He remembered, like so many other times, the epic that always accompanies ‘The Family’. With less individual talent, without the world stars of a decade ago but with the intact DNA. Beat Finland (74-81) to be in the final of the Valencia Pre-Olympic. One step away from Paris 2024, but the most complicated. It’s the Bahamas (8:30 p.m.) and in Spain they know it well.
We have the most difficult game left, with three NBA superstars against us
“Have everything to lose in individual talent,” said Sergio Scariolo. It is one of the factors that today’s Spain has. Fewer points and more teamwork. “We have the most difficult game ahead of us, with three NBA superstars against us. On an individual level, we forget. The three of them, another pair of players with star futures and good complements,” he specified. They are DeAndre Ayton (20.3 points, 11 rebounds and 28.7 credits average rating), Buddy Hield (20 points and 7.3 assists) and Eric Gordon (13.7 points average).
We have the most difficult game left, with three NBA superstars against us
Spain’s task is to be a team. “Against Finland we were cohesive, we knew how to manage the bad moments. Against the Bahamas we have to put all our energy in the same direction. They are players used to scoring 20 points on average in the NBA, it is another dimension. We must limit their stars and in attack we find an athletic team, who put their hands in, press, block…”, he claimed.
His team survived again. In a match with total equality, dynamic and defeated by the strength of Rudy and the finish of Willy Hernangómez. To continue standing in the Pre-Olympic, which now gives away with less than 24 hours of rest an all or nothing match. Whoever wins is the one who will go to Paris 2024.
But there are no excuses. “We are going to a back-to-back and they have rested more. But I have nothing to do with it and there is no excuse. This team always shows its face“said the Italian coach. While asking for special attention from the group. “Players like Alberto Díaz have superior defensive energy and they must maintain it to stop those Bahamian phenomena on the outside,” he said.
