France benches NBA Defensive Player of the Year

When France needed to beef up their defense for their battle against Canada, it benched the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

France sat the veteran Gobert for their 82-73 victory over Canada Tuesday, going with Guerschon Yabusele in the starting lineup instead. Without the DPOY, France held Canada to just six points for the first 8:26 of the game.

Yabusele was a revelation in Gobert’s place. He scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds, going 2-for-4 from three-point range for a French team that’s had trouble shooting from deep.

That’s one reason Gobert played just 3:41, producing one rebound, a foul and a turnover. Alongside Victor Wembanyama, France doesn’t need another center, especially against a smaller and faster Canadian team. It’s a familiar story for Gobert, whose regular-season dominance has often been the precursor for playoff irrelevance.

Gobert wasn’t the only All-Defensive NBA player to struggle Tuesday. Canada’s Dillon Brooks didn’t score until deep into the fourth quarter, and got stuffed by Wembanyama on a crucial late possession. The Rockets guard finished with four fouls and two turnovers, shooting 1-for-9 and looking foolish after staring down Wemby before the game.

Wembanyama struggled with his shot, going 2-for-10 from the field and 3-for-6 from the foul line. But his seven points were supplemented by 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals and that big block.

Now France advances to play Germany in the semifinal. Well see if Gobert is on the court for that one.