The explanation lasted a moment, long live, between Guerschon Yabusele and Sylvain Francisco. If the words exchanged at the heart of Sunday’s stampede against Israel (69-82) have not filtered, it is not difficult to guess the substance, between a match failed by the leader (2 points after his 32 against Slovenia) and the frustration that swells with a captain struggling to regain his influence.
Yabusele (2.01 m, 29 years old) expected it, given the summer configuration, and the field confirmed it. Among the best markers of the latest campaigns (14 points on average at the 2024 Olympic Games, including more than 20 on cleaner matches, 14.8 at Euro 2022, two silver medals in the key), the interior of the New York Knicks, in the absence of the major pivots of the French team, Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Mathias Lessort, is the privileged target of defenses. These are tightening around him as a vice as soon as he touches the ball in the low post.
Heir to the captain’s armband in place of Nicolas Batum, he is unanimous in this role. But the ex of Real Madrid, tossed between posts 4 and 5-in a situation of “Small Ball”-, is still looking for the right positioning: so much vis-à-vis his teammates, whom he wants to make shine when the taking of two, or even three or four are shine, than himself. After three matches, it caps at 8 points on average at 27.8 % success in the shooting (5/18), only 6 shots attempted per game (9 to 52 % at the Olympic Games) and a 2/8 to 3 points which does not reflect its usual address in the financial year.
“We have to help him more, move around him, offer him solutions, and also start putting our shots at 3 points. It will release him ”, explains the winger Bilal Coulibaly.
“Without trying to force my destiny, I must keep my aggressiveness, not to do only post-up”
Guerschon Yabusele, interior of the Blues
If the interested party, for the time being, does not formalize, he had, as of the defeat against Israel, denounced certain attitudes, bowing in the reflection, and recognized to support the pedal. “Me first, I don’t necessarily have the right approach, said the native of Dreux. I showed negative sides. As for my performances, I am not selfish, so when I see the taking for two, I seek the free man. Afterwards, it is a balance. Without trying to force my destiny, I must keep my aggressiveness, not only do post-up. We have not yet seen my strengths. I have to push the ball, find my address. This will dismiss the defenses. For the team, and for me too, I will have to find a means. »»
The captain “sometimes a little too collective”
Put the winger at the center of the game before the match against Poland – for example by adjusting the five major? – was thus a priority file for the staff after its failed exit against Israel (7 points, 2/6, 3 bullets lost in 28 minutes), as confirmed by Frédéric Faithoux. “We’re going to talk to him. You can find solutions to put it in better conditions. The ball may not happen as it should, recognizes the coach. Things must also come from him. It has sometimes been a little too collective. But one thing is certain: if we want to go far, we need a guerschon at his top. »» A more zealous yabu, in short.
