After watching the game, Li Chunjiang took the players to the locker room.
After changing clothes, they began training early right there on the court.
Assistant coach Yannis led the other players through drills on the court, while Li Chunjiang pulled Tang Tian aside to discuss how they would play France Team that night.
This would be Tang Tian's first game representing China Team since the Rio Olympics.
Warm-up games were important for training, but before the World Cup, wins and losses were important too.
Besides discussing tactics with Tang Tian, Li Chunjiang also brought up the starting lineup for that night.
Batum was now a terrible contract in the NBA, and both his form and ability had declined.
The true leaders of this France Team were Fournier and Gobert—one the offensive core, the other the defensive anchor.
Besides Fournier, France Team's perimeter also featured NBA-level players in Ntilikina and Decolo.
In other words, perimeter defense would be crucial against France Team.
But among China Team's players, aside from Zhao Jiwei and Sun Minghui, none of the others were good defenders.
And Zhao Jiwei and Sun Minghui both had no shooting range, which made things even more awkward.
"I'll play point guard."
Tang Tian understood what Li Chunjiang meant and said it directly.
"Alright."
Li Chunjiang had clearly been thinking the same thing. The moment Tang Tian spoke, he agreed.
Tang Tian could play from point guard to small forward in the NBA. If he played point guard on the international stage, he could make opposing guards cry.
The two then discussed the starters at the other positions.
Tang Tian would play point guard, while Ding Yanyuhang would play the shooting guard position. That backcourt pairing had nothing to fear from France Team and even held the advantage.
At small