For his last press point on French soil, Vincent Collet was generous with his time, returning to several hot points of the news, including the injury and the confirmed package for Frank Ntilikina, the defensive and offensive progress of his troops , but also the induction of its former leader, Tony Parker, into the Hall of Fame in Springfield.
“Since we have done a lot of zone, we realize that we defend better individually”
Vincent, first and foremost, what is the news from the infirmary, namely for Frank Ntilikina and for Mathias Lessort?
“I don’t have any news for Frank yet. We are still awaiting the results of his exams, passed this morning [en l’occurrence, il s’agit d’une élongation de niveau II, synonyme d’un forfait bien malheureux, ndlr]. We have seen the action and we are worried. As for Mathias, he will stay in Paris for a few more days to get treatment and we hope to recover him as soon as possible. The process is longer than initially hoped, but we still think we can get him back for the World Cup. Even if he hasn’t played yet, he remains an important player in the system because he would bring us solutions, which we don’t have at the moment. »
You have just won a fifth victory in five preparation matches in Vilnius yesterday, does this dynamic already give you some guarantees on your progress a fortnight before the start of the World Cup?
” Not necessarily. You have to keep your feet on the ground. It bodes well, that’s for sure. It is better to do a good preparation than a bad one, but for it to really matter, you have to forget the results and focus on what you produce to continue to improve, and above all be ready for August 25 when we face Canada. Two years ago, I don’t think we would have done the same Olympic tournament if we hadn’t taken [une belle claque] in Japan upon arrival. We are happy to have won yesterday but we were pushed around. At the start of the match, we were almost on the ropes. We couldn’t slow them down, control them, so we had to draw, and draw to get back into the game. You need that in a preparation! »
The return of Nicolas Batum and Nando De Colo inevitably helps you stabilize your squad, and your game, but what are the other factors that help develop this rather attractive attacking game that you produced in preparation?
“In a team that is an ecosystem, each player has a greater or lesser influence. Their role is to be more influential than the others, and that puts everyone in their place. The most important thing, and what explains the fluidity of our game and the better ball circulation, is communication and connections. We insist a lot on that, on the fact that the players talk to each other, that we have a lot of interactions between us. The natural consequence is that it creates connections on the ground. Like for example the one between Elie and Frank [en sortie de banc]… »
Your staff counts the “swings”, that is to say the ball transfers from one side of the field to the other, to report on the progress of the offensive game, is this a new thing in your approach to one part, and are there other more obscure statistics that also help you to realize the progress of your various projects?
“It’s not new, it’s been a while since there are a lot of stats to dissect around basketball. We use them, this is the one we watch the most in attack, but we associate it with efficiency, that is to say we make statistics that allow us to know what success we have had. when we play [attaque] direct[e], and what success we have when we transfer the ball. So that reinforces our idea that we have to transfer it a lot! What has changed compared to last year is that we talk about it directly with the players and we insist on it. The other statistic that interests us a lot, in defense, is the deflections [les balles touchées, déviées]. It goes beyond interceptions, because it still indicates defensive activity, the level of defensive intensity. Yesterday was huge, and since the start of the preparation, it’s really interesting. Batum made 8 alone against Lithuania in Orleans for example, which is exceptional and rare! When you’re over your twenties, it’s because the team has great arm activity, in the passing lines. There, we are around 30 in the last matches. But these are also the effects of the area. We are more compact, more active. Since we have done a lot of zone, we realize that we defend better individually, because communication is better. »
“We’re going to have to do some exploits”
We are now well launched in what you called, the second block of the preparation phase, do you feel your group is on schedule?
“We knew the constraints of our preparation. We knew it was going to be very short. We made our trip to Vilnius, and we accumulated a bit of fatigue with two very late arrivals in the night. Then, we will take off for Japan before reaching Indonesia. We have important trips to manage, which limit us in terms of training, but I am very satisfied with the involvement and the seriousness of the players to build together. It’s out of all proportion to last year, but even with previous years, I think we’ve turned a corner. It’s very good like that, but we still have a lot of things to improve. Still happy, because if we were at our maximum now, we wouldn’t have enough to go where we want to go. We have to be even more rigorous, consistent, constant… We still have weak moments when we don’t move the ball and stray balls. With a fold like this like that. These are things we won’t be able to afford in a fortnight. »
Lithuanian coach Kazys Maksvytis has made you one of the favorites for the World Cup, who do you see as the main candidates for medals?
“We are in the wide pack of favorites. For now, it’s hard to say. For example, I watched Germany v Canada and in the first half Canada weren’t really impressive. Second, however… Canada and Germany can be part of this group. The United States, I’m not even talking about it. Spain, as usual. Even though there is no Rubio, they still impressed me with the way they played. We were talking about fluidity, with them, the ball, we hardly see it! Australia also seems to me to be a big candidate because they have a lot of very strong players but they also have a real program, a real continuity. »
For your part, we know you are ambitious, but what importance do you give to the competition format, with complicated matches from the outset, including this delicate introduction against the Canadian armada?
“We’re obviously aiming for the podium, it’s been three competitions in a row that we’ve won medals and we don’t want to stop. But we want to go even higher. We are still very far from it because, for me, the World Cup is the most difficult basketball competition. On all continents, there are customers. Compared to the Euro, there are more high-caliber opponents. Compared to the Olympics, as there are fewer competitors on the starting line, especially with the qualification system, there are fewer big teams. It’s more difficult to reach the quarterfinals at the World Cup than at the Olympics. In this case, to get there this year, it will be necessary to make exploits, we must not be under any illusions. Between Canada, Latvia, Spain and Brazil [avec qui on va croiser], it will be necessary to beat three out of four. It’s not done! We will have to make exploits, or at the very least, great matches. I am convinced that we are capable of it but I know the difficulty in achieving it. Our first match will be very important… like in 2019, against Germany. It got us started! »
“Yabusele has undoubtedly become one of our attacking leaders”
After his very convincing match yesterday in Vilnius, with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals, what do you think of Guerschon Yabusele, and the importance he has taken within the group, as a permanent starter at the end of the account ?
“He had a magnificent competition last year at the Euro, apart from the final. There, I would say that he left on the same bases, and even better! He has progressed in what cannot be seen. In sectors more obscure than scoring, such as the installation of screens for example. Last year he was weak and this year he is much stronger. He also frees the balls more, he is a better passer, he has gained experience. He has unquestionably become one of our attacking leaders. »
You significantly tightened your rotation yesterday, what is your level of confidence in your bench, knowing that the second knives are very important to consider a long course in such a competition?
“My level of confidence is good. I’m pretty happy with everyone’s input. They bring that energy coming off the bench, which we didn’t have last year. Last year, the players came to show themselves, to show things, whereas this year, they come to be useful, to bring their energy. We saw very positive things, like Elie Okobo in his role as a very impactful sixth man and in his place. »
Finally, the last question outside the World Cup, Tony Parker, whom you knew well, is going to be inducted into the Hall of Famewhat inspires you?
“I had to be there, like Nico [Batum], but for obvious reasons, I couldn’t go. First, it’s deserved. We see that through the French prism, but even in the United States, he left an indelible mark, with four championship titles, All Star capes and a Finals MVP title. He was an enormous player. I hope that one day it will be exceeded but we will wait to find out. He boosted so many things in France. It’s been five years since he stopped and his place in French basketball is still at the top. He is in the biggest with Nowitzki and Gasol. For me, he is part of this major five of the best Europeans in history. »
Interview in Rueil-Malmaison
