France's Tony Parker (Photo : Reuters)
FIBA EuroBasket 2015 will be underway starting September 5 and one of the first matches would be defending champions France playing against Finland at the Park&Suites Arena in Montpellier, France.
The French men will again be bannered by four-time NBA champion and former Finals MVP Tony Parker, together with a host of other NBA veterans such as his San Antonio Spurs teammate Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum, Rudy Gobert, Joffrey Lauvergne, and Evan Fournier.
France beat Lithuania, 80-66, in the gold medal game of the 2013 edition of this tournament to capture its first ever EuroBasket title. Batum led the team in scoring during that game with 17 points, but it was Parker's clutch plays that pulled them through the tough Lithuanian defense, as reported back then by USA Today.
Head coach Vincent Collet will try to sustain his successful EuroBasket run since 2011 where France won the silver medal. The 52-year-old mentor is also currently the coach of French league squad Strasbourg IG and has been with the national team since 2009.
Finland placed ninth, tied with Belgium, during the 2013 EuroBasket after finishing with an 11-5 record, according to EuroBasket 2015's official website. They are coached by veteran strategist Henrik Dettman and does not have anyone in their roster who is currently playing in the NBA.
They have one from the NBA Development League, though, power forward Erik Jay Murphy who is presently playing for the Austin Spurs.
Prediction: France wins, 92-62
France starting five: Rudy Gobert (C), Boris Diaw (PF), Nicolas Batum (SF), Nando De Colo (SG), Tony Parker (PG)
Finland starting five: Gerald Lee (C), Erik Jay Murphy (PF), Shawn Huff (SF), Sasu Salin (SG), Petteri Koponen (PG)
