• Friendly: Rick Rubio warns the world: a plethoric ending to develop Argentina
  • Ricky: From child to leader

Ricky the metronome, Ricky the defender, Ricky the blessed one for the pivots, Ricky the cutest ... Ricky the scorer? With 28 years, 14 already playing in the elite, it is the last challenge of those who suffered so much precisely because of the launch, of the irregularity in the success, of that mechanics that never finished being completely effective. It is the reinvention of Ricky Rubio who on Tuesday, in the penultimate test before the start of the World Cup , had the biggest endorsement: before Argentina he signed his maximum score in his 139 games with the national team, including an amazing, pure outcome 'clutch player ', with 15 points in the last four minutes that decanted the disputed duel.

There, in that abyss, before a harsh Argentina and some referees whom nobody understood, the ball ended up hopelessly in their hands. It is true that Marc Gasol was not on the track - absent due to gastroenteritis - but Llull, or Rudy Fernández, or the Hernagómez brothers. And yet it was Ricky who took responsibility. Premeditated? Without any doubt. What is a new reality in the plans of Spain. «I was not happy with the game I was doing, but this is like chess. You see the movements of the rival and kickbacks, ”the protagonist later said.

Argentina had been devastated. First it was a triple, then an extraordinary two plus one after colliding with the defender, then another, and two more triples (until that streak accumulated a success of five attempts) to put the clasp to a boast with few referents nearby in memory . Only one Ricky so hoarder is remembered - he also added eight basket passes and seven fouls received -, in the beginning, when the lower categories dominated as nobody. In the European sub 16 of 2006 (gold) averaged 23.2 points and 19.1 in the sub 18 of 2007.

Argentina succumbed, precisely the Argentina of the big bases - although Campazzo did not play for the sprained ankle that he suffered on Monday against Russia, the rival of this Wednesday (13.30, Four) of Spain in the triangular of Ningbo - the repertoire Ricky final, which covered a gray day of the selection, as affected by the 'jet lag'. And it is the tendency of the preparation, where El Masnou accumulates 115 points, at 19.1 night. More than 50% of success in launch of two (25 of 43) and almost 44% in triple (in addition to 5.3 assists per night).

By doubling, by far, their past numbers with the national team, with which this 2019 faces its ninth tournament (the 2012 Games and the 2015 European Games were lost due to injury). He debuted, precisely in China, 11 summers ago and never exceeded 10 points on average. Only in the past Eurobasket stayed close, with 9.4 points per game . Now exceeds even those who have maintained the past year, which he presumes as the best of his career, in the Jazz (12.7).

Ricky was always the base for Scariolo, in love with his defensive qualities and his ability to control and read the game. They are now looking for the next step, also bound by circumstances - without Pau, Mirotic or Sergio Rodríguez, Spain loses a lot of scoring - and Marc Gasol's talent to act as a true base in the channeling of the game. “Right now, Ricky is more focused on finding his ability to bring danger with scoring and assists, but his defensive strength will appear in the championship . Apart from the benefit and its leadership, it is always there. In this sense, it has taken an important step, ”reflected the coach after last Thursday's meeting against the Dominican Republic. «He is the one who takes the baton, the one who makes us play. But you have to take advantage of his great moment of form, ”the captain praised him yesterday, his great buddy on the court, Rudy Fernández.

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  • Spain
  • Ricky Rubio
  • Rudy Fernandez
  • Marc Gasol
  • Sergio Rodriguez
  • Russia
  • Sergio Scariolo
  • Eurobasket
  • China
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  • Basketball World Cup 2019

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