Targeted and trapped in Australia's final victorious system, concluded by Dyson Daniels under the circle, Nando de Colo had a contrasting evening with 3 points (1/5 shooting), 4 assists, 2 lost balls.
But he was still the best launching pad for French actions, particularly on the pick-and-roll.
After a fourth consecutive defeat, a first for the Blues in preparation, the veteran full-back preferred to highlight the positive points of an interesting performance, even if still too inconsistent.
Nando, you narrowly missed out on victory against Australia (83-82), do you nevertheless feel that you have made progress at the end of this very tough preparation phase?
It's correct. We obviously wanted this victory. It was the little details that made the difference, but we respected what we put in place. There were a lot of new things in this match. We also have to take that into account. We have a week to structure everything well and the competition will begin. The serious stuff will begin. I know we have a team that has character and that will remember what happened last year. We will do our best to be ready from the first match and go as far as possible.
What do you think is still lacking, especially after another match with more than 20 lost balls?
We have to have confidence in what we do, in our teammates, in our game systems. It's a whole. We're still trying to find automatisms with different fives, it's part of a preparation. We still have a week ahead of us to work well, to fix things well. We're still evolving day by day.
“Tonight, it's simple, when we tried to do things collectively, we got good results”
The outside lines brought more scoring to this match, can we say that it is progressing?
Of course. We also have to see what the game plan is. We know where we have to put the ball. [selon le plan de jeu] and then, we have to find this alternation inside – outside. We see it on the last possessions. Tonight, it's simple, when we tried to do things collectively, we had good results. As soon as we fell back into the easy way out, it was more complicated. Now, it's up to us to realize it and continue to move forward. We can avoid the last action, we can avoid simple lost balls. It's up to us to learn from these mistakes.
Vincent Collet mentioned the quest for serenity, of not having to endure weak periods that are too long. Do you also feel an improvement in this regard?
I think we are making progress on that. Everyone still has to find their place. We have to have confidence in the twelve players who are here, who are very good basketball players and who have to have confidence in each other. That is what we will tell each other in the days to come because there is a need for this communication.
Regarding the alternation of attacking play, can Victor Wembanyama, author of 8 passes, also help to bring offensive fluidity?
Everyone is waiting for him. When he understands what attention the opponents have on him, he will find players around him. And we have talent, as I say, around him. It is then the confidence that plays.
So you end the preparation phase, much more difficult than last year, with four consecutive defeats…
These are teams that have confidence, that have had results in past years and that have continuity. They will still play for the podium [cette année]. Despite the results [les défaites, ndlr]we must continue to move forward.
Interview conducted in Orléans
