[ODDS and EVENS] Japan Plays a Gutsy Basketball Game Against France That Showed Team's Growth

The Japan men's national basketball team needed dynamic performances from forward Rui Hachimura and guard Yuki Kawamura to have a good shot at beating France at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday night, July 30.

It nearly happened. World No 26 Japan fell 94-90 to ninth-ranked France in overtime.

For players on both teams, it was a pulse-rising encounter. And for the fans, it was riveting entertainment throughout the game.

Speaking to reporters after Japan's four-point defeat, naturalized Japanese big man Josh Hawkinson summed up his team's performance this way: "To be able to fight until the very end against one of the top teams in the world is definitely a step in the right direction for us."

The teams traded baskets on numerous occasions and made a plethora of big plays at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. 

Consider France vs Japan one of the classic duels in Olympic basketball history.

It also produced controversy. Hachimura, who had 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting, was booted from the game after picking up his second unsportsmanlike foul with 8:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. Four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, who drew the foul, is an imposing presence on the court at 216 cm and 117 kg. 

At that moment, France led 72-70 and Hachimura had the hot hand on offense for Akatsuki Japan. In fact, he had nailed back-to-back 3-pointers before being ejected.

For Japan, a Frustrating Decision in This Basketball Game

When it was over, Japan head coach Tom Hovasse spoke about the Olympic basketball tournament in general and what he saw while watching France's 78-66 win against Brazil on July 27. He spoke about how that game influenced Japan's match against France, citing rising star Victor Wembanyama, who is a 222-cm (7-foot-3), do-it-all forward.

"We were being very physical. [And] we saw in the Brazil game (against France) where they were really pushing and in these Olympics they're (the referees) allowing it," Hovasse said, according to Kyodo News. 

"So we really worked on trying to get him (Wembanyama) outside the paint, get him out of his comfort zone a little bit. The guys did a great job, they really did."

Without Hachimura, Japan continued to play aggressively and Kawamura stepped up, continuing to hit clutch shot after clutch shot.

To its credit and Hovasse's steady hand, Japan never let up. It trailed 92-84 in OT after France went on an 8-0 to open the bonus period. Japan rallied to pull within 92-90 before France sealed the win at the free-throw line.

San Antonio Spurs forward Wembanyama, the No 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and the NBA Rookie of the Year this past season, said Japan played a relentless style of basketball. That style tested France, never giving the hosts a moment of comfort.

"I don't think we've experienced such a team," Wembanyama said, according to The Associated Press. "We have to give props, respect to this. They really know how to use their strength. We can learn from them."

Kawamura Shines in Japan's Loss

Despite the loss of Hachimura due to an officiating decision, Kawamura had an influential performance with 29 points (including 6 of 15 on 3–point attempts, seven rebounds and six assists. 

What's more, Kawamura reminded everyone watching that size is a relative thing. Even if a player is only 172 centimeters tall (5 feet, 8 inches), he or she can still dominate against taller players. The 2022-23 B.League MVP showed a global audience that he has a huge heart ― and guts, never doubting his ability.

Although he shot 9-for-26 overall, Kawamura was the engine, the offensive catalyst for Japan. It needed his energy, his speed, his pinpoint passes to counter France's height, talent and depth (France's bench outscored Japan's reserves 50-9).

Hachimura Regains Shooting Touch Before Unexpected Departure 

Hachimura also had a strong effort and shot the ball a lot better than he did in Japan's 97-77 Group B opener to reigning FIBA Basketball World Cup champion Germany on July 27. In that game, Hachimura shot 4-for-19 in the rout. On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers player was aggressive on offense, displayed a nifty mix of polished low post-up moves and made a number of important long-range shots, too. 

Gobert finished with seven points, 15 rebounds and two blocks for France. Evan Fournier and Guerschon Yabusele had 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Wembanyama was France's key performer with 18 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, two steals and a pair of blocks. And there was also 21-year-old point guard Matthew Strazel's 17-point effort, including a four-point play (a step-back 3 on which he was fouled) with 10 seconds left in the fourth. That made it 84-84. Kawamura was whistled for the foul.

"I think there was no foul," said Kawamura, according to BasketNews. "But Strazel is a good shooter. That was a tough shot, and he made it."

Moments later, in OT, another tense moment, the ball was in Kawamura's hands for the final shot. He attempted a 3-pointer that caromed off the rim.

After Japan's four-point loss, it was clear that maybe a half-dozen plays determined the outcome. And two or three more plays that went its way could've produced a big upset win.

What's Next for These Two Basketball Teams?

After two straight Olympic losses, Japan now looks to end Group B play with a victory against Brazil on Friday, August 2. On the same day, France, which has already clinched a spot in the tourney quarterfinals, is set to meet Germany.

Before the game plan against Brazil became the singular focus for Japan veteran forward Yuta Watanabe and his teammate, he reflected on the hard-fought showdown with France.

"We played really well, we fought hard for 40 minutes. I'm really proud of what we did. We never gave up. Even when they made some runs, we kept our heads up and kept running," Watanabe said, according to BasketNews.

Case in point: A lineup switch that Hovasse had to make. 

That resilience was on display as backup big man Hugh Watanabe (no relation to Yuta) was called upon to play after Hachimura exited the game and played gritty defense, including two big blocks, and provided four points and six rebounds in 18-plus minutes.

Capitalizing on Playing Time

At the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Hugh Watanabe was on Japan's 12-man roster, but he didn't play in any of the team's three games. 

Against Germany on July 27, he only played 4-plus minutes. 

This time, the B.League veteran made the most of his opportunity against France.

Just ask Hovasse, who has described the team's one-for-all approach as "our next-man-up mentality." 

That's an important characteristic of any team with sustained success.

"I believe in every one of those guys," Hovasse told reporters after the game. "I wish I could play them all, but sometimes the game doesn't allow that. Hugh played great."

And don't forget what Kawamura and Hachimura produced for the majority of the game. Indeed, it was dynamic.

RELATED:

• Germany Runs Past Japan in Men's Basketball Tourney Opener
• Japan Men's Basketball Squad Unveils its Roster for Paris Olympics
• [ODDS and EVENS] The Next Generation of Akatsuki Japan Backcourt Stars Has Arrived
• EDITORIAL | After FIBA, Japan's Basketball Team Has to Up Its Game in Paris

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.