If the French team that earned a spot in the London Olympics by coming in second at EuroBasket last summer were the one taking on the United States on Sunday, American fans would have reason to worry. That French team played lock down defense and had Tony Parker at his shot-creating best to spark the offense.
But France limps into the Olympics with players out and others banged up. If they pull it all together over the next couple of weeks, France is a team with enough talent to grab a medal. However, if you are one of those “crazy” people that thinks how a team has played coming into a major tournament speaks to how they play once the important games begin, well, France may make it out of Group A but not much farther.
France boasts a lot of names NBA fans know. Their starting five is Parker, Portland’s now wealthy Nicolas Batum, the Spurs Boris Diaw, and the Clippers Ronny Turiaf. Off the bench they bring the Wizards Kevin Seraphin and the Spurs new signee Nando de Colo. The other guys on the roster all play at the highest levels of Europe.
Notice Joakim Noah is not on that list. The defensive-minded Bulls center is out injured. Also injuries have kept Parker and Batum out most of the French tune-ups — Parker was out after surgery and is now wearing goggles all because of the eye surgery he needed following a bottle hitting him in the face during the Drake/Chris Brown fight in a New York club. That’s a “First World injury.”
All the injuries had France not looking impressive in its Olympic tune-ups.
France traditionally is a very good defensive team. Expect them to make things challenging for the United States in the half-court — they will challenge shots, defend the rim and play some pretty good pick-and-roll defense.
But the question is can France score enough to hang with the United States.
The USA needs to run on France to get their points before the defense sets, and that means really crank up pressure defense. France has talent but after Parker the French — and especially the guys coming off the bench — will struggle with the athleticism and waves of pressure the USA brings. Look for Tyson Chandler and Deron Williams (who has come off the bench at point for the USA) to have big games.
The United States will get its points — Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony will score. Likely one of them will have the hot hand and put up big numbers. With the defensive pressure, look for the USA to put together a couple of huge runs that has them pull away.
And unlike Argentina in the exhibitions, France doesn’t have the talent to come back on the USA by grinding it down and crawling back. They lack the offensive punch and the unity as a squad (something lost with all the injuries).
But it’s a good first test for the USA, a tough defensive team that will make them work for their win.
