Spanish NT: Eurobasket 2009

[TalkBasket]

Pau should play in Poland

Gold is already in the bag from the 2006 FIBA World Championship and so is an NBA title after his recent run through the play-offs with the Los Angeles Lakers.



Now Spanish basketball icon Pau Gasol has finally confirmed he will play at the EuroBasket in Poland in September, saying the opportunity to help Spain win their first European Championship was too good to pass up.



Gasol held talks on Thursday with the Lakers, the Spanish Basketball Federation and new Spain coach Sergio Scariolo and decided to go for gold.



"I wanted to talk to Scariolo because he is crucial to this project," Gasol said.



"At every step, Scariolo has been enthusiastic about my presence. We are all enthusiastic at having a great tournament."



Gasol emphasized, however, that success is not guaranteed - even for Spain who face hard Group C games against Serbia, Great Britain and Slovenia in Warsaw.



"The EuroBasket is very competitive, more than the World Championship," he said.



"All the European teams are good and we cannot relax in any game. No one is going to give us anything for free.



"We are enthusiastic with the team we have but we cannot come out with the mentality that we will reach the final because we are very good. From the first day, we have to work and believe in our possibilities to give our best."



The appearance of Gasol in Poland means the competition gains one of the biggest names in basketball and probably makes Spain, runners-up at home two years ago against Russia and silver medalists at the Olympics, favorites for the title.



Scariolo said in the statement on the Spanish Basketball Federation website: "Pau will be at the EuroBasket of Poland and this is the most important thing. It's a satisfaction to know Pau's desire to compete despite the tiredness and physical problems that one can gather after a hard season as he has had in the NBA.



"During the month of July, we will establish contact with the professionals that take care of Pau's health. The Lakers and our team will design the regimen and the program for Pau and then let him join the national team with us thinking of the best for the player."

http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_J3F95vAkG...de_on.html

[Black Urum]

via http://www.in-the-game.org

When a number of big stars decline to play in a usually prestigious tournament, it is in danger of being remembered not for who played but for who did not play. Only truly memorable performances can prevent that, such as Greece’s definition of a team effort in Serbia ’05, or, in the younger future, Russia’s sensational run to gold in Spain ’07.



Preperation for the Poland ’09 Eurobasket is now fully underway, and after having watched a handful of participants in action, here’s my take on those teams I witnessed, starting with the big gold medal favourite, Spain.

Full article: http://www.in-the-game.org/?p=4050

[Black Urum]

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