Paris and Asvel clearly won this Sunday in Betclic Elite, unlike Monaco, trapped at home by Le Mans. The Roca Team fell back to 5th position.
For more than two weeks, Paris has undoubtedly been the basketball team to avoid. Both in Betclic Elite and in the Euroleague where they achieved the feat of beating Barça in Catalonia this week. In a trance during their last outings at the Adidas Arena, Tiago Splitter’s men once again set the Porte de la Chapelle enclosure ablaze this Sunday during the closing match of the 9th day of Betclic Elite. Strasbourg paid the price, losing heavily with a score of 106-74.. A week after his fabulous match against Saint-Quentin, Nadir Hifi shone again (29 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists). With this 7th victory in all competitions, the third in a row on the French scenethe capital club maintains its second place tied with Asvel.
The Lyonnais, for their part, perfectly negotiated their trip to Gravelines-Dunkerque, winning by a margin of more than 20 points (60-81). Paris has Nadir Hifi, Asvel has Théo Maledon in its ranks. Author successively of 31 points then 26 points this week in the Euroleague, the French international spent 20 points this Sunday against the Northerners, accompanied by 4 rebounds and 6 assists. In his wake, Joffrey Lauvergne scored all his shots (6/6) to end the match with a statistical line showing 16 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in less than twenty minutes on the floor.
Monaco trapped and won by Paris and Asvel
With a record similar to those of Paris and Asvel until this week, Monaco is now off the hook. In its Gaston-Médecin room, the Roca Team was trapped by Le Mans (74-86). The American TaShawn Thomas, with his 21 points and 2 rebounds, was the great architect of this Sarthe success in the principality. The 17 points of the Lithuanian Donatas Motiejunas remained in vain, Monaco fell to 5th place in Betclic Elite (5 wins, 3 losses). Thanks to their seven victories, Paris and Asvel jointly occupy second place, behind Cholet which has still not played its late match against Dijon.
Thank you for joining us today. Our guests are Chris Smith, a basketball analyst, and Helena Vasquez, a sports journalist for a leading French publication. Chris, let’s start with you. Can you share your thoughts on Paris’s outstanding performance this season, particularly in their recent match against Strasbourg?
Chris: Well, absolutely. Paris has been on an incredible run recently, and it’s no surprise to see them dominate against weaker teams like Strasbourg. Their chemistry seems to be at an all-time high, with players like Nadir Hifi and Tiago Splitter performing exceptionally well. It will be interesting to see how they fare against tougher opponents like Cholet and Asvel in the coming weeks.
Helena: I couldn’t agree more, Chris. If we look at their last few matches, Paris has been simply unstoppable. They’ve managed to maintain their intensity and focus despite playing in multiple competitions. It’s truly impressive to see how they’ve managed to balance their domestic and European commitments so well. What do you think has been the key to their success this season, Helena?
Helena: Paris has a strong team this season, but I think the addition of Splitter has been crucial. He brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team, which has helped stabilize them. Furthermore, their defensive strategy has improved significantly under head coach, Vincent Collet. They’re not just relying on their offense to win games, which is a testament to their growth as a team.
Chris: That’s a great point, Helena. Asvel’s performance has also been noteworthy this season, with Théo Maledon and Joffrey Lauvergne leading the charge. Do you think they have what it takes to challenge Paris for the top spot?
Helena: Asvel has been solid this season, but I don’t think they have the firepower to challenge Paris long-term. Their victory against Gravelines-Dunkerque was impressive, but it’s important to remember that they were without Maledon and Lauvergne in that match. If they can keep up their form, they might be able to beat Paris in a one-off game, but consistency over a prolonged period will be difficult for them.
Chr
