Worlds - Here we go: Spain begins selection process

[salaner]

Coach Sergio Scariolo today announced 24 names of players for Spain's national team, the defending champs in this summer's World Championships. By next Wednesday the list will be pared down to 15, and those 15 will go to training camp. But if there are any injuries one or more of the nine players cut could be recalled. The final roster will be 12. Pau Gasol announced weeks ago that he was sitting this one out as he needs a full summer's rest for his battered 30 year-old body – but he promised to be back for the 2012 Olympics, if not earlier.

The pre-selected players:

Carlos Cabezas, 6-2 PG, age 30, Khimki (Russia)
José Manuel Calderón, 6-3 PG, age 28, Toronto (NBA)
Sergio Llull, 6-3 PG/SG, age 23, Real Madrid (ACB)
Raúl López, 6-0 PG, age 30, Khimki (Russia)
Sergio Rodríguez, 6-3 PG, age 24, New York (NBA)
Ricky Rubio, 6-4 PG, age 19, Barcelona (ACB)
Víctor Sada, 6-4 PG, age 26, Barcelona (ACB)
Rudy Fernández, 6-5 SG/SF, age 25, Portland (NBA)
Rafa Martínez, 6-3 SG, age 28, Valencia (ACB)
Juan Carlos Navarro, 6-4 SG, age 30, Barcelona (ACB)
Brad Oleson, 6-4 SG, age 27, Vitoria (ACB)
Berni Rodríguez, 6-6 SG, age 30, Málaga (ACB)
Fernando San Emeterio, 6-7 SF, age 26, Vitoria (ACB)
Saúl Blanco, 6-5 SG/SF, age 25, Málaga (ACB)
Víctor Claver, 6-10 PF/SF, age 21, Valencia (ACB)
Alex Mumbrú, 6-8 SF, age 31, Bilbao (ACB)
Carlos Suárez, 6-8 SF, age 24, Estudiantes Madrid (ACB)
Pablo Aguilar, 6-9 PF, age 21, Granada (ACB)
Germán Gabriel, 6-10 PF, age 30, Estudiantes Madrid (ACB)
Jorge Garbajosa, 6-9 PF, age 32, Real Madrid (ACB)
Marc Gasol, 7-1 C, age 25, Memphis (NBA)
Felipe Reyes, 6-8 ½, PF, age 30, Real Madrid (ACB)
Juanjo Triguero, 7-0 C, age 26, Sevilla (ACB
Fran Vázquez. 6-11 C, age 27, Barcelona (ACB)

[Rasho Brezec]

These things really need to be less frequent. EC and WC should be every 4 years like in soccer. Most of the top players always end up canceling and the quality of the tournament lowers because of it.

[salaner]

WC are every four years - exactly as it is in soccer. The last edition was 2006 in Japan.

[Rasho Brezec]

My bad, but the point still remains. EC's are too cluttered. A major competition every two years maximum.

[salaner]

I for one don't believe there would be fewer cancellations of stars and so-called stars with fewer tournaments. We would have different cancellations each time out – that's all. Anyhow, even with a top competition every four years there would be just one open year out of every four – don't forget the Olympics. And you can't devalue the European Championships, which are important to second-tier teams that usually don't make it to the Worlds or Olympics but need to prove themselves against the biggies in Europe. Plus the EC is usually a better, tighter tournament, with fewer one-sided routs, than either the WC or the Olympics.

Then again, forfeits vary largely from one country to another. In the past ten years, there have only been two occurrences of an uninjured Spanish player passing up the chance of playing with the national team – both times, Pau Gasol, in 2005 and 2010.

[Alyosha12]

These things really need to be less frequent. EC and WC should be every 4 years like in soccer. Most of the top players always end up canceling and the quality of the tournament lowers because of it.

What needs to be done is the Olympics tournament should be played by amateur players or U-21 players like Soccer is. That would make the Worlds a whole lot meaningful because as things stand now they are almost the same tournament the only difference is that the OG have fewer top tier teams, so that's why the Worlds should be the only global tournament.

I too think that if that was the case there would be fewer cancels.

[khaled_a_d]

My bad, but the point still remains. EC's are too cluttered. A major competition every two years maximum.

it is every 2 years b/c it is the qualification of the WC and Olympics,how can teams qualify for those tournaments fairly w/o EC's?

[brassviews]

These things really need to be less frequent. EC and WC should be every 4 years like in soccer. Most of the top players always end up canceling and the quality of the tournament lowers because of it.

What needs to be done is the Olympics tournament should be played by amateur players or U-21 players like Soccer is. That would make the Worlds a whole lot meaningful because as things stand now they are almost the same tournament the only difference is that the OG have fewer top tier teams, so that's why the Worlds should be the only global tournament.

I too think that if that was the case there would be fewer cancels.

I agree

The Olympics should serve as a U-21 tournament with the WC existing. It's redundant to have two of the same competitions happening every two years. The only reason something hasn't been done is due to USA and their history in the Olympics. If FIBA were to limit the Olympics to 21 and under, the USA would make a fit about it and probably not participate in future tournaments. But regardless, FIBA really needs to do something about it.

it is every 2 years b/c it is the qualification of the WC and Olympics,how can teams qualify for those tournaments fairly w/o EC's?

Yeah, this is the problem. Both tournaments need qualifications. But like Alyosha suggested, FIBA should make the Olympics a U-21 tournament so that's there's only one qualification year.

[vitamin-water]

lots of top players, american and european, are skipping this.

not going to be so interesting..

[brassviews]

lots of top players, american and european, are skipping this.

not going to be so interesting..

I don't know. It's a bit too early to speculate on absences. Even with those players who have made their absences official, I wouldn't say that it has drastically affected the WC.

The only key absences (non-USA) will be Pau Gasol and Manu Giniboli, both of whom are vital to their respective teams winning gold. Top players like Nowitzki and Parker, though good, don't really have the same impact as the two above. I personally think their teams are better without them. Other absences like Lorbek, Bogut, and Okur are notable but their teams aren't expected to accomplish much to begin with.

As far as the USA goes, it's up in the air. I know a lot of people are writing off their top players but it's just too early. At the end of day, I expect most of their players from 2008 to return. If the USA team doesn't come strong and win the WC, they'll have to play next year in qualification for 2012. That won't help matters. So yeah, most American players will come to Turkey. Unfortunately, it won't be with 2010 on the mind but rather 2012.

[sergiio_88]

http://www.marca.com/2010/06/23/balonce ... 87220.html

The 15 players for Spain's national team


BASES:
Ricky Rubio (Regal Barcelona)
José Manuel Calderón (Toronto Raptors)
Sergio Llull (Real Madrid)
ESCOLTAS::
Juan Carlos Navarro (Regal Barcelona)
Rudy Fernández (Portland Trail Blazers)
Rafa Martínez (Power Electronics)
ALEROS:
Fernando San Emeterio (Caja Laboral)
Álex Mumbrú (Bizkaia Bilbao Basket)
Carlos Suárez (Asefa Estudiantes)
ALA-PIVOTS::
Víctor Claver (Power Electronics)
Jorge Garbajosa (Real Madrid)
Pablo Aguilar (Granada)
PIVOTS::
Felipe Reyes (Real Madrid)
Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)
Fran Vázquez (Regal Barcelona)


I hope that Mumbru, Garbajosa and Rafa Martinez will be out...

[Alyosha12]

These things really need to be less frequent. EC and WC should be every 4 years like in soccer. Most of the top players always end up canceling and the quality of the tournament lowers because of it.

What needs to be done is the Olympics tournament should be played by amateur players or U-21 players like Soccer is. That would make the Worlds a whole lot meaningful because as things stand now they are almost the same tournament the only difference is that the OG have fewer top tier teams, so that's why the Worlds should be the only global tournament.

I too think that if that was the case there would be fewer cancels.

I agree

The Olympics should serve as a U-21 tournament with the WC existing. It's redundant to have two of the same competitions happening every two years. The only reason something hasn't been done is due to USA and their history in the Olympics. If FIBA were to limit the Olympics to 21 and under, the USA would make a fit about it and probably not participate in future tournaments. But regardless, FIBA really needs to do something about it.

it is every 2 years b/c it is the qualification of the WC and Olympics,how can teams qualify for those tournaments fairly w/o EC's?

Yeah, this is the problem. Both tournaments need qualifications. But like Alyosha suggested, FIBA should make the Olympics a U-21 tournament so that's there's only one qualification year.

Also if they wanted to make it more serious they should make the competition longer. I mean FFS the players who reach the final and the 3rd place game play 9 games in 14 days(the first 6 of which they play in 7 DAYS)! WTF is that is FIBA crazy?

That's the reason most players skip, the rhythm is just too brutal. Just look at the FIFA WC teams that reach the finals play 7 games in 27 days!! The risk on injury is a lot smaller the quality of play is a lot better, and the strain on the players bodies which carries over into the next season is a lot smaller.

[khaled_a_d]

Soccer is totally different sport
the league in soccer is 38 games while it is 82 in the NBA

[Alyosha12]

Thats even more of a reason why the system is messed up. I mean players play 82games then train with the NT for 1 month and then play 9 games in 12 days, and then go to training camp with their team and start another season of 82 games.

Thats insane IMO. Soccer is a lot less demending sport on the body IMO, firstly because its played on grass the joints don't suffer as much as they do in basketball, also there is a lot less jumping and a lot less quick direction changes. Thats why you see soccer players in their prime 4-5 years latter then basketball players IMO.

[salaner]

Thats why you see soccer players in their prime 4-5 years latter then basketball players IMO.

Yeah, right...

Players 34 and older in the 2010 NBA finals: Ray Allen, age 34. Kevin Garnett, age 34. Rasheed Wallace, age 36. Derek Fisher, age 35. (I'm not even counting Miachael Finley, age 37.)

Players 34 and older in the 2010 UEFA Champions Cup final: Javier Zanetti, age 36. Hans-Jörg Butt, age 36.

[Rasho Brezec]

Are you trying to deny the fact that soccer players' career lasts longer than that of basketball players?

[BarbaGrizz]

Soccer player career is shorter than a basketball player career. In soccer, if you´re not a genious like Messi, Ronaldo (not the Gaucho) or Pelé, you will only crack a major team roster by the time you´re 21, 22 yo, and will play till 32, 33 yo.

[salaner]

There will be many absences, yes – but many outstanding players will be at the Worlds. A short list of the top stars who will indeed be there (not counting those who are still undecided, like Dirk Nowitzki):

Argentina: Luis Scola, Fabricio Oberto, Pablo Prigioni, Carlos Delfino.

Serbia: Milos Teodosić, Nenad Krstić, Darko Miličić, Novica Veličković, Kosta Perović.

Australia: Joe Ingles, Patrick Mills, Brad Newley, Nathan Jawai, Andrew Ogilvy.

Croatia: Marko Tomas, Zoran Planinić, Roko-Leni Ukić, Ante Tomić, Marko Banić.

Brazil: Tiago Splitter, Leandrinho Barbosa, Nenê, Anderson Varejão, Marcelinho Huertas.

Slovenia: Beno Udrih, Jaka Lakovič, Goran Dragić, Boštjan Nachbar, Primož Brezec, Sani Bečirovič.

Iran: Hamed Haddadi.

Turkey: Hidayet Türkoglu, Ersan Ilyasova, Ömer Asik.

Greece: Dimitris Diamantidis, Vassilis Spanoulis, Kostas Tsartsaris, Ioannis Bourousis, Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Georgios Printezis.

Russia: Andrei Kirilenko, Viktor Krhyapa, Sasha Kaun, Timofey Mozgov.

Puerto Rico: Carlos Arroyo, Juan José Barea, Renaldo Balkman, Daniel Santiago, Larry Ayuso, Peter John Ramos.

China: Yi Jianlian, Wang Zhizhi, Sun Yue.

Spain: Juan Carlos Navarro, José Manuel Calderón, Fran Vázquez, Marc Gasol, Felipe Reyes, Rudy Fernández, Ricky Rubio, Sergio Llull, Jorge Garbajosa.

France: Nicolas Batum, Nando de Colo, Rodrigue Beaubois, Mickaël Gélabale.

Lithuania: Linas Kleiza, Simas Jasaitis, Darjus Lavrinovic, Ksistof Lavrinovic.

Canada: Carl English, Joel Anthony, Jermaine Anderson.

New Zealand: Pero Cameron, Kirk Penney.

USA: ???

[Rasho Brezec]

Your definition of a star is very broad.

[brassviews]

Yao Ming - China has always been garbage with him. Why people sweat over Yao Ming is beyond me. Iran is a bigger threat in basketball now than China.

Pau Gasol - A loss as far as star power goes but lets remember that in 2006 Spain beat Argentina and Greece for the gold without Gasol. People are overrating the hell out of his absence.

Manu Giniboli - This guy is past his prime, regardless of his performance last season. Argentina, even without him, will still be a top team. They won't be in the position win gold but they'll compete.

Theo Papaloukas - Solid player for his age but he's on the decline. Greece would have a hard time winning with or without him.

Tony Parker - France has enough guards for the next 10 years to compete. His absence won't be a problem. Like I said, France is a much better team without him. The player everyone should be concerned with as far as not playing is Noah.

Erazem Lorbek - A good player but he really isn't going to put Slovenia over the top, one way or another

Andrew Bogut - Very overrated player in my opinion, both NBA and internationally. If Maric plays, Australia will still be competitive.

Dirk Nowitzki - May play, may not. The same goes for Kaman.

Overall, people need to chill out about who's not playing.