Spain will play the World Cup final on Sunday after tracing, drawing and playing Australia in two infarction extensions. Two extensions in which Scariolo only used five players: Ricky Rubio, Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernández, Víctor Claver and Marc Gasol. There begins one by one of a meeting that is already the history of Spanish basketball.
RICKY BLOND: Outstanding
He said during the World Cup that this had to be his tournament, and what tournament. El Masnou's one pulled the car when almost no one else could. He was the generator of the little Spanish attack in the first part, and led with mastery when his teammates began to sing. He finished with 19 points, something normal during the World Cup, and with a spectacular 12 assists. Already in mixed zone, serious, excited, he summed up what this team is: "We lack the icing".
SERGIO LLULL: Outstanding
17 points But what is more important: two triples and two assists only in the second extension. His were the points that made Spain take off. Vital points and triples when the marker and the heart are tighter. That is Llull. Pure heart.
RUDY FERNÁNDEZ: Outstanding
There is no defender in Europe like Rudy Fernández. One of the smartest players on the continent. Nobody reads the pass lines so well and anticipates the intentions of the rivals. Few try so hard to close a rebound that today cost Spain a lot. The forward of Madrid stole two balls in the first extension and another in the second. Vital. He scored only three points, but he made up for everything for his defense. Tremendous.
KEY VICTOR: Notable
He played every minute of the two extensions and although he did not stand out as much as in the rest of the World Cup, he had plenty of courage in the important moments. He scored a complicated suspension with 80-82 in the second extension. One of those shots that would supposedly have to be played Llull, Ricky or Marc, but his pulse didn't tremble. Several key defensive rebounds also in this last period, recovering some forceful defense in Spain. In the rest of the game he sinned, like his teammates, of some complacency in the defensive rebound, but in the end, like everyone else, he resurfaced. 9 points, five rebounds and three steals for him.
MARC GASOL: Outstanding
Criticized at the break and worshiped at the end of the game. Marc Gasol was the best player of the Asian afternoon, tomorrow in Spain. He was missing in the first half, as if away from the spotlights. After the intermission, perhaps launched by the talk of the team, he began to pull the car, to be the protagonist, to fail and put. To do what a player should be asked of his talent and experience. And so came the comeback of Spain. Marc threw, passed, got involved and, although he failed, started a scoring series that resulted in the 33 points with which he finished the night. And that was not the most difficult: he scored the four most difficult free throws that any Spaniard has seen in his life. The first two to put Spain ahead a few seconds from the end of the last quarter. The last two to tie the game at 80 at the end of the first extension. He made the eight free throws he had in the match. An abnormal and necessary tempering. A star.
JUANCHO HERNANGÓMEZ: Good
It was the great sacrifice in the extension to give entrance to Llull. His four personnel also did not help his situation. He started the game well, scoring eight points very fast and with several triples that freed Spain, but then disappeared, infected by the worst moments of the team. Part of the problems in the rebound were his, although he was not alone. He finished the game with -1 in the plus-minus, eight points and four rebounds.
WILLY HERNANGÓMEZ: Thriller
He has set several good matches in the tournament, but today he didn't have the day. Surpassed by Bogut and Baynes, the Australian interiors, at all times, ended up playing only eleven minutes in which he made 0 of 5 in shots and four rebounds. He allowed too much in the defensive rebound and lacked the intensity he has had in other World Cup meetings. He coincided on track with the worst minutes in Spain. Very necessary at the end of Sunday.
PAU RIBAS: Notable
He played 21 minutes and, although he was overtaken by Patty Mills in the best moments of the Australian, he ended up scoring a vital triple for 65-67 before the final moments. He finished with seven points and three rebounds, contributing intensity and defense work. What was asked.
PIERRE ORIOLA: Without note
He played six minutes and could not contribute much. Not a shot in the basket, a rebound and a loss.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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