February 09, 2012
Olympic Team Profile: Spain
Ricky Rubio As the reigning World Champion, Spain is on the shortlist of gold-medal favorites with the 2008 Summer Olympic Games set to begin this weekend. Although the squad features a new coach in Aito Garcia Reneses, it returns 10 members of the squad that won gold in Japan and silver at last summer’s European championships, including World Championship MVP Pau Gasol, All-EuroBasket first team choice Jose Calderon, ULEB Cup Final MVP Rudy Fernandez and two-time All-Euroleague selection Juan Carlos Navarro among others in a star-studded cast. The only additions made were at the point guard spot, where phenom Ricky Rubio will bring his talents to a bigger and brighter stage. Despite 10 appearances at the Olympic Games – including all but one since 1980 – Spain has only one medal to show for it (silver in 1984). But its recent international showings have proved that Spain is among the very best in the game and nothing less than a medal will be accepted by the team in Beijing, leaving the only remaining question to be: Which color?

Spain’s depth at every position is one of the things that make this squad so special. At least two players with different skills can play at every spot, starting with playmakers Calderon and Raul Lopez.
#
Name
Pos.
H.
4
Pau Gasol
C
216
5
Rudy Fernandez
G
195
6
Raul Lopez
G
183
7
Juan Carlos Navarro
G
193
8
Jose Calderon
G
191
9
Felipe Reyes
C
206
10
Carlos Jimenez
F
206
11
Ricky Rubio
G
193
12
Berni Rodriguez
G
196
13
Marc Gasol
C
216
14
Alex Mumbru
F
201
15
Jorge Garbajosa
F
206
Head Coach: Aito Garcia Reneses
Calderon is the team’s motor and an expert at controlling the game’s tempo, who prefers to create for others, but can also score at will when needed. The best perimeter scoring options are Navarro, an elite shooter with incredible range and the temperament and experience to bury big shots in the clutch, and Fernandez, an incredible athlete who can hit outside, drive to the basket and is unstoppable in the open court. Fernandez is also a strong defender, but the true defensive ace is the gutsy Berni Rodríguez, whose feel for the game always seems to have him in the right place at the right time. The teenage Rubio’s basketball IQ is uncanny for a teenager and his combination of long arms for defense and court vision on offense should see him make an impact already.

Pau Gasol is Spain’s go-to guy, but he is just one of many multi-talented inside players. His brother, Marc Gasol, teams with Pau to form a strong one-two punch in the pivot. Marc is a bit stronger and plays a more-physical game than Pau, whose low-post game is as good as it gets, with deadly back-to-the-basket moves, a mid-range jumper and great passing skills. Garbajosa embodies the spirit of the team as a tough and entirely unselfish team player, who contributes with defense, rebounding and the ability to hit the open jumper. The ever-improving Felipe Reyes is a major presence in the paint, due to his powerful inside game and his insatiable appetite for rebounds. The oldest player on the squad is Carlos Jimenez, a glue player who can play both forward roles. Spain’s talent level, depth and experience are three reasons that it is a medal favorite, but what really sets this squad apart is its chemistry. Twelve players who are friends and truly share one selfless goal could be enough to put Spain on top of the medal podium.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Euroleague.net
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