With no Barça players and only one from Madrid, Spain is bathed in gold thanks to a block of players far from starring in their clubs
The ACB League is the basketball league with the lowest number of national players (29%). “It is a situation that concerns us and that we have to take into account. It makes the road very difficult,” said Scariolo during the qualifying stage for the Eurobasket. The loss of relevance of the Spaniards, some overpaid for their scarcity, is also reflected in the number of minutes played. The stars of the teams come from abroad. and the now European champions, most of them, have to make do with a minor role.
For this reason, with only one player from Madrid (Rudy) and none from Barça, this Eurobasket has accentuated the justification of the average level of the ACB in general and of the national players in particular. Including de Paulí, Dani Díez, Salvó, Fran Guerra, Alocén, Dani Pérez, Juan Nuñez, Sima, Puerto, Francis Alonso, Arteaga, Barreiro, Bassas, Colom, Sergi García, Rodrigo San Miguel, Guerrero, Beirán, Llovet, Tyson Pérez , Rabaseda, Yusta… those who saw an award for being international during the shop windows, have done their homework and now have no medal.
He barely looked at the basket at the beginning of the concentration. He respected the hierarchy, he wanted to please and he achieved this by understanding that his services were needed to take certain pictures, at least when Ricky Rubio is absent. The American has done it with taste and success. Like the two triples in the last quarter against Germany or the 12 points in extra time against Lithuania. The sixth best passer of the entire tournament, despite his shoulder discomfort, is leaving excellent taste on the court following his controversial nationalization. The ideal base for teams without clear references (Red Star, Unics) and a medium-term guarantee. He has hired a Spanish teacher and he already knows how to play pocha.
He wanted to stop playing basketball at the age of 14 because of the condition of his knees due to growth. At the age of 18 he made his debut in ACB and ten years later comes the big reward. Unsuspected until three weeks ago. Of those fixed to the windows, he was one of the first to be thrown out due to physical issues that didn’t stop him from starting the preseason with Unicaja. He would have to watch the Eurobasket “from his living room” until he became the resource due to Llull’s injury.
From there to being decisive without scoring baskets – that stealing from Larkin, that free kick from Sabonis, that 8 minutes without scoring from Schroder…–, with infectious energy and moving defensive work, such as his ease at provoking fouls in the attack. Brighter than in Carpena, swept along by the waning cycle of the past seasons.
Another who overcomes adversity is served because of injuries. His ability to play as a base and escort has been very useful as a thermometer for the flow of the ball. Fairly reliable on outdoor shooting and play construction. He has usually started in the starting lineups to help lift the ball and act as third mate. Much more important in the group stage, from more to less, swamped by the raid of Alberto Díaz. He leaves without scoring in the play-offs.
Match unblock. A microwave. Superb first half against Montenegro (16 points) after the painful defeat against Belgium. Nice last performance against Finland. Lots of personality, able to take and score his own shots. He has been doing the same since his debut with Estudiantes and his office in Malaga. One of the few who works as a stiletto in his club. For this reason, perhaps the most surprising was his change of stance on the defensive level. His sassy basketball was always emphasized, and he assumed that in order to become one of Scariolo’s regulars, he had to work behind him.
Their prep matches were not at all flattering. The broken foot he sustained in Tokyo weighed on him last year, but he has been able to turn the tide, show his exciting future and respond to Scariolo’s confidence. He is the third player with the most minutes on the squad, with good offensive resources, a faithful day laborer at the close of the rebound, remarkable in many ways, excellent in a few. At the age of 25, the man from Getxo still has many summers with the national team.
His seventh continental medal, the eleventh with Spain. His effort alone is commendable. spiritual engine. Pure petrol to watch him fight every ball on the ground. He rested as a precaution against Turkey, but his role in every game was decisive. Starting with the defence, with his five steals against Finland (and the fury at halftime), and finishing on the offense. His 41% in triples was a balm for a team struggling to score from outside the arc.
From one of Joventut’s most important men at age 22 to squeezing every minute to the limit. Defensively solid and performing well against Finland with five straight points and the occasional pairing with Markkanen. Costume animator with his music.
Quite a paradox of yours. It started losing Pradilla’s property and started to gain importance. Despite his inconsistency in the triple and lack of confidence in one-on-one, he was the glue of the group every time he had to brave steep hills. Solvent in the annotation, in the rebounding work in the attack and in its connection to Garuba. The new addition to the Raptors, his fifth franchise in a year, has become famous in the United States for starring in the movie ‘Claw’, in which he goes from the street to the NBA and Adam Sandler is his agent.
He has blinded Scariolo by the firmness of his steps. Born in this century, like Parra and Garuba, he had the personality to inherit the ‘4’ from Pau Gasol and earn a starting position. With no minutes in the last quarters, he represents the generational change and has a movement of feet and a character to attack stronger and higher interiors. Rudy’s roommate, from whom he can learn the quirks of captaincy.
He arrived with physical discomfort in his ankle, but the physio’s work on his set-up was fantastic. He is a bit short of centimeters in the center, but he makes up for that with his physical exuberance and his jumping ability. His blockades for Wagner and Schröder laid the foundation stone of the comeback against Germany. The boy from Azuqueca de Henares who was stunned in the lower categories of Madrid is very fierce on the parquet. If he improves his marksmanship, he will have a long NBA career. The focus of many locker room jokes is to drink twelve liters of water every match day.
Scariolo told him he would make him a star and he is on his way. Top scorer and rebounder in Spain. The real leader. A great finisher on the edge and very skilled in the low post, he also has a good wrist for shooting from distance. He returns to the NBA in the ideal physical point and confidently looking for a train that may be the last.
Scariolo’s least used piece, about five minutes per game. A good play against Turkey and an important basket against Germany in the middle of the blackout in the second quarter. Of the best during the shop windows, he deserved the citation. He emigrated from the ACB because of the lack of opportunities and glare in Japan.
Source: La Verdad
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