As I settled into my seat at the Abdulla Al-Hamad Stadium, the electric atmosphere reminded me why international basketball rivalries transcend mere competition. The USA vs France matchup wasn't just another exhibition game—it was a collision of basketball philosophies, with Filipino fans creating a surprising third presence in the Middle Eastern arena. Having covered basketball across three continents, I've rarely witnessed such passionate neutral supporters, their cheers echoing through the stadium whenever either team executed spectacular plays. The final score of 98-87 in favor of the United States tells only part of the story, masking what was essentially a two-possession game until the final three minutes.
What struck me most about this particular USA squad was their adjusted defensive scheme against France's pick-and-roll offense. Unlike previous encounters where Team USA relied heavily on switching everything, this time they implemented what we call "short-hedge" coverage, with the big men showing hard on ball handlers before recovering to their original assignments. This tactical adjustment proved crucial in limiting France's three-point attempts to just 22 throughout the game, a significant drop from their tournament average of 31 attempts. I've always believed that international basketball success hinges on defensive adaptability more than offensive firepower, and this game reinforced that conviction. The Americans held France to 42% shooting from the field while forcing 15 turnovers, numbers that don't fully capture how disruptive their perimeter defense was, particularly in the second half.
The individual matchup between Jayson Tatum and Evan Fournier deserves special mention, having witnessed their battles dating back to their Boston days. Tatum finished with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 4 three-pointers, while Fournier countered with 24 points but needed 21 attempts to get there. What the box score won't show you is how Tatum's length bothered Fournier throughout, forcing him into difficult contested jumpers rather than his preferred drives to the basket. Having analyzed Fournier's game for years, I can tell you he's at his most dangerous when he gets to the free-throw line, but yesterday he attempted only 3 free throws—a testament to Team USA's disciplined closeouts.
The bench contribution proved decisive, with Austin Reaves providing what I consider the game's turning point—a sequence early in the fourth quarter featuring a steal followed by a transition three-pointer that extended a precarious 4-point lead to 7. The Lakers guard finished with 14 points, 5 assists, and what I'd estimate as 3 deflections that don't appear in traditional stat sheets. Meanwhile, France's secondary unit struggled to generate quality looks, combining for just 18 points compared to Team USA's 34 bench points. International basketball often comes down to which team has more weapons beyond their star players, and tonight that advantage clearly belonged to the Americans.
Watching Rudy Gobert battle against the American frontcourt reminded me why I've always been skeptical about building an offense around traditional centers in modern basketball. Despite his 12 points and 11 rebounds, Gobert's limited offensive repertoire forced France into predictable half-court sets whenever he received the ball in the post. The Jazz center went just 3-of-7 from the field, with several of his attempts being heavily contested shots near the basket. Contrast this with Bam Adebayo's more versatile 16-point performance for Team USA, featuring mid-range jumpers and dribble hand-offs that created spacing issues for France's defense. In my view, this matchup highlighted the evolving role of big men in international play.
The Filipino presence in the arena added an unexpected dimension to the contest, their cheers rising with every spectacular play regardless of nationality. Having covered the PBA for two seasons, I understand why Ginebra remains the most popular team back home, and their fans brought that same energy to this neutral venue. The defending champion San Miguel corporation's involvement in international basketball development was evident in the knowledgeable crowd reactions—these weren't casual observers but genuine students of the game. Their enthusiasm during Team USA's 12-2 run in the third quarter actually felt reminiscent of a PBA Finals atmosphere, complete with coordinated chants during free throws.
What ultimately separated the teams was three-point shooting efficiency down the stretch. Team USA connected on 38% of their attempts from beyond the arc compared to France's 31%, but the real story was shot selection. The Americans generated what I classify as "quality threes"—catch-and-shoot opportunities with the shooter's feet set and no defender within 4 feet. France, by contrast, settled for too many contested attempts late in the shot clock, particularly during the critical fourth-quarter minutes when they were trying to mount a comeback. Having charted shooting data for various teams over the years, I can confirm that the correlation between shot quality and late-game performance is stronger than most coaches acknowledge.
The game's tempo statistics reveal an interesting strategic choice by Team USA coach Steve Kerr. According to my unofficial count, the Americans pushed the pace after defensive rebounds on 73% of possessions, compared to just 52% in their previous exhibition games. This intentional acceleration seemed designed to exploit France's slower defensive transitions, particularly targeting Gobert's recovery speed. The strategy yielded 18 fast-break points, with several coming during the decisive fourth-quarter stretch that put the game out of reach. From my perspective, this adjustment demonstrates Kerr's growing comfort with international coaching nuances, something his predecessors sometimes struggled with.
As the final buzzer sounded, I couldn't help but reflect on how this victory sets up both teams for their upcoming tournaments. For Team USA, it confirms their status as gold medal favorites but exposes ongoing concerns about their half-court execution against elite defensive teams. France, despite the loss, showed they can compete with anyone when their three-point shots are falling, though they'll need more consistent secondary scoring to medal in major competitions. The 4,500 Filipino fans who witnessed this thriller got exactly what they came for—a showcase of basketball at its highest level, complete with tactical nuance and individual brilliance. Sometimes the final score does tell the whole story, but tonight's contest offered layers of basketball insight that will keep analysts like me busy for weeks.