The second semifinal recreation of the ladies’s 5×5 basketball match on the 2024 Olympics is Friday, Aug. 9 at 3 p.m. ET, with Belgium taking part in France (Peacock/USA Community).
This can mark the seventh time these two groups have ever confronted off, with the present collection tied at 3-3. These two groups play one another very shut; nonetheless, France has received two of the final three video games relationship again to 2022. Listed below are some key elements to look out for through the semifinal match:
How will Meesseman and Belgium’s offense carry out?
Belgium has been an offensive juggernaut all through the match, led by star ahead Emma Meesseman. Their capacity to house the ground and share the ball has been the important thing to their success, permitting them to common slightly below 80 factors per recreation.
Meesseman has appeared like arguably the very best participant in Olympic competitors. She lately went off for 30 factors on 67 p.c capturing in opposition to Japan and adopted that up with an environment friendly 19-point, nine-rebound and six-assist effort in opposition to Spain. Even Crew USA had little or no reply for her offensively. France will look to disrupt Belgium’s offensive circulation by pressuring their guards and denying Meesseman simple touches. It is going to be essential for Belgium’s perimeter gamers to knock down photographs and relieve the strain on Meesseman, particularly with their spacing and motion away from the ball.
Which Marine Johannès will France get?
France’s success on this match has largely trusted the scoring prowess of Marine Johannès. She has been a constant offensive menace, utilizing her quickness and capturing capacity to create scoring alternatives. Very similar to her function with the New York Liberty, she is the definition of microwave offense. When she’s sizzling, she’s sizzling. Nevertheless, this streaky capturing will be detrimental to France’s offense when photographs aren’t falling.
Nothing epitomizes this level greater than France’s final two video games: a win in opposition to Germany the place Johannès had 24 factors on 8-for-14 capturing and a loss in opposition to Australia the place she had 9 factors on 4-for-12 capturing. Each of those video games epitomize her affect for France and why her efficiency will dictate their probabilities. Johannès’ capacity to interrupt down defenders off the dribble and hit photographs from deep will likely be essential for France’s probabilities. If she will be able to discover her rhythm early and draw defenders, it might open up alternatives for her teammates to attain.
Which group’s fashion will likely be simpler?
Each Belgium and France play comparable types, thriving in an up-tempo, spaced-out fashion the place they’ll run unfold pick-and-roll and stretch defenses with capturing. Because of this, matchup searching will likely be essential; each groups will look to guard their weaker defenders when defending, whereas exploiting the opponent’s defensive liabilities when on offense.
The largest query is: How will these groups scheme and defend in opposition to very comparable offensive methods to their very own?
Recreation info
France vs. Belgium
When: Friday, August 9 at 3 p.m. ET
The place: Bercy Enviornment in Paris, France
Find out how to watch: Peacock, USA Community
