Olympic men's basketball: Three takeaways from France vs. Japan

France survived a close call against Japan in its second game of the Olympics, winning 94-90. Despite being one of the favorites in the tournament, the French team failed to find its top gear and was dangerously close to becoming the first team to suffer a shock defeat.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday's game.

1. Victor Wembanyama is still learning 

Wembanyama ended the game with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 60% from three-point range and 46% from the field. However, for long stretches in the second half, Wembanyama vanished. He wasn't forcing himself onto the game. Instead, he was anonymous when his team needed him to step up and take control. 

Sometimes, it's easy to forget Wembanyama is still only 20-years-old. He's still learning what he's capable of and how to influence games with and without the ball. Right now, every game is about getting him reps and putting him in new situations. As the contest between these two teams wore on, Wembanyama's status as a young star was evident. Eventually, he must develop a dominant streak.

2. Guerschon Yabusele is not the player we saw in Boston

Yabusele spent two seasons with the Boston Celtics between 2017 and 2019. He was in his early 20s and still very much a developmental talent. Now 28-years-old with years of elite-level European competition under his belt, Yabusele is firmly in his prime. He displayed all the growth in his game as he helped France overcome a resilient Japanese team.

In 18 minutes of play, Yabusele scored 13 points on 50% shooting. He was physically active when setting screens and defended at a high level. He may not be an NBA-level talent, but he is experienced and always shows up for his country. It was a strong performance from the former Celtic. 

3. Japan plays with grit and pride

Japan doesn't have a roster full of high-level talent. Sure, it has two NBA players in its rotation, and a couple of players are rotation guys overseas. However, depth isn't Japan's strong suit. Instead, it stays competitive due to its gritty style of play, where it fights on every possession and executes the fundamentals extremely well.

There's actually some crossover between its style and that of the Miami Heat, where both teams approach each contest with a fearsome mentality. Nevertheless, it's unlikely Japan will go too far in this tournament, even if its games have been a breath of fresh air.