Basketball

Bill Simmons, respected podcaster, sports writer, and cultural critic, shared his thoughts on the recent France vs Japan game at the 2024 Olympics Basketball on X (Twitter): "France is getting the craziest home-cooking basketball officiating in recent  memory." Agree? Many fans believe so.

Ha ha France is getting the craziest home-cooking basketball officiating in recent memory.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 30, 2024

Basketball analysts expected the Japan vs France basketball game to be another rout win for the France national basketball men's team. That was the assumption after the German men's team defeated the Japanese team by 20 points (in their opener). But Atsakushi Japan, coached  by Tom Howasse, outplayed and out hustled Les Bleus. The former led the latter by four points in the fourth quarter with 10 seconds remaining. And then the phantom foul on point guard Matthew Strazel while attempting a desperate three pointer. Did Yuki Karamuwa touch Strazel's hips? Or did he not? 

Some international basketball fans couldn't help but be reminded of the gold-medal match between the former Soviet Union and the US during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The last three seconds were repeated three times. It allowed the Soviet men's team to deny the Americans the Olympic gold medal for the first time. The US team refused to receive their silver medal during the awarding ceremony. And what really happened during that game was still being disputed up to this day. It could be the same thing with the Japan vs. France game. It would be talked about in the months, if not years, to come.

5 Takeaways from the Japan vs France Game and Why It Would Make an Awkward Conversation 

Did referees make a mistake on Yuki Karamuwa? Yes AND no. Yuki Karamuwa stole the show, scoring 29 games and almost putting Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert to shame. The Brazilian players were hesitant to go to the inside because of the towering duo, but Karamuwa didn't show any of it. Hardcore NBA fans weren't surprised at all. Karamuwa has an Exhibit 10 contract for the Memphis Grizzlies. Those who were present at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium pointed out that Karamuwa shouldn't be too close to Strazel. And there was one spectator who claimed to have a video that showed that the Japanese ace did touch the French point guard during that tense moment. There were others who thought otherwise. They said...

The Japanese men's team should've fouled Rudy Gobert. It would be a WHAT IF moment, when  Atsakushi Japan decided to foul Rudy Gobert during those dying seconds and forced the Minnesota Timberwolves center to make those two free throws. And Japan would have led France by two points. It's hard to tell if there would be another foul. though. If there is, can Les Bleus get another chance to go to the free-throw line? Fans who believe in it would put the blame on the Japanese side, but no one would ever know.

Did Rui Hachimura really commit an unsportsmanlike foul? Hachimura, a Los Angeles Lakers forward, joined the Japanese men's senior team in 2019. And he averaged 14 points, 4.4 rebounds. and 1.5 assists as a starter. In short, Hachimura is a valuable member of the Japanese men's team, so his ejection in the fourth quarter is a huge blow (on Japan). Was there an unsportsmanlike foul on Gobert? There was an Instagram reel, where Hachimura didn't have nice things to say about the French center. Not a few take his words with a grain of salt, though. A few referees thought it was excessive. It would lead to the next item.

Everyone wants a France vs. Germany rematch. France played Germany in Cologne a few weeks ago. It was supposed to be a friendly game, but the second quarter showed Evan Fournier choking Dennis Schröder after a foul was committed. Or not. The two managed to patch things up, but Fournier was ejected from the game. Les Bleus won that friendly after an impressive first-quarter performance by Wembanyama. Many fans noticed the absence of Moritz and Franz Wagner.

The outcome would've been different if the brothers, both playing for Orlando Magic, suited their jerseys for that game. Both teams met in Montpellier a few days later. Germany won that friendly game, but the San Antonio Spurs center wasn't feeling well. The rematch will be held a little later, where all the notable players will be there. The home crowd is expected to boo Schröder, but he would expect it. This is a very important game, as the result would determine if Canada and the US will meet in the semifinals. Last but not the least...

Did the organizers want all the contenders to advance to the knockout round? It should be the ideal case. Some fans may be too cynical to believe it, as politics clouded the Olympics in the past. The Japan vs France basketball game could take the cake, though. 

Nicolas Batum, the French team captain, rather looks at the positives. 

“It’s the Olympics. It’s the 12 best teams in the world, so it’s no easy game. You can see that from the beginning; there’s no blowout, except for the USA team. But pretty much every game is close. That’s why you love the Olympics, why you love basketball - to play those games. It was fun tonight,” the Los Angeles Clippers forward concluded.

What are your thoughts on this controversial game?

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