He has discovered on Tuesday the duties he has on the table. In the first preparation match for the Eurobasket that will defend the Gold from 2022 (from August 27 to September 14), the Scariolo team gave in Malaga against Portugal by 74-76 and evidenced that he needs filming to attach the new pieces and assemble another chapter of the generational relief. In front of a rival away from the European nobility, Spain deflated from the break (30 points between the last two quarters) and flourished in the indispensable requirement that Scariolo sets: “Play together and hard.”
The selection invested the first week of concentration, in Madrid, in adjusting the physical tone of its players; and the Noria of up to six friendly games should serve to deepen the board. The coach occupies the lace of the novelties and the conquest of more complex automatisms to achieve among those who have shared less time on the track. For now, and with the preparation of the summoned template (15, there will be three discards), the interior game presents more certainties than the outside. The Hernangómez brothers, Pradilla and Santi Aldama repeat other events. The unknowns focus on the base post for the decline of Lorenzo Brown (family reasons) for him and the delivery of the steering wheel to the two rookies who will accompany Alberto Díaz: Sergio de Larrea and Mario Saint-Supéry.
The duel against Portugal reaffirmed those impressions. It exhibits offensive resources under the hoop and the Portuguese team was not the most demanding evidence for that defensive pit that Scariolo always demands. And Pradilla showed that it comes from a course of great growth and that he is willing to take a step forward when assuming responsibilities. Next to them, Juancho and Aldama know how to chop and out.
In driving, of Larrea and Saint-Supéry they demonstrated personality and vision of the game. They are two future players who the present has advanced the appointment in the elite and do not feel to wrinkle. With those wicker dominated Spain to a weak Portugal in a first comfortable quarter. But the selection was less since then. He asked for more mobility without ball and more blockages as his rival traced until he turned the scoreboard in about two last quarters with many defensive concessions of the selection, low fluency in attack and few rapid transitions.
It was a warning of the work ahead. The National Team will face the Czech Republic on Thursday and then face a double duel against France, on August 14 in Badalona and 16 in Paris, and Germany, on August 21 in Madrid and 23 in Colonia. From there, to the defense of European gold.
