The 2009 French NT thread

http://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/breves2...-que-nous.html

«Ils ont mieux joué que nous»
Meilleur marqueur des Bleus depuis le début de l'Euro, Tony Parker reconnaît avoir été piégé par la défense espagnole. «Pau Gasol a été très, très fort», avoue-t-il. Entretien.

«Tony Parker, c'est une énorme déception. La défaite et aussi la manière non ?
Les Espagnols ont été plus forts que nous ce soir, ils nous ont dominé à l'intérieur. Et Pau Gasol a été très fort. C'est la raison du match : ils nous ont dominé à l'intérieur, ils ont été agressifs en défense, et nous on n'a pas su imposer notre jeu. Ils ont coupé toutes les passes. Ils ont mieux joué que nous ce soir.

Vous même avez été en difficulté, souvent avec Ricky Rubio dans le short. L'équipe aurait-elle pu vous aider un peu plus ?
Non, c'était leur stratégie, ils voulaient me forcer à rester dans un quart du terrain. Et donc c'était difficile d'enchaîner les systèmes, parce que je ne voulais pas tomber à ne faire que du pick and roll, et c'est ce qu'ils m'ont forcé à faire. C'est bien défendu. Et avec cette combinaison où ils nous dominent aussi à l'intérieur, avec Gasol qui a été vraiment très, très fort, c'est difficile à négocier car on n'a jamais eu de contre-attaque. Et pour le jeu européen, tu as besoin de points à l'intérieur. C'est pour ça que l'Espagne domine depuis quelques années, parce qu'ils ont des joueurs forts à l'intérieur. Je sais ce que c'est quand tu es fort à l'intérieur, j'ai la même chose en NBA. Ça ouvre tout.

Les matches de classement vous inquiètent-ils ?
Oui, mais maintenant, c'est différent d'il y a deux ans. Il y a deux ans, on était vraiment déçus parce qu'on pensait qu'on était plus forts. Alors que là, ce soir, il n'y a rien à dire. Maintenant, c'est à nous de rebondir et d'assurer la qualification sur les prochains matches. Pour qu'on puisse utiliser ce vécu pour le championnat du monde. Il faut prendre de l'expérience, et continuer à progresser pour le championnat du monde.»

Propos recueillis par Liliane TREVISAN, à Katowice.
Retrouvez l'intégralité de l'interview de Tony Parker dans L'Equipe du vendredi 18 septembre

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Originally Posted by kace

, even if they couldn't do anything to save us tonight.

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Absolutely. But it was very frustrating anyway (was waiting to see TP screaming in the face of Belosevic and get a T, but he was too desillusioned to even do that).

http://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/breves2...boxeur-ko.html

Collet : «Comme un boxeur KO»
«Déjà jouer l'Espagne n'est pas facile, mais en plus c'était une grande équipe d'Espagne et nous, nous avons fait un match très moyen», a résumé Vincent Collet après la défaite des Bleus en quarts de finale.

«Vincent Collet, comment expliquer ce match à sens unique ?
On a fait l'entame qu'il ne fallait pas faire, en mettant tout de suite sur les rails l'équipe d'Espagne par nos balles perdues. Ce sont des balles qui leur permettent de courir, de mettre des tirs. Quand ensuite, on court derrière une équipe d'Espagne qui prend confiance, ca devient vite mission impossible, surtout avec la partie exceptionnelle de Pau Gasol, qui a vraiment survolé les débats malgré les efforts de mes joueurs intérieurs, qui se sont battus avec leurs armes.

N'y avait-il pas la possibilité de reprendre le dessus sur ces Espagnols ?
Quand vous être acculés comme ça, dès le départ, c'est comme un boxeur KO. Le temps de reprendre vos esprits, le mal est fait. C'est très dur de revenir, il faut des petits signaux positifs, mais on ne les avait pas. On voyait bien que les Espagnols étaient sur un nuage . Je ne sais pas s'ils seront à ce niveau-là jusqu'au bout mais si c'est le cas, je pense qu'ils iront au bout. Déjà, jouer l'Espagne n'est pas facile mais en plus c'était une grande équipe d'Espagne et nous, nous avons fait un match très moyen.

La véritable défaite de l'équipe de France n'a-t-elle pas été de tomber sur l'Espagne en quarts ?
J'ai trouvé la Serbie quand même pas mal avant donc il faut être très prudent avec ça. Vous avez peut-être raison mais on ne va pas refaire l'histoire. Là, on est tombé sur une équipe d'Espagne exceptionnelle alors qu'elle aurait peu être moyenne. Il faut acepter le verdict. Ce qu'on peut regretter, c'est que l'Espagne n'ait pas commencé son Euro dès le début. Normalement, en ayant fair ce qu'on a fait, on n'aurait jamais dû avoir à l'affonter en quart de finale. Mais que pouvait-on y faire ? Ce n'est pas de notre faute s'ils ont commencé l'Euro en claudiquant.

L'équipe pourrait-elle faiblir pour les matches de classement ?
Bien que jouant contre une équipe très forte, on s'est accroché. C'est le point "positif" de cette soirée. On aurait pu partir très loin parce que tout allait dans leur sens et pas grand chose dans le notre. Malgré tout, on est revenu à moins onze alors qu'on savait bien qu'en faisant tous ces efforts, il y avait peu de chances qu'on puisse aboutir. Mais malgré tout, on les a fait. J'espère qu'on va se remobiliser. On a encore un objectif à atteindre, c'est se qualifier pour le Championnat du monde. Il faut qu'on gagne au moins un match et si possible le prochain. On va tout faire pour ça.» X.C. à Katowice

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Originally Posted by Pero

What? He named his kid Edwin Jackson? :p:

Seriously though, who is that?

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Edwin Jackson is the son of Skeeter Jackson, an US player who came in France in the eighties and choosed to stay. He's a pure shooter, won several medals with the youth NT (along Antoine Diot) and was there with Les bleus during preparation and friendly games.
I saw him play with the U19 (bronze medal at the world ship 2007 in Serbia) and I was really impressed by his ability to shoot fade aways from 3pt line.
But don't talk too much about him as the Spurs will try to grab him with a second round pick next year.

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Originally Posted by Alain

TP wanted to lose against Greece. That's why he did not play in the last quarter, pouted since then (not talking to medias) and was out of his game today.

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I'm not sure TP wanted to tank the game against Greece. The reason why he didn't play in the last quarter of Greece was because Collet wanted to rest his main players for that game.
It will be interesting to know why TP didn't talk to the press. I find that strange. Maybe it's because he wanted to loose against Greece, maybe not.

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Originally Posted by Alain

Boris should question his commitment to NT. Being fit is the least you can do.

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Boris isn't more fat than he was this year with Charlotte. Boris should question his commitment to basketball.
Even fat, Boris is still a good player. However, he must plays PF like he did in NBA and not SF. Collet didn't have the choice this year given all the SG/SF unavailable (Pietrus, Diarra, Gelabale or evne Foirest).

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Originally Posted by Bruno

Boris isn't more fat than he was this year with Charlotte. Boris should question his commitment to basketball.
Even fat, Boris is still a good player. However, he must plays PF like he did in NBA and not SF. Collet didn't have the choice this year given all the SG/SF unavailable (Pietrus, Diarra, Gelabale or evne Foirest).

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Boris is the most complete and clever player you can dream of, but now he can't dribble or drive anymore without commiting a turnover :(

With the possible addition of MP and Noah, who should be out of the starting five?

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Originally Posted by Alain

With the possible addition of MP and Noah, who should be out of the starting five?

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I would go with Parker/MP/Batum/Diaw/Noah.

Can anyone see my posts? Yes? no? :depressed:depressed

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Originally Posted by Bruno

I would go with Parker/MP/Batum/Diaw/Noah.

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Yep, all-nba :greedy

so whats de colos stats?

EuroBasket: France 66, Spain 88
by Graydon Gordian


It’s been a while. Let’s see if I remember how to do this.

Despite the announcer’s bombastic 1st quarter prognostication that we had “all the makings of a classic,” this afternoon’s contest between Spain and France proved to be nothing of the sort. Spain pulled away by 10 at the end of the first and would maintain a comfortable lead for the remainder of the game. In short, Spain turned France into a jump shooting team by successfully implementing their zone and sagging man defensive schemes. But then again, we all know games, even blowouts, are never as simple as that.

Keep reading →

The good thing is Tony will have some rest.

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Originally Posted by Danny.Zhu

The good thing is Tony will have some rest.

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If France won today, they'd have to play semifinals game and possibly finals game. They lost and now they get to play two games for places 5-8 and assuming they want to qualify themselves for world championships, I don't think Tony will get any more rest than he would if they had won against Spain.

Spain was just too strong. Props to them.
Until we have someone who can guard Gasol, it is a no match.
I wonder if Noah would have helped. I am not too sure about it.

I would not have expected to say that, but this show us how important Fred Weis was for France in 2005. He would not have stopped Pau, but at least he could have offer some resistance and would not have foul out in 20 minutes like Turiaf.

I believe there is one player who could have helped, it is Moïso. He is now a very capable defender in Spain. Too bad he don't want to play for the FNT.

The poor game from Parker is anecdotal IMO. We would have needed a miracle to win this one.

Now, I hope we can regroup and win one of the last two.

France NT deserves all the props. Not for the game against Spain, but for the whole effort. Until three weeks ago France hasn't been qualified yet for Eurobasket.
Your NT is playing together more than month and a half right now. It is miracle that melt-down come so late.

I know that expectations rose from day to day, but hey - what was the goal at the beginning of the August?

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Originally Posted by ata

I know that expectations rose from day to day, but hey - what was the goal at the beginning of the August?

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Qualification for the World Championship.

WC is almost lock. Even if France finish 8th, there are still four wildcards (three are usually spend on Europe). France is to important to be overseen at 8th place. If we (Slovenia) finish 8th, well than is no chance to get wildcard (Lithuania, Italiy, Germany)

Italy can't get a wild card:
http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng...962/index.html

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In order to be invited, a team must have participated in its 2009 FIBA Zone Qualifying Championship

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If FNT end up 8th, they will get at 99% a wild card but I rather see earning their spot for the WC on the court.

If Slovenia end 8th, I also think they will get a wild card. There is for sure an economical aspect but giving a wild card to Poland or Great Britain instead of Slovenia would be a shame basketball wise.

i know this sounds weird but the closest comparison i can see to this scenario btw i didtn watch the game is spurs (france) and spain (lakers)

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Originally Posted by spursballer21

i know this sounds weird but the closest comparison i can see to this scenario btw i didtn watch the game is spurs (france) and spain (lakers)

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I don't think it is a good comparison since the Spurs have Duncan who can match with Gasol. The French team is more like those teams in the East who have some talent but can't reach the next level because they don't have a talented true bigman (Miami/Washington/... there is a long list going).

The problem of the Spurs was more with the supporting cast and Manu being injured.

Edit:
There is another problem:
It was the first game(s) at this level for Batum, De Colo, Diot, Koffi, Traoré, Mahinmi. Hopefully they will learn from this experience.

Parker's performance was disappointing but the outcome wasn't much of a surprise. A team with a star bigman beats a team with a star point guard more times than not. Add in better and more experienced complementary players and the only thing France really had going for it was being the "hotter" team.

But yeah, France seems to have made impressive strides this summer. Their play isn't as stagnant as years past and they seem to be transitioning well to a younger generation.

Now hopefully Parker remains healthy in these last two games and he has enough juice for the upcoming NBA season.

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France really had going for it was being the "hotter" team.

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I think that is also a key.
Somehow, I think France should have play with more confidence (easy to say).
After De Colo won the game against Greece, they should have been more enthusiastic instead of thinking "ooops... !!!". Instead, we have shown that we didn't believe in the win over Spain.
Collet is a good coach, but I believe he was wrong to play on keeping control and a cold head.

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Originally Posted by mathbzh

I think that is also a key.
Somehow, I think France should have play with more confidence (easy to say).
After De Colo won the game against Greece, they should have been more enthusiastic instead of thinking "ooops... !!!". Instead, we have shown that we didn't believe in the win over Spain.
Collet is a good coach, but I believe he was wrong to play on keeping control and a cold head.

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Many reasons could explain this loss. Bottom line is Spain is just too much for us. Talent, size, team spirit, experience... they are just a superior team, possibly the best european NT ever.

Against a world class team like Spain, France misses size and talent in the paint (Noah, Moiso) and shooting skills (where is the new Hervé Dubuisson?).

But what really strikes me is that this team doesn't have this necessary "je ne sais quoi" that every great team cultivates over the years. In their eyes, i've never seen what could be seen in the 98' footballers eyes or in the 08' handballers eyes. TP apart, the guys don't seem to have this needed "culture de la gagne"

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Originally Posted by romain.star

But what really strikes me is that this team doesn't have this necessary "je ne sais quoi" that every great team cultivates over the years. In their eyes, i've never seen what could be seen in the 98' footballers eyes or in the 08' handballers eyes. TP apart, the guys don't seem to have this needed "culture de la gagne"

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I was thinking about the 1992 handball team aka "les barjots" (crazy men).
France was nothing in handball and after some major upset won a bronze medal.
In the attitude, they were really the perfect underdog. Maybe France could learn a thing or two from handball coaches.
In 2008, they were just the best team and were sure about their strength.

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Originally Posted by mathbzh

I was thinking about the 1992 handball team aka "les barjots" (crazy men).
France was nothing in handball and after some major upset won a bronze medal.
In the attitude, they were really the perfect underdog. Maybe France could learn a thing or two from handball coaches.
In 2008, they were just the best team and were sure about their strength.

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Sure but both teams (Barjots, Costauds and Experts) had the same "we are a squad on a mission and we're gonna win or die trying" deep in their eyes. Same could be said of the 98', 00' football NT.

I'm not sure the comparison is wise but in the attitude, the BB NT reminds me of Lyon during the knock out stages of the champions league.