Spain is facing its first ‘test’ for the Basketball World Cup in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines from the end of August and beginning of September. There is no going back, from the friendly against Venezuela everything begins. There are the calls to ranks for a new challenge -that of the third champion star- before an appointment that will present a list of stars somewhat less than the last EuroBasket (with names like Jokic, Micic, or Antetokoumpo at 100%). .
Spain lifts the EuroBasket in Berlin.
There is still a long way to go to fight for everything, although Spain “knows what it has.” “We are a team with a clear talent deficit”, emphasizes Sergio Scariolo, national coach. That argument has been repeated, but that does not mean it is no longer true. “Spain does not have a player to give the ball to and who scores a basket alone”, analyzes the man from Brescia.
There is no player to give the ball to and who scores a basket alone
Therefore, the battle for third star happens to be a team. “We have other weapons. Organization, tension, competitiveness, presenting a very high defensive level. Being more of a team. A different team,” Scariolo confessed at the National Team’s training center. The key DNA. The usual.
The list
There are still details to work out. One is the list, which lacks adjustments and analysis of the Italian. “You don’t always take the 12 best. Normally, they are the 12 most prepared for the plan we set. There are no fixed ones, although there are players who, due to talent or physical level, we know are closer,” he reflected.
Scariolo chats with Juan Nez.
And, of course, this continuous evolution to the young people who are part of the Golden Boys 2.0 project and with whom Scariolo is delighted. “It’s what I like the most. It’s a great success to continue showing what we have, generating training habits and confirming his projection to be here,” he said. The last one is Juan Núez, the one who was closest, and who trains with Baba Miller or Jordi Rodríguez.
