Nothing Brings The World Together Quite Like Seeing Rudy Gobert Get Dunked On
(These pictures will have to do until the official Olympic account tweets out the video so we can embed it. Will update once they do, but just search Twitter in the meantime if you want to see the play)
Welcome to the Paris Olympics Rudy Gobert! Congratulations on becoming the first poster of the Men's Basketball competition and I have to say, nothing brings together the world quite like watching Rudy Gobert get dunked on. I know Joel Embiid said the other day that he's the most hated player in the league, and while he may think that I think we all know the real answer is Rudy Gobert. Between the Covid stuff, all his DPOY controversy, and his playoff issues, it's easily Gobert.
Tough look for Gobert and France given ya know, the Games are being held in Paris, but this is the risk you take when you try and break up an alley oop. This is one of those plays where you can't fault the defender for trying to make the play, especially when that player is someone like Gobert who knows a thing or two about protecting the rim. But in a spot like this, I've always felt you have 2 options
1. Make the business decision and just avoid jumping all together
2. If you're going to jump you have to either block the shot or prevent the bucket with a foul
To end up doing neither of those things and end up being the first poster drunk of the 2024 Olympics? That's tough. But again, I don't think anyone is crying for Gobert here. In fact, we all love to see it which feels mean but then again that's life.
In terms of the dunk itself, it wasn't your typical monster poster where Gobert got sent to the center of the earth or anything. There really wasn't any contact at the height of the oop, when he dunked it Gobert was already sort of out of the way etc. Very impressive to finish don't get me wrong, but I think the Gobert falling at the end is what makes this noticeable. A little hip contact right at the end after finishing the play gives us the image of Gobert lying on the ground which at the end of the day is all that really matters here. I was actually a little surprised Gobert didn't break it up because you can see his left hand is right there to make a play, but credit that dude for a great finish.
Given that France's supposed advantage and what they're banking on during the Olympics is their size, it's not a great sign that absolutely nobody, even Brazil, is afraid of their size. It's also noteworthy that Brazil is giving France hell so far in this game so I can't imagine this is the start France was hoping for. It may just be time to give the ball to Wemby and let him do everything because France could be in big trouble already.