Good and bad points after the tricolor victory over Poland on Tuesday in Katowice (Poland), during the Euro.
TOPS
Yabusele (finally) assumes its status
We talked about it after the defeat against Israel (69-82), Guerschon Yabusele was to be much more aggressive offensively. Shy at the Euro, the dancing bear heard the message. “”The captain came out of his box», Dixit Élie Okobo. 36 points to guide the Blues towards the victory against Poland (83-76) Tuesday, in Katowice. Personal record broken in scoring (22 so far). “”Compared to my team, I had to show aggressiveness. Today, I made a good match. It was several games, I had to be more and more aggressive. I said it before the match. I really wanted to be aggressive. We won, it is the most important “savor the tricolor captain, who finished 12/20 at the shots, including 6/12 at three points. Boiling … Add to that 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 counters, and you have a huge match. Boss.
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Okobo, more than a lieutenant
«We will show a better face», Promise Élie Okobo before the game. He did his part to help the Blues get up after Sunday disappointments. We will forget his average address (6/14, including 2/7 to 3 pts) by finding that the Monegasque finished with 14 points, 10 assists and 3 rebounds, he who played … playmaker for a large part of the meeting. He also and above all returned the winner’s basket, the estocade, with 9”3 to play. “”Yes … I lose the ball once, I get countering right after … I keep confidence, I try to impact the group as much as possible and to be the most effective. I work every day on this shoot, he returned, I am happy. It relieved the group a little for victory but it was a collective effort. We all fought together“Said the former Suns. Costaud.
Hoard, again and again
Certainly, Jaylen Hoard is in the campaign of seduction in this euro. Without ever forcing, the Maccabi player Tel Aviv knows how to be effective, useful, so precious. 10 points at 5/10, 4 rebounds, 1 pass and 1 interception. “Super important. His work was incredible in this meeting ”praised Yabusele, also highlighting “The intensity that everyone has brought, important Okobo baskets. And there are also those that we do not necessarily see in the stats, those who made four or five faults. It is also because they gave everything, they tried to stop their player. Victory is also with them. We took her in a group, she is beautiful ”. Very.
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Eurobasket: Yabusele sets fire and the Blues tame Poland
Blues jet
We were waiting for a reaction after Israel. We had it. The Blues only conceded 38 points after rest. They also and above all captured 23 offensive rebounds (!) Tuesday evening. It’s crazy, especially in view of their size deficit inside … “”This match was hard, long, intense … But we fought. It feels good to reconnect with the victory after a very bad performance on Sunday. Beating a team at home is always good, silencing the public a little. They were very good but we remained united, we did the job. Defensively, we were solid“Savor Okobo. The Blues we love.
FLOPS
Malédon, the crisis of confidence
Bombed holder after Matthew Strazel’s package, just before the start of the tournament, Théo Malédon struggles to assume his new status. However, the interested party comes out of a (very) big season with the Asvel, he who has just signed in Real. It is not as if he feared pressure and responsibilities … However, he has trouble the euro, and even more Tuesday evening. It is Sylvain Francisco, moreover not much more brilliant (3 pts, 1/5), who started in the second period, but it was especially Okobo who took most of the minutes to lead after rest. 2 points at 1/3 on shots, 1 rebound, 1 switches to just over 10 minutes for Malédon, with a +/- negative (-6). Light.
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Risacher was not there
Very good since the start of the competition, Zaccharie Risacher was hard on Tuesday evening. Resumed by Freddy Faith on his selection of shots for a dead time, the winger of the Atlanta Hawks, 20, missed his subject in attack and defense (0 PT, 0/4, -2). It happens, even to the best.
Coulibaly to the fault
Bilal Coulibaly sacrificed himself for the homeland, but we would have liked more efficiency (3 pts, 1/3) and especially discipline at home. The Washington Wizards player juggled the faults all evening. Only 8’43 on Katowice boards, with a fifth whistle at the end of the game. It was clearly not the evening of the Olympic vice-champion. Speaking of the alumni of Paris 2024, Isaïa Cordinier also experienced concerns of faults (4). Too bad, we felt him in a good evening, he who has been discreet since the start of the European championship … 7 points at 2/2 on shots for him. We do not want to drive it knowing that the Blues won, but the offensive contribution of Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot was really too limited on Tuesday (0 PT, 0/3) and he missed two throws in the “money-time” … 4 faults also for him.
