Recap: France 103, Jordan 64: “He slurped that steal up”

The kid was alright! France absolutely stomped an underwhelming Jordan team. Our boy Frank Ntilikina had a lot to do with it. Much like Summer League, guys that belong on the NBA level need to be dominant against lesser competition. It’s what we need as fans to feel comfortable moving forward. A lot of folks press this too far and want only stars, but quality role players are not a dime a dozen. Give me this jumper we’ve been seeing, and I’ll show you prime Derek Harper. The only investment I need up front is time.

Have a gander...

My goodness, that pick! He poked it free, drank it’s milkshake and then spit it over to a Nando de Colo in one lanky Frankie motion.

• Ntilikina got the start and produced heartily. In 21 minutes he was a team best +31 with five boards, five assists, three steals and a block. Gaudy. Bawdy.
• Frank stepped into both of his three point makes and splashed ‘em on home. Shot 3-5 overall and 2-4 from downtown.
• Ntilikina showed the certitude we’ve been longing for on drives to the basket evident in his 4-4 from the charity stripe. No pussyfooting today, my friend.
• My favorite regular-old-play of the day from Frank was in the second half. He received a skip pass into the left corner and volley balled a gorgeous post entry to Rudy Gobert who had his man totally sealed. Gobert immediately went up and got hacked and went to the line. Classic play that won’t show up in the box score but is the prettiest evidence of Ntilikina effecting the game when no one is looking. Hater’s grumbled.
• My least favorite play was in the opening moments when Frank tried a 50-foot shovel pass through the center of the floor. It was easily picked off and turned the other way where he almost singlehandedly stopped the Jordanian fast break.
• Jordan had the most bootleg Jump Man logo on their jersey. It was bizarre. It was like a tore back And-1 character trying to dunk on a 8-foot rim. It was probably designed by the No Fear company. It’s not the brakes you beat off a punk, it’s that you brake and beat off, you punk!

And there ya have it, folks. France whupped ‘em, Ntilikina whupped ‘em. You shouldn’t read too much into it, but it sorta makes the case for the country of LeBron being better than Jordan, I’d say.

Their next game is Thursday against the Dominican Republic who just bounced Germany up outta here! Keep it rolling, fellers.