So now, we are leaving for Berlin. The Final Four is here! The excitement in Barcelona is clear, and for us, the players and coaches, the preparations are most important. This week, we are preparing for the semifinal against CSKA of course, but I can say that in general, I think our team is ready. We are in good physical and psychological shape. In practice, you can see in the team that readiness that you want to see. As players, we are showing aggressiveness, and also showing that we want to do all the little things right. These are good signs to see before we go. Of course, we are a little nervous, too, but that's just because we want to get started already!

Let's talk about CSKA. Of course, they are the reigning champions. They have a team that is very experienced and has been to a lot of Final Fours. This is maybe the biggest strength for CSKA. They are also a team with good coaching and good experience, both of which are always helpful to have in a tournament like the Final Four. I guess we could be bothering our teammate, David Andersen a lot more, asking questions about CSKA, because he won two titles with them, including last year's. But we're not giving him too many questions, honestly. We want to concentrate on what's happening this year with CSKA. He can always help us with some basic things that CSKA's coaches use and don't change year to year, whatever they do consistently over the years. But... more

The last time I blogged, my team and I were facing Game 5 of the playoffs with more than a little pressure. Anyone who knows our opponent that night, Tau Ceramica, knows what I am talking about, too. But if I am writing to you again, it's because we aced that test and we're going to the Final Four. With a week to go until Berlin, I can tell you that we at Barcelona cannot be happier. Not only do we feel that we deserve to be going to the Final Four, but I think that the playoffs made us stronger. When I say that, I don't mean just stronger basketball-wise or playing-wise, but also we got a lot more confidence from those games and those comebacks. We were down two times in the series, came back twice, and in the last game we won it. Because of that, we gained a lot of confidence that will help us going forward.

Oddly enough, we are playing Tau again in the Spanish League in a couple days, which will be our ninth game with them this season. It's a very unusual number of times to play a team in a season. In one way, it's good for the fans of both cities and for basketball to see two great team play so often. In another way, after so many games so recently, I don't think anyone would blame us if we were a bit bored. But I don't think that will happen, anyway, because we know that almost every time that Tau lost in the Euroleague these last few years, the team that knocked them out became champion. Since we... more

Hello again, from Barcelona! I know that everyone watching is talking about this great series we are in with Tau, how it's gone back and forth, road wins, home wins, totally unpredictable. And I can tell you that, yes, it feels like a great series on the inside, too! It's probably the most intense one of all the matchups in this year's quarterfinals. You can say that our teams know each other so well and that's why the series is so equal. Both teams have big road wins. Both teams proved that the homecourt advantage doesn't automatically mean so much help. We think it's a great series, and I personally rank it already as one of the most intense I have ever been in – and still with one game to go!

And now, Game 5. It doesn't get more exciting. I have some experience in Spain, Greece and Slovenia in these kinds of decisive games, whether its Game 5 or Game 3. In games like this, there are not any secrets left by the last game. Even if teams didn't know each other well before, they do by now. There are no surprises left, no time to invent new stuff or trick defenses. You have to believe in what you have been preparing and playing all year. Then you just have to play aggressive, all out, save nothing and try to be the best you can.

We also have to forget about being on the homecourt. We know, of course, that the crowd will be our sixth player and support us all the way and make a great atmosphere at Palau... more

Hi everyone. If there is one person happy to be going to the playoffs this week, it's me. As you might know, I missed half of the Top 16 due to a sudden illness that forced me to have nose operation to remove a small tumor. Of course, I was a little scared at first, when we found out about the problem and learned that I needed a nose operation. Those first moments after finding out, it was tough to get over. Once I got to sleep on it, though, it was just a thing I had to do and deal with. Barcelona, the club, was incredible. They took incredible care of me, got me the best doctors, who did a great job on the operation. All things went very smooth, very good, and that let me come back to the court very soon, sooner than anyone expected. Now, I am just grateful to everyone, the doctors and Barcelona's medical staff, and happy to be back getting ready for the playoffs.

One of the bad things about that nose problem, like any other injury, is that it's always difficult to see your team competing while you have to stay home or in a hospital and watch them try, sweat and play hard. You only want to be there with them. You have to understand, however, that injury or illness are part of professional sports, and you look ahead. It was tough to go through, but I just focused on coming back soon. You also try learn from watching, any time you see a game. Especially watching your own team play live is unusual, but since... more