the majority of points coming from within, how do you explain this and what solutions can you provide?
First, I think this is just the beginning. We've only played three games, including the last one with an interior sector that was greatly diminished due to injuries and illnesses. We had to try to fill the gaps. It's still difficult to judge for the moment. Afterwards, it's true that we need to find solutions on the exterior positions to bring in scoring. Whether it's through me or the other point guards, or the guards. We need to find a solution. It's going to take a little time, but with training, things are starting to get better, everyone is finding their role a little better. Personally, I'm more and more comfortable finding situations where I'm comfortable and where I can find my teammates. That bodes well for the future.
Did being promoted to starting point guard surprise you, and did you need a little time to adapt knowing that your role at the club is not necessarily that of an irremovable starter?
In the league, I'm a starter almost every time, I'm used to starting games. In the Euroleague, I either don't play at all, or I come off the bench. So, in the end, my roles change almost all the time. That's an advantage for me. I arrived [en Équipe de France] expecting nothing and I take what I'm given. It works in my favor.
You are indeed the surprise of the leader of this selection, could you have imagined such an outcome just two or three weeks ago?
It's true that I wouldn't have believed in being a starter. I had set myself the goal of being part of the twelve and I'm very happy about it, but I never thought I would be a starter. Now that I'm here and I've found, at least defensively and in management, the recipe for the team to start matches well, we're happy here. As long as it works, I want it to continue.
“Unconsciously, it releases a little pressure for everyone”
The list of twelve is now complete, can this allow the group to truly launch its preparation?
Consciously or unconsciously, yes. I know that for me, at the beginning, I didn't dare too much, I especially wanted to do things correctly, reverse the ball and do the things that the staff asked me, even if it meant losing a little of my aggressiveness. There, in the third match, I was able to find it a little bit. In training, I also find it more and more. Unconsciously, it releases a little pressure for everyone.
We felt you were more aggressive offensively in the last match, particularly behind the arc. Are you gradually finding your bearings in the hierarchy of the Blues?
Long-distance shooting is one of my strengths, I've been using it all season. I didn't use it too much in the first few games but the staff talked to me about it, telling me that I still had to be myself. Offensively, that I manage to find situations where I'm comfortable to give myself confidence, but also my teammates. There are sometimes situations where you have to go and score a basket that does the team good and I feel more and more capable of taking them. It's a process, it's going to take a little time.
Defensively, tell us what difference does it make to have two of the best defensive centers on the planet in the paint behind? Can you be more aggressive on the outside?
It's clear and it's even an instruction from the coach. On the “close-outs” and on the recoveries, we have to try to force them to go towards the racket. When you have Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama waiting inside, obviously, you have to press them and avoid the 3-point shots.
Comments collected in Décines Charpieu
