After two easy victories against Turkey and Germany (deprived of its NBA stars) to open their preparation, Vincent Collet's Blues suffered a second setback on Friday evening at the LDLC Arena in Décines.
Nikola Jokic's Serbia (20 points, 12 rebounds) gave them a lesson in realism and toughness to win 79-67. Like Victor Wembanyama (14 points, 10 rebounds) who forced a lot, the Blues never found any rhythm offensively, far from the staff's exhortations to play the recovery to the full and to get the defense moving with reverse passes…
“The bottom line is that as soon as we move away from the game we want to produce, we don't really have any other solutions. So we absolutely have to be more consistent,” said Collet in the hubbub of the mixed zone, buzzing with excitement for Tony Parker's jersey retirement ceremony. “We still saw that we had a dip in form in the second quarter, we went from 27-23 to 39-27, so a 16-0 or 17-0, I don't remember exactly. It doesn't matter much, except for one point. But at that point, we no longer had any rhythm. We were completely at a standstill, even though we had made a good start to the match where we had some really interesting mobility. The ball was moving, we had clean shots, an alternation, and so that's really the first lesson.”
Nicolas Batum sounds the revolt
Having started well in the first quarter, on the shoulders of a skillful Wembanyama who allowed them to have a 10-point lead, the Blues completely cracked afterwards. With a one-sided second quarter for the Serbs led by a dominant Jokic under the circle, and much better organized offensively even though it was their very first official preparation match…
“Afterwards, the second [leçon]is that despite everything in the second half we got to the level of the toughness of the Serbs. There you go, we already had intensity, but we lacked toughness and in the second half, I think it was Nicolas Batum who sounded the revolt and showed the way. How aggressive we had to be. At that moment we got to the expected level [d’intensité]. This allowed us, despite everything, without being very good, to come back to four points. [dans le money time]. Unfortunately we made a failed switch on the following possession which allowed [Vassilije] Micic to make a 3-point shot and then we lose. It's logical, in any case given the game that's not what's most important. Especially on the offensive aspects. We absolutely need to find solutions closer to the rim in attack. It's not normal with the interior sector we have to not be able to score closer to the rim and to rely too much on the three-point shot.
Still very fragile collectively, the Blues lacked toughness and solidity in setting up the game, in setting screens, in movement… In short, in all those small, extremely important details that allow the final act of basketball, namely putting the ball in the circle.
There will still be two more test matches for the Blues before the start of the Olympic tournament. It will be in Orléans next weekend. Until then, there is work on the board for Vincent Collet and his staff…
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