Canada's hopes of a gold medal in men's basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics were dashed as they fell to France in a tough quarterfinal matchup. Despite a valiant effort, Canada could not overcome a sluggish start and a formidable French defense, ultimately losing 82-73.
Struggles from the Start
From the opening tip-off, Canada faced significant challenges. The favored Canadians, expected to progress past France, stumbled early. France's defense clamped down, holding Canada to just ten points in the first quarter, setting the tone for the game.
By halftime, Canada found themselves in a deep hole, trailing 45-29. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led Canada with 27 points, expressed the team's frustration after the game. "We all wanted to win. I don't know why we started out that way, but it does. It hurts us," he said.
French Resilience
France capitalized on Canada's struggles with significant contributions from their key players. Guerschon Yabusele led the charge for France with 22 points, while Evan Fournier added 15 points off the bench, providing the depth that Canada struggled to match. Even Victor Wembanyama, one of France's younger talents, chipped in with seven points. The only downside for France came in the form of turnovers, losing possession 17 times, though these mistakes didn't prove costly in the end.
Canadian Woes
Canada's offense was stymied by the French defense, and no other player aside from Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett, who scored 16 points, reached double figures. The absence of other scoring options was keenly felt. Jamal Murray, who had been averaging 5.6 points and shooting just 33.9% from the field throughout the tournament, once again struggled. Murray managed only seven points on 3 of 13 shooting, reflecting his overall disappointing form, including going 2 for 14 on three-point attempts across the tournament.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez did not mince words about the team's performance. "We didn't match their energy and physicality. Offensively, I thought it was our most selfish game. We didn't share the ball." His assessment was backed by the game's statistics, with Canada recording an equal number of assists and turnovers at 14 each.
Learning from Defeat
For Canada, this Olympic run marked their first appearance since the 2000 Sydney Games, a significant milestone despite the disappointing finish. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett's standout performances offered some solace and hope for the team’s future endeavors.
The team had to contend with the absence of key players. Notably, incoming NBA rookie Zach Edey pulled out from the Olympic roster to focus on his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies. The lack of depth was evident, with Canada's bench contributing only 16 points compared to France's defensive and offensive resilience.
Canada will now look to rebuild and refocus on future tournaments. Reflecting on the loss, forward Lu Dort voiced the team's collective disappointment and determination. "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."
As the team dissects this defeat, they'll look to integrate the lessons learned from the Paris experience and build a stronger, more cohesive unit going into future international competitions. This journey through the Paris Olympics, while ending in heartbreak, is a stepping stone towards achieving their ultimate goals in the world of competitive basketball.