Ricky Honors Saitama
Rudy Fernández: "It was fundamental for my career to ask for help"
David Valero His work in the field, the motivation of Luis Aragonés and the confidence of his three-year-old son
The warm-up in the solitude and silence of the
Saitama Superdome
, with
Juancho Hernangómez
present, distributing balls and encouragement to his teammates, meant two things at the same time. A challenge to the Wolves, the franchise that owns their rights and that also prevents them from playing these Olympics. But also a sample of the power of this human group, which goes beyond what happens on the field. Juancho, for the moment, continues and will continue in Tokyo, making the rest laugh, sharing confidences and Olympic adventures.
That "happy boy", as
Chacho
later defined him
, that everyone talked about in the post-game. That character that helps so much. The one who grabbed the legacy of guys like
Ricky Rubio
, already in his third Games and because he couldn't in London. The base is that 17-year-old young man who used to bring hamburgers from McDonald's to the rooms, the one who now gets serious on the track, the one who knocks on the door so that nobody's sheets will stick when it comes to the important thing, winning .
It was Ricky's game, but it is no longer a coincidence with Spain.
The
World Cup MVP
, who hesitated to even attend this tournament and who has lived through two seasons of contrasts in the NBA since then, is back at the level of those days in China.
He showed it during all the preparation - his deployment against France in Paris, with 17 points in the last four minutes - exceptionally, and he showed it at the first exchange rate.
Everything that happens on the track is, in one way or another, a product of your mind.
And lately, also the points, which was not what he most used to during his career.
NBA
Precisely because after being transferred to the Wolves against his will at the beginning of the season from a team in such growth as the Suns, who have just played the Finals, Ricky has not had such an exultant year. For these performance contrasts they asked
Pau Gasol
, who had an answer, as almost always, very accurate. "But Ricky does this with 20 points and nine assists a lot in the NBA. And
Fournier
[US executioner on Sunday], 30-point games also has a few. I'm not saying they're excuses from the Americans, but I think that these players perhaps have a more important role here and that is why they are capable of playing at such a high level. It is also true that playing for your country is a very great motivation. "
Against Japan it was flagrant when Ricky was on the court or not:
27 points of difference
.
He also left precious actions before the locals, like a penetration of those that seem like juggling games.
Now they touch two bones in front of him, none other than
Campazzo on Thursday and Doncic
on Sunday.
For Scariolo it will continue to be his cornerstone.
The Italian confesses in public and in private, Ricky was always his base.
And now, in combination with Sergio Rodríguez, even more dangerous.
It worries, yes, its absence.
That two-faced Spain that was seen against Japan.
"The second unit, we have to improve more in terms of intensity, toughness and concentration. We have to maintain or raise the level of the starters, especially in the following games," Pau asked.
By the way, the coach, visibly tired, had a strong message at a press conference for FIBA, organizer of the Olympic tournament.
He didn't even wait for questions.
"We have to respect our players. It has taken 25 minutes from the end of the game until they have put
their legs on the ice
. That is extremely dangerous. The protocols must be changed," he denounced about the wait, also eternal for the press.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
Pau Gasol
Ricky Rubio
NBA
Basketball Olympics
Spain Olympics
sports
Tokyo GamesThe dilemma (on and off the track) of Scariolo to replace the "irreplaceable" Juancho Hernangómez
Basketball Spain defeats Iran in the return of Pau Gasol and the debut of Garuba and Sergi Martínez
BASKETBALLJuancho Hernangómez recovers and will be in Tokyo
See links of interest
Last News
Tokyo 2021
2021 business calendar
Home THE WORLD TODAY
Master investigative journalism
South Korea - Spain, live
Wang Qiang - Garbiñe Muguruza, live
Sara Sorribes - Fiona Ferro, live
John Millmam - Alejandro Davidovich, live
Iga Swiatek - Paula Badosa, live