X-Factors for Gold Medal Throwdown

TOKYO (Japan) - The USA appear to have have found their stride in the bid to win a fourth-straight Olympic Gold Medal Game, yet the results between themselves and the Final opponents are proof enough that France are going to be a giant hurdle to clear.

Not every national team the USA faces has the reigning NBA's Defensive Player of the Year on it as Rudy Gobert is for France. Not every opponent of the Americans has the distinct advantage of continuity, which the French have not only in terms of players but also coaching staff.

And not every opponent of the USA has won the last two meetings between the two as France have. Les Bleus beat the United States, 89-79, in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China and then opened the Tokyo Olympics with an 83-76 triumph over the Americans.

What's clear is that the USA have not only one of, if not the best, players in their history in Kevin Durant. His teammates have also found their feet and since the opening game defeat to France are helping the Americans win games on both ends of the floor.

Here are some X-Factors for the Final.

Evan Fournier

It can't be taken for granted that Fournier is going to provide another 28 points against the USA as he did on opening night, or that he'll pour in 22 as he did in the World Cup triumph. The Americans will address the Fournier issue in training. They are almost certain to place more emphasis on defending Fournier on off-ball screens and try to guard the three-point line better.

As for slowing down Fournier, it would make sense to have Jrue Holiday, who limited Patty Mills of Australia in the second half of their game, to stick to Fournier like glue. So Fournier is, in fact, an X-Factor. If he still gets his points, this is a massive win for France.

 

Three-headed monster

It's a near certainty that Durant is going to get points. The question is, how many and will he score them in the clutch as he did in the USA's two knockout game wins over Spain and Australia? Might France coach Vincent Collet go with a three-headed defensive monster of Nicolas Batum/Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot/Frank Ntilikina to at least try and contain the all-time leading scorer at the Olympics for the USA?

Batum - aka Batman - is an excellent defender that guards multiple positions. How appropriate it was that he saved the day by pinning Klemen Prepelic's shot on the glass at the end of France's 90-89 win! Can he, with some help from Luwawu-Cabarrot and Ntilikina, put the shackles on Durant, or at least bother him enough so that he's not as influential as he normally is?

The Lillard Eruption

There are nights in the NBA when Damian Lillard is the best player in the world. Might he end up being the best player in the Final? France cannot obsess too much over Durant or his replacement Jaysom Tatum that they allow Lillard to see the ball go through the hoop a few times and erupt for a big game.

USA points off pressure

via GIPHY

 So far, we've seen only glimpses of USA getting easy fastbreak points off turnovers. It happened against Australia, with the Americans' length posing problems in passing lanes. It really killed the Boomers' offense in the second half. France must try to turn the contest into a halfcourt grind and they must LIMIT TURNOVERS. If they turn the ball over cheaply, they'll pay.

Vincent Collet

If the France coach has been dreaming about being a part of this game since his childhood, then he certainly must have held something back in this tournament that can surprise, or at least cause problems, for the USA. What will it be?

Defending when France go big

When France went big in the first meeting, the USA didn't cope well. How will the Americans' coach Gregg Popovich react this time? Will the USA be ready once Collet puts a lot of size on the court in the rematch?

 

FIBA