2023-11-19 02:22:24
We bet, without risk of being much wrong, that before facing the Memphis Grizzlies a little later in the night in the NBA, Victor Wembanyama took a look at the result of the Hauts-de-Seine derby. Only 6 months ago, he was the star of the previous edition. In the colors of the Mets, he cried, said goodbye and thank you to “his” club, Nanterre, before making the big American leap.
Life has changed since then. The derby is always a match that we wait for. But it has become much more classic again than those of last season. The madness around the phenomenon has died down. Winner of the derby in May (72-82) as well as the first leg at Levallois a year ago to the day (92-85), Boulogne-Levallois is no longer celebrating. The continuation of the French vice-champion club in Betclic Elite in June seems highly improbable.
At the neighbor’s, 7 km away as the crow flies, the team of Laurent Foirest, Vincent Collet’s former assistant in the French team, conceded its 11th defeat in 12 matches. We’re reaching the first third of the season and the Mets are still not taking off. It would take much more than a miracle now for Boulogne-Levallois to save its place in Betclic Elite at the end of the season. Remember that there will be 3 descents in Pro B in the spring and that usually, maintenance is ensured with at least 14 victories. It is not clear where the Mets, who will face Asvel and Monaco in the coming weeks, will go for the dozen or so victories essential to their salvation. The calculation is quite simple: there are 24 days left and at least 13 matches to win. That’s more than one success every two matches: it seems impossible. It probably is. »
This is a bad sign that the Mets are now all alone in last place in the standings. Gravelines, winner of Nancy (83-76) a little earlier, began to win and left Boulogne abandoned in its struggle. However, there is (much) better in this team. By adjusting its workforce, it is starting to hold up. She largely held her own against Nanterre and if the situation was not so unexpected, it could be encouraging. Leading at half-time in Nanterre (42-53), she surely had her best match of the season, with desire and determination. But she didn’t last the distance.
After a failed second quarter, Nanterre found its colors to push its next-door neighbor a little further in the second period. “As long as we take 94 points, we won’t be able to get out of it,” regrets the vice Olympic champion in 200 with the Blues. Our problem is defensive. As long as we don’t defend and play with eight players, we won’t succeed. We are clearly still missing one player. We’ve been doing DIY since the start of the season. We have a sick championship and there is still hope. But we have to change something. » Maybe not just one to tell the truth.
“Every victory is an important step in this division”
With this victory, Nanterre conversely confirms its good start to the season and its place in the Top 8 which in the end will offer a place in the playoffs after a place in the Leaders Cup. Nanterre is even fifth at the end of this 12th day. Frédéric Donnadieu, the president of the club, says: Nanterre is no longer able to play for the title of champion of France. He remembers that a year ago his club was in danger of avoiding relegation.
“Each victory is an important step in this division, each one is crucial for the top as well as the bottom of the ranking,” says Pascal Donnadieu. Our start to the season is good with many players trained in France. I am delighted about it and I am proud of it. Before leaving my position as coach, I want to leave the club in Pro A (!). We look up and we would like it to last but we also know that we must continue to look down. This championship can hold many surprises and in addition, many clubs are recruiting to modify their squad. Besides, it surprises me.”
The biggest ambition is to play in the playoffs to continue the fun, so that somewhere in the United States, Victor Wembanyama continues to take a look at the results of “his” club for a long time. Nanterre has not been invited to the Big Eight since the 2018-2019 season, the one before Covid. The road is still long but for the moment, Pascal Donnadieu’s team is well on its way to finding them.
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