[TenSecondTomParticipant]

Great game by both sides. I think one of these teams could potentially place 3rd in the World Cup. A few things I took from the game…

Dario Saric dominated on the inside, even against Gobert and Mahinmi. He’s too creative of a player and can thrive on the inside even against more physically imposing players. He was used mostly as a standard Power-Forward in this game and the more I watch his game, the less I see a SF in him. Some people may take that as a negative, but even against quality competition, he seems to be the X-Factor in any game he plays in.

Damjan Rudez played awful; he accumulated 3 fouls in the first 5 minutes of the game and sat the rest of the game. 

Bojan Bogdanovic went 2-10 from the field, 1-5 for 3pt land, but contributed 8 points 6 rebounds 2 assists. I think he will be a solid role player for the Nets this upcoming year as he can do a little bit of everything. I view him as the wing version of Mirza Teletovic with a bit more well roundedness.

Ante Tomic had a very quiet game and although he does extremely well in the 2nd best league in the world, this game makes me question if he would be successful in the NBA (although I don’t think he will come over ever). I really like his game, but unlike Saric, he doesn’t seem willing to mix it up with the big boys.

Mario Hezonja accumulated 4 fouls in 10 minutes. He didn’t take a shot, didn’t have an assist, steal, and only managed to grab 1 rebound. He looked lost out there, but I still have really high hopes for him in the future. He has shined when he garners significant minutes and that is scary considering the NBA fits his style of play more than the European leagues.

Luka Zoric was an absolute monster scoring 20 points, while shooting 5-9 from the field, 1-1 for 3pt range, and 9-11 from the FT line. Mind you, he is a 6-11, 29 year old C/PF type but he is the type of player that I don’t understand how scouts let him slip through the cracks. Especially in the NBA today, he could be one of those solid role players that come cheap and fufill a specific duty.

Now for France

Nicolas Batum didn’t really stand out scoring 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals. Bogdanovic did a nice job covering him for most of the game. Although he had an off game, I love Batum’s game and the NBA needs more players like him.

Ian Mahinmi had 8 points 6 rebounds, but was dominated by Dario Saric on the inside for a good chunk of the game. Still a solid backup big man in the NBA.

Evan Fournier only got about 12 minutes but was highly inefficient. 2 points, 2 rebounds, on 5 shots. He did have a really nice 2 points I must say. He shows the skill, he just needs work on the conistency throughout the games. 

Nando De Colo played amazing dropping 13 points on 7 shots while also dishing 3 assists. He has left to play for Moscow this year, but I think that he is a high end backup, low end starter in the NBA. It’s a shame that a team couldn’t give him the proper role or salary to keep him in the NBA and I hope he gets another chance to prove himself in the NBA.

Rudy Gobert had 7 points 5 rebounds 2 assists 2 steals and 1 block. He shot 3-3 from the line, 2-4 from the field. He was getting abused by Saric all game, until he made a few nice plays at the end of the 4th quarter to seal the game for France. He looks to be a great NBA prospect, but he’s still incredibly raw.

Overall it was a great game, France took a 17 point lead in the first half, Croatia came back and actually went up 10 early in the 4th quarter, but then France took over and eventually won 71-61.

What do you all think about these players mentioned above?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GabnosisParticipant]

He was the MVP of the game and you don’t even mention him…

I know he will never play in the NBA (already 25) but they won thanks to him, he is an amazing passer (best passer in spain this year), he made some clutch shots and some great pass.

TP being out, you should look for Heurtel in the years to come as the starting PG for France (except maybe Westermann…)

But I’m also very high on Mario Hezonja… I think he is going to be an amazing NBA player someday…

[GabnosisParticipant]

He was the MVP of the game and you don’t even mention him…

I know he will never play in the NBA (already 25) but they won thanks to him, he is an amazing passer (best passer in spain this year), he made some clutch shots and some great pass.

TP being out, you should look for Heurtel in the years to come as the starting PG for France (except maybe Westermann…)

But I’m also very high on Mario Hezonja… I think he is going to be an amazing NBA player someday…

[TenSecondTomParticipant]

 Yeah that was the one guy who I could’ve mentioned but didn’t. Thought I wrote too much and like you said didn’t feel necessary considering he won’t be playing in the NBA I don’t think. He’s great and just like Luka Zorić I don’t understand why they at least don’t get a chance. 

[TenSecondTomParticipant]

 Yeah that was the one guy who I could’ve mentioned but didn’t. Thought I wrote too much and like you said didn’t feel necessary considering he won’t be playing in the NBA I don’t think. He’s great and just like Luka Zorić I don’t understand why they at least don’t get a chance. 

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