Tough Quarterfinal for Canada as France Advances in Olympic Basketball
In a surprising turn of events, Team Canada will not be vying for the gold medal in the men's basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The quarterfinal clash placed them against the home team, France, in a game that turned out to be an uphill battle for the Canadians.
Slow Start Dooms Canada
Entering the game as eight-point favorites, Canada was expected to sail through to the next round. However, a lackluster performance in the first quarter saw them scoring only 10 points, hampered by France's stifling defense. By halftime, the deficit had grown to a daunting 45-29.
French forward Guerschon Yabusele was instrumental in his team’s 82-73 victory, putting up an impressive 22 points. Additionally, Evan Fournier added 15 points off the bench, providing the scoring depth that Canada's bench lacked, as they managed only 16 points in total.
Key Player Performances
Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander emerged as the leading scorer for his team, netting 27 points. Yet, his efforts fell short in overturning the team's slow start. RJ Barrett also chipped in with 16 points, but no other Canadian player reached double figures.
Jamal Murray, who had been struggling throughout the tournament, continued his poor form, scoring just seven points on 3 of 13 shooting. Over the tournament, Murray had been averaging 5.6 points per game with a shooting rate of 33.9%, and he notably went 2 for 14 on three-point attempts.
Canada's ball movement was notably stifled, reflected in their 14 assists against an equal number of turnovers—an inefficiency contrasted by France's 17 turnovers.
French Defense Stands Tall
Victor Wembanyama, the much-anticipated NBA rookie, was relatively quiet compared to expectations, contributing seven points. Rudy Gobert played a minimal role, clocking only three minutes. Nevertheless, the team effort from France ensured that Canada was kept in check throughout the game.
Reflecting on the game, Gilgeous-Alexander voiced his disappointment: "We all wanted to win. I don't know why we started out that way, but it does. It hurts us."
Head coach Jordi Fernandez pointed to the team's lack of cohesion. "We didn't match their energy and physicality. Offensively, I thought it was our most selfish game. We didn't share the ball," he said, underlining the crucial lapses that cost them the match.
Looking to the Future
This marks Canada's first Olympic appearance since the 2000 Sydney Games, a return that ended prematurely but came with lessons to be learned. "It's really disappointing. We had goals to get all the way to the end. When it gets cut short, it's tough and we have to live with it. We have to do whatever it takes to get back in four years," said Lu Dort, echoing the sentiment of determination within the squad.
One notable absentee from the roster was incoming NBA rookie Zach Edey, who decided to focus on his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies. His presence might have added a different dimension to the team's performance.
Canada will now need to go back to the drawing board, re-evaluating strategies and player contributions if they are to build on this Olympic experience and aim for better results in future international competitions.