Everything is easier with Lorenzo
The trials are over. The Spanish team will take part in the Olympic Games in Valencia next week and must win four games in six days to avoid watching the Olympic competitions on TV. The last test against the Dominican Republic (84-74) in Alicante gradually greased the wheels of a group in need of confidence.The win, while not a spectacular one, at least gives him a sense of self-worth ahead of the always nerve-wracking debut against Lebanon. Coming in with two defeats in two friendlies would be worrying, to say the least.
SUMMARY
74 – Dominican Republic (24+14+19+17): Feliz (5), Nunez (8), Henriques (5), Duarte (27) and Santos (4) are the starting five: Montero (13), Lis (5), De Leon, Vargas (6), Polanco and Peña (1).
Judges: Luis Miguel Castillo, Arnau Padros and Rauk Zamorano. They knocked Feliz out of the Dominican Republic with five individuals.
Incidents: Friendly match of preparation for the pre-Olympic championship, held at the Technical Center of Alicante in front of approximately 4,500 spectators. On the eve of the meeting, a minute of silence was held in memory of Jose Ramon Ramos, a former player of the Spanish national basketball team.
Of course, the bowling against the Caribbean team showed that the group is calmer with Lorenzo Brown.. The key player of the European Championship won in 2022, again wore the jersey of the Spanish national team, for the first time since that historic final. Scariolo dosed it and He played only 16 minutes. but he was one notch above the rest in quality and form. It was not for nothing that he played in the Israeli League final just 11 days ago. With 14 points, no missed shots and 6 assists, he led the game (21 PIR).
The return of Lorenzo is one of the undoubted advantages of Spain. But the national team will also travel to Valencia this Saturday with many doubts, especially in static play, an aspect of the game that will have to be refined over time. You might be able to beat Lebanon and Angola, but against the Bahamas, Finland or Poland you’ll need more in your positional play.
Spain also lacked one point. Spaniards Feliz and Montero, and especially Sacramento’s Duarte (27 points), enjoyed Ferrandis against an overly forgiving defense, especially in the first two quarters. The Dominican block, despite the absence of star Karl-Anthony Towns, turned out to be a block built by Nestor. Che Garcia, who will have something to say at the difficult pre-Olympic tournament in Greece.
Another factor that the Spanish players will have to improve in these days until the start of the pre-Olympic games is their throwing out of bounds.On the positive side, shot selection is good and execution is lacking, which improved slightly in the second half. The three-point shooting stats clearly show this shortcoming: 11 of 30. Juancho Hernangomez’s chart was especially negative: 0 of 4 in 6.75. Without Abrines, which is a serious doubt for Fonteta’s parties, more than one must take a step forward in this chapter.
Moreover, it has also been proven that in the absence of dominant centers, running and throwing outside the field is the formula that Scariolo wants to use for this national team’s participation in the Games. The quality of Willy and Aldama, the versatility of Pradilla and the intensity of Garuba will be Spain’s weapons in painting.. Valencia awaits, and Paris is on the horizon.
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