ElNono
01-19-2011, 12:29 AM
From December 30, 2010... I don't know if it was posted before. Just translated it.
"Even if I'm selected All Star or MVP, I'm going to play with the National Team in 2011" (http://www.canchallena.com/1337794)
Ginobili knows that the rest from skipping the World Championship is one of the reasons for his great present in the NBA, but he says he won't be pressured and will play in the Olympic Qualifier Tournament in Mar del Plata (Argentina).
Everything happens quickly in the NBA. A good performance is quickly shadowed by another not so good. The opinions about the same player can vary in just a handful of days.
Only a few can go beyond the day to day. Those that have the leadership and constant production, even in no so brilliant nights, are decisive. That's a place reserved nowadays for Emanuel Ginobili.
The media already placed him in the short list of candidates to be selected the best player of the season. "People started chanting MVP in San Antonio. My first reaction is embarrassment. It's completely related to the fact that I play for the best team at this very moment. If this continues to the end of the season, I might have a chance, but… it's really utopian. With players like Nowitzki, LeBron, Kobe, Wade, that are super talented in every aspect? No, I don't see it."
The last week of the year is pretty busy: three games, taking care of the twins, take the in-laws to the airport who are spending new year in Buenos Aires, a trip to Dallas, an hour of twitcam to talk with his fans. And, in the meantime, continue to sustain a career with excellence. When his sport genius seemed to have fulfilled all expectations, he surprises with something new. At 33 he's back at the center of attention in the NBA. And the experts agree on something: "Good rest and a good training camp after skipping the Turkey Worlds was fundamental for him to reach this level again". Something similar is said of Tony Parker.
What's worrisome is the perception after this, and that is teams taking notes of how important is for players to have good vacations; It adds to the theory that National Teams are a roadblock for the franchises.
-Is this something to be worried about?
No. They can't tell you not to play. Even if they try, there's moments. Sometimes players privilege a different physical situation, training. But the teams can't do it, it's not allowed. You can spend two months vacationing and then go back to full training instead of touring with the National Team, it allows you to rest. It's up to the player, not the NBA. Even if they select me All Star or MVP, because I took a good rest in 2010, next year I'm going to play with the National Team.
-There will be a new coach in Mar del Plata. What do you remember about Lamas?
Very positive memories. Those were 3 years that left a mark on me. 1997 because it was my first Worlds, and I was making strides improving my game. In 98 he took me to my first Worlds with the senior team when some people thought I wouldn't make the cut. I still remember those 10 days when we were 13 in the team. I suffered like a dog! When I found out I was staying with the team, I swear I was flying.
-How did Lamas communicated that you were staying and Jorge Racca was being cut?
Racca himself told me. I was in the Hotel's lobby, going up to my room, and I run into Jorge in the elevator and he congratulated me. I found out through him, he said I did a good job. It's been 12 years and I don't remember all the details… I think that's how the story goes.
-What's the balance for the National Team this year?
It's great. My absence was easier to digest because they knew five months early, but what happened with Chapu Nocioni was a bullet to the head. With all the work he put to come back, it was a very tough emotional hit. And the National Team played well. It lost a game that was competitive against Serbia, and failed very bad in the most important game. Lithuania really beat us in every aspect. We had very bad timing to have the worst game in the tournament. Even then, the team got up, and beat Russia and Spain, neither of them easy games, and finished in the 5th spot, which is good. After beating Brazil we had higher expectations. It hurts not to be at the top, but the balance can't be bad.
-The coaching change modified anything, or the structure is so strong that we're only going to see small details from Lamas?
If the base group with Carlitos (Delfino), Luifa (Scola), Chapu (Nocioni), and Pablo (Prigioni) is healthy, there won't be many changes. We're just a few and we know each other well. We played together for a thousand years. With the younger players, whoever comes in, Julio will probably have more of an effect, but the structure won't change.
-In Turkey, Cantero got hurt and Hernandez selected a more seasoned player (Cequeira) instead of a young talent (Juan Fernandez). Did it surprise you?
I haven't seen Cequeira until then, but he didn't surprise me. It's impossible to say that it didn't work out because he helped a lot. I don't know Juan Fernandez that much either. It's difficult to have a 19 year old as a backup point guard. As a 3rd stringer is a different thing.
-In 98 Lamas took a gamble with young players: you and Pepe Sanchez.
But if you recall, I went there as player number 12. Afterwards I ended up playing a bit more. Pepe was the third guard behind Milanesio and Montecchia. It's different, a lot of responsibility.
-So Julio won't be more open to change than Sergio.
It's a matter of talking with Julio and see what he would have done in Sergio's situation. It's easier to take a kid as a 4th center than as a backup PG. Carlitos (Delfino) could play the point, but then you didn't have a "2" that could play "1", because Paolo (Quinteros) is not a point guard. Plus, it worked. It was fine. Changing, getting younger, when you talk about in a vacuum, it's great. But you can't risk the current team thinking about the future. People remember this World Championship, they don't talk about what's going to happen two or four years down the road. You have to take the team you think it will enable you to win.
-No Oberto or Roman Gonzales… the lack of centers is a problem?
At the American level, no. At the Olympic level it's a different story, because against some teams you need a tough center. You can't wear out Scola banging all game. It's going to be more noticeable in the world stage.
-Between the end of last season and the start of this one, is 2010 your best year in the NBA?
I don't remember how I started 2005/2006, but the previous one I finished playing incredibly well. It was an All Star year. 2007 was good, but I still think the previous ones were better. In 2008 I was not selected an All Star, but I did get selected on the All NBA 3rd team, the highest individual honor I received so far, even though most people don't remember.
-In Argentina the awards are every year, and you weren't even pre-selected for the Olimpia awards.
Yes. I know Luifa (Scola) won and he is more than deserving. He was the top scorer at the Worlds and that in Argentina has more value than in the NBA. It's the first time they didn't select me in a long time, but there were years were I was selected and I did not win it, and it was worse than this. Doesn't worry me in the least.
-Even then, your brother (Leandro) had to go pick up an award for you.
Yes, the Bicentennial. I'm the best Argentinean basketball player in 200 years.
"Even if I'm selected All Star or MVP, I'm going to play with the National Team in 2011" (http://www.canchallena.com/1337794)
Ginobili knows that the rest from skipping the World Championship is one of the reasons for his great present in the NBA, but he says he won't be pressured and will play in the Olympic Qualifier Tournament in Mar del Plata (Argentina).
Everything happens quickly in the NBA. A good performance is quickly shadowed by another not so good. The opinions about the same player can vary in just a handful of days.
Only a few can go beyond the day to day. Those that have the leadership and constant production, even in no so brilliant nights, are decisive. That's a place reserved nowadays for Emanuel Ginobili.
The media already placed him in the short list of candidates to be selected the best player of the season. "People started chanting MVP in San Antonio. My first reaction is embarrassment. It's completely related to the fact that I play for the best team at this very moment. If this continues to the end of the season, I might have a chance, but… it's really utopian. With players like Nowitzki, LeBron, Kobe, Wade, that are super talented in every aspect? No, I don't see it."
The last week of the year is pretty busy: three games, taking care of the twins, take the in-laws to the airport who are spending new year in Buenos Aires, a trip to Dallas, an hour of twitcam to talk with his fans. And, in the meantime, continue to sustain a career with excellence. When his sport genius seemed to have fulfilled all expectations, he surprises with something new. At 33 he's back at the center of attention in the NBA. And the experts agree on something: "Good rest and a good training camp after skipping the Turkey Worlds was fundamental for him to reach this level again". Something similar is said of Tony Parker.
What's worrisome is the perception after this, and that is teams taking notes of how important is for players to have good vacations; It adds to the theory that National Teams are a roadblock for the franchises.
-Is this something to be worried about?
No. They can't tell you not to play. Even if they try, there's moments. Sometimes players privilege a different physical situation, training. But the teams can't do it, it's not allowed. You can spend two months vacationing and then go back to full training instead of touring with the National Team, it allows you to rest. It's up to the player, not the NBA. Even if they select me All Star or MVP, because I took a good rest in 2010, next year I'm going to play with the National Team.
-There will be a new coach in Mar del Plata. What do you remember about Lamas?
Very positive memories. Those were 3 years that left a mark on me. 1997 because it was my first Worlds, and I was making strides improving my game. In 98 he took me to my first Worlds with the senior team when some people thought I wouldn't make the cut. I still remember those 10 days when we were 13 in the team. I suffered like a dog! When I found out I was staying with the team, I swear I was flying.
-How did Lamas communicated that you were staying and Jorge Racca was being cut?
Racca himself told me. I was in the Hotel's lobby, going up to my room, and I run into Jorge in the elevator and he congratulated me. I found out through him, he said I did a good job. It's been 12 years and I don't remember all the details… I think that's how the story goes.
-What's the balance for the National Team this year?
It's great. My absence was easier to digest because they knew five months early, but what happened with Chapu Nocioni was a bullet to the head. With all the work he put to come back, it was a very tough emotional hit. And the National Team played well. It lost a game that was competitive against Serbia, and failed very bad in the most important game. Lithuania really beat us in every aspect. We had very bad timing to have the worst game in the tournament. Even then, the team got up, and beat Russia and Spain, neither of them easy games, and finished in the 5th spot, which is good. After beating Brazil we had higher expectations. It hurts not to be at the top, but the balance can't be bad.
-The coaching change modified anything, or the structure is so strong that we're only going to see small details from Lamas?
If the base group with Carlitos (Delfino), Luifa (Scola), Chapu (Nocioni), and Pablo (Prigioni) is healthy, there won't be many changes. We're just a few and we know each other well. We played together for a thousand years. With the younger players, whoever comes in, Julio will probably have more of an effect, but the structure won't change.
-In Turkey, Cantero got hurt and Hernandez selected a more seasoned player (Cequeira) instead of a young talent (Juan Fernandez). Did it surprise you?
I haven't seen Cequeira until then, but he didn't surprise me. It's impossible to say that it didn't work out because he helped a lot. I don't know Juan Fernandez that much either. It's difficult to have a 19 year old as a backup point guard. As a 3rd stringer is a different thing.
-In 98 Lamas took a gamble with young players: you and Pepe Sanchez.
But if you recall, I went there as player number 12. Afterwards I ended up playing a bit more. Pepe was the third guard behind Milanesio and Montecchia. It's different, a lot of responsibility.
-So Julio won't be more open to change than Sergio.
It's a matter of talking with Julio and see what he would have done in Sergio's situation. It's easier to take a kid as a 4th center than as a backup PG. Carlitos (Delfino) could play the point, but then you didn't have a "2" that could play "1", because Paolo (Quinteros) is not a point guard. Plus, it worked. It was fine. Changing, getting younger, when you talk about in a vacuum, it's great. But you can't risk the current team thinking about the future. People remember this World Championship, they don't talk about what's going to happen two or four years down the road. You have to take the team you think it will enable you to win.
-No Oberto or Roman Gonzales… the lack of centers is a problem?
At the American level, no. At the Olympic level it's a different story, because against some teams you need a tough center. You can't wear out Scola banging all game. It's going to be more noticeable in the world stage.
-Between the end of last season and the start of this one, is 2010 your best year in the NBA?
I don't remember how I started 2005/2006, but the previous one I finished playing incredibly well. It was an All Star year. 2007 was good, but I still think the previous ones were better. In 2008 I was not selected an All Star, but I did get selected on the All NBA 3rd team, the highest individual honor I received so far, even though most people don't remember.
-In Argentina the awards are every year, and you weren't even pre-selected for the Olimpia awards.
Yes. I know Luifa (Scola) won and he is more than deserving. He was the top scorer at the Worlds and that in Argentina has more value than in the NBA. It's the first time they didn't select me in a long time, but there were years were I was selected and I did not win it, and it was worse than this. Doesn't worry me in the least.
-Even then, your brother (Leandro) had to go pick up an award for you.
Yes, the Bicentennial. I'm the best Argentinean basketball player in 200 years.