LNB: Nanterre is “Champion de France 2013”

With an 83:77 victory over Strasbourg in Game 4, on their temporary home court, the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris, Nanterre completed their historic run through the French LNB playoffs and earned the title of “Champions de France 2013” on Saturday. Nanterre’s David Lightly was named the Finals MVP.

As remarkable as the fact that JSFN had to defeat the No. 1 (Gravelines-Dunkerque), No. 2 (Strasbourg), and No. 4 (Chalon/Saone) teams in the regular season to earn the big hardware, the fact that the Nanterriens only ascended to French ProA two seasons ago, have the second lowest budget in the LNB and have now won the leagues’ top prize is every bit as impressive.

The Nanterre home games were shifted from their regular home court, which can only seat 1,500, to the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris, which allowed for crowds over 4,000 at their two home contests.

In returning here, it was raw in Nanterre, we did not feel disoriented. Instead of being worn by fans in 1500, we had 4,000. Inevitably, it has increased tenfold our strength and energy.
–Nanterre coach Pascal Donnadieu (translated)

The lack of a home stadium that seats 5,000 is an issue that Nanterre will now how to deal with as the winner of the LNB is traditionally invited to play in the Euroleague the following season, but must meet all the Euroleague criteria for play, including access to a 5,000+ seat stadium.

As Game 4 commenced, Strasbourg took the upper hand and got up 9:19 with a minute to play in the frame, after a 10-point run early. Nanterre got five more at the end of the quarter from Lightly, to cut the gap to 14:19.

Including the five to close out the first quarter, the Nanterriens ran off 13 straight to get up 22:19, but they weren’t finished there, they would outscore SIG 11:4 over the next five minutes (24:4 run) to build a double-digit advantage at 33:23 with four minutes left in the half. The visitors were able to cut six from the deficit prior to the mid-game horn sounding, sending the clubs to their dressing rooms to discuss their second half plans with Nanterre up 40:36.

In the first half SIG shot 14 of 15 from the line, while the hosts were 7 of 16 from beyond the arc. The key stat was turnovers, where Strasbourg had committed 12 at the break, while Nanterre had only lost the ball twice due to errors.

At the opening of the third, SIG was able to cut the gap to two, 44:42, and by mid-way through the third 10 Nanterre was only up three, 50:47. After than, the home club outscored their guest 9:4 to end the third stanza with JSFN sporting an eight-point lead, 59:51.

The run continued for the Nanterriens and they knocked down the first six of the final frame to get up 65:51, tallying a 15:4 run. SIG was far from throwing in the towel though, and a late 2:14 run drew them back to within a deuce at 70:68 with four minutes to play. The locals were not looking to deprive the 4,000 friendlies that made the trip into Paris for the contest though, and ran off six of their own to get back up eight, 76:68. Strausborg never gave up, fighting down to the final buzzer, but in the end it was the surprise club from Nanterre, putting the finishing touches on playoff performance that will be discussed for years to come by an underfunded club with an undersized arena. Now their challenge will be to convince the Euroleague board that they can met the criteria established for Euroleage teams so that they can represent France in the 2013-14 competition.

In what could be argued was the key decider in the content, Nanterre would shoot 13 of 27 (48.1%) from behind the arc, while Strasbourg would only manage 3 of 12 (25%). SIG would end up shooting 22 of 28 (78.6%) from the charity stripe, while the hosts would only shoot 12, connecting on 15 (80.0%). Strasbourg outrebounded Nanterre 39-21, but in the end, SIG would commit a total of 19 turnovers, while Nanterre only gave the ball up nine times.

Lightly was game-high with 21 points and earned the Finals MVP award. Jeremy Nzeulie scored a season-high 17 points, shooting 7 of 10 from the floor. Chris Warren added 13, and Marc Judith dropped in 10.

Romain Duport tallied a 19P/12R double-double to lead SIG. Duport’s 19 matched his season high. Ricardo Greer scored 15 and grabbed 6 rebounds. Alexis Ajinca and Jeff Greer added 12 each, and Aymeric Jeanneau tallied 10.

There are two loss-making sectors. The lost ball. 19 is prohibitive. Then this is the lack of three-point baskets. But even in difficulty, we came back twice in the game. We learned to fight throughout the game. My real regret in the final, this is the second game. We had the opportunity to win and we did not know it. This is last Friday we dropped out as such, and they won. Aymeric has done a very good match. We wanted him to finish on a great victory. This is not the case, but he ended his career on a great season. I have no doubt he will succeed in his second career.
–Strasbourg coach Vincent Collet (translated)