Canada's men's basketball team will not be contending for the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, following a disappointing defeat to France in the quarterfinals. The highly anticipated matchup pitted the Canadians, who entered the game as eight-point favorites, against a resilient French squad that claimed an 82-73 victory.
Early Struggles
France’s stifling defense held Canada to just 10 points in the first quarter, setting the tone for a game where nothing seemed to go right for the Canadians offensively. By halftime, Canada was staring at a daunting 45-29 deficit.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who topped the scoring charts for Canada with 27 points, expressed the team’s frustration. “We all wanted to win. I don’t know why we started out that way, but it does. It hurts us," he said.
Mid-Game Woes
The lack of ball movement and sharing was evident. Head Coach Jordi Fernandez did not mince words in his post-game assessment. “We didn’t match their energy and physicality. Offensively, I thought it was our most selfish game. We didn’t share the ball." Such candid insights revealed the core issues that plagued Canada throughout the match.
Stellar Performances by France
On the other side, France capitalized on Canada’s struggles. Guerschon Yabusele shone brightly with his 22 points, while Evan Fournier added 15 critical points off the bench. Victor Wembanyama, the highly-touted young star, chipped in with seven points. Even Rudy Gobert, who played limited minutes, managed to make his presence felt defensively.
Disappointing Outcomes for Key Players
For Canada, RJ Barrett was the only other player to make a significant scoring contribution, tallying 16 points. The rest of the team struggled to find their rhythm, particularly Jamal Murray, who had been in a shooting slump throughout the tournament. Murray averaged just 5.6 points and shot 33.9% from the field in the tournament, scoring seven points against France with a dismal 3 of 13 from the field. His three-point shooting was equally problematic, making only 2 of 14 attempts throughout the tournament.
Turnover Troubles
Turnovers were another area where Canada faltered, finishing with 14 assists against an equal number of turnovers. Despite France turning the ball over 17 times, Canada could not capitalize on these opportunities to close the gap.
A Painful Return
Canada’s return to the Olympics marked their first appearance since the 2000 Sydney Games. The defeat against France served as a harsh reminder of the challenges that lie at the highest levels of competition. Gilgeous-Alexander lamented the early exit, stating, "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."
Looking Forward
The absence of key players also impacted Canada's Olympic campaign. Incoming NBA rookie Zach Edey’s decision to pull out from the roster to focus on his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies left a void in the team’s depth.
As Canada reflects on its early exit, the words of Lu Dort capture the sentiment of the squad and their fans. “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,” Dort said.
For now, Canada will have to regroup and consider the lessons learned from Paris, focusing on building towards a more successful campaign in the future.