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Spain 2009 NT

  • Thread starter Thread starter rikhardur2
  • Start date Start date
Rudy Heads To Poland Against Portland's Wishes

Spain's Rudy Fernandez has revealed that the Portland Trail Blazers want him to rest this summer instead of representing his country at the EuroBasket in Poland.

The 24-year-old just completed his rookie season in the NBA and helped the Blazers reach the play-offs.

"If I am now in the NBA, it's also thanks to the national team," Fernandez said.

"Portland wanted me to rest and would prefer for me not to compete this summer.

"Perhaps they will not be happy and I understand, it's normal, but my commitment to the national team is 100% and they have to accept it."

Spain may not have Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers in the line-up when they go to Poland, however, with the seven-footer delaying the decision on his availability until after the NBA post-season with LA.

"Pau is a reference point in this team but our strength is that we are a block, a team, a group of friends," Fernandez said.

"If Pau cannot come one day, we will lose a reference point but there are other players that will come to the team and we will continue to compete against the best."

Fernandez was the 2006 FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year.

Spain, who finished runners-up at EuroBasket 2007 to Russia and last year lost to Team USA in the gold-medal game at the Olympics, will this summer take on Serbia, Slovenia and Great Britain in the Preliminary Round.
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http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_wwyK3jSXHycX46ZiK8EGa2.articleMode_on.container_frontpage.html

Way to go Rudy ;)
 
Calderon is the first official absence in the spanish NT this summer.

http://www.josemanuelcalderon.com/index_s.html

Translation:

DIFFICULT DECISION

This morning I phoned José Luis Sáez, president of the spanish federation. I requested not to be included in the pre-selection for the Eurobasket to be held in Poland this summer.

It's been hard to make this decision because, as everybody knows, my involvement with the national team is absolute. Since i was 14 I've played in all categories with the NT and was very excited to participate in this Championship.

However, I know now that I need rest, in order to be fully recovered from the injuries that have been bothering me this season and prepare seriously for the upcoming NBA season where my team needs my full effort to improve the results of last year.

i want to make clear that this resignation is only temporary, is not taken lightly, but in light of the circumstances and outcome of various consultations and medical tests I have done in recent days.

If the FEB deems necessary, you can count on my participation in the future. I also hope that fans understand it and the whole world is aware that he has been a very difficult decision. For me, playing in the NT is the biggest honor as a sportsman.
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It was a surprise to me. Maybe the toe injury will require more time to recover that they expected.
 
Pau Gasol, Rudy Fernandez ( most probably ), Calderon. Who will be next?..
 
vaslover said:
Pau Gasol, Rudy Fernandez ( most probably ), Calderon. Who will be next?..
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Naw, just Pau and maybe Navarro. I don't expect anybody else to skip the tournament.
Luckyly we have good replacements for the PG position in this era. Not so long ago our starting PG was Carles Marco. :confused:
These are hard losses but still, Spain should be up there with Lithuania, Russia, Greece...
 
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Wasn't Rudy badly injured on one of the matches this season? I havent saw another Trailblazers match after that injury, but as I can see its wasnt serious, right?
 
i am certain Pau will skip the Eurobasket. i think he needs some rest after this NBA Championship. it could work well with other centers like his brother Marc. the younger Gasol will have more playing time thus provide him to improve his game and build up his confidence.
 
i think spain will be next champion. russia have no chances to defend their title. i think lithuania without jasikevicius is to weak. maybe only greek NT can opose spain....
 
And Slovenia for the first time in the history. Also Turkey will surprise i think.
 
arturcia said:
i think spain will be next champion. russia have no chances to defend their title. i think lithuania without jasikevicius is to weak. maybe only greek NT can opose spain....
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It's difficult to say! Even without Calderón and maybe Gasol, I think Spain is one of the favorites. But I don't bet on them! This absent(s) make them more weak. On top of that, I think this EB will be one of the most competitive. And this 2 things make the "mission" hard to Spain!
 
Slovenia have a great team this time and Spain if they are missing Gasol and maybe one of Navarro or Calderon could be vulnerable to them...I mean with Brezec, Slokar, Lorbek, Smodiš, Nachbar, Vujačič, B.Udrih, Dragič and Lakovič their only problem could be with experience in the last 1-2 plays of a big match...talent wise they match anyone...
 
penzias said:
Breaking news: Pau will play in the Eurobasket.
At least that's what he said yesterday in "Jimmy kimmel live" and this morning in an interview for a spanish tv.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Oj4D37VPg

Around 7:30
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Or maybe he just felt uncomfortable and said yeah whatever I'll play just to avoid questions why you won't play and so on? :) Kobe and Fisher made a up a damn intense "black guys" conversation. Expect them, everybody felt uncomfortable :)

Anyway, seems that Pau will play and that makes Spain total favorite of Eurobaket 2009.
 
Straight forward said:
Or maybe he just felt uncomfortable and said yeah whatever I'll play just to avoid questions why you won't play and so on? :) Kobe and Fisher made a up a damn intense "black guys" conversation. Expect them, everybody felt uncomfortable :)
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Yeah I think it was that, he just aswered "lightly" so to speak. But I hope he'll play.
 
Straight forward said:
Or maybe he just felt uncomfortable and said yeah whatever I'll play just to avoid questions why you won't play and so on? :) Kobe and Fisher made a up a damn intense "black guys" conversation. Expect them, everybody felt uncomfortable :)

Anyway, seems that Pau will play and that makes Spain total favorite of Eurobaket 2009.
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Yup i got the same impression.
 
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