After more than 10 days of intense work as part of a regular preparation process, The Argentine basketball team begins the friendly stage towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the tournament to which he will arrive with great enthusiasm to write a new page of history after the memorable runner-up in the China World Cup 2019. The set that commands Sergio Hernandez will have its first presentation in Las Vegas in the early hours of this Sunday: from 0.30 it will be measured against Australia, one of the contenders for medals in the Olympic event, which will have several NBA such as Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Aron Baynes and Matisse Thybulle.
More | Guide to men’s basketball at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: groups, rosters, figures, matches and more
In the preview of a preparation that will then continue with clashes against Nigeria (Monday 12) and the United States (Tuesday 13)Let’s go with five stories or details to follow around the national team.
The use of the powerful trio of bases
If there is a position in which Argentina has abundance of talent, resources and options, without a doubt that is the base: Facundo Campazzo, who comes to Tokyo after his first NBA season with the Denver Nuggets; Nicolas Laprovittola, who stood out in Real Madrid after the departure of the Cordovan; Y Luca vildoza, who after shining in Baskonia made the leap to New York Knicks on close of 2020-2021 (did not debut). Offensively and defensively, the potential of the trio is top in the tournament.
How will Oveja use them? An interesting story will pass through there. Facu is the undisputed holder (team game engine), and if we take the World Cup as a reference, we have seen it share the pitch with both Lapro and Luca. In China, Nico averaged 22.3 minutes and the Mar del Plata, 16.5. Will that figure go up? The ability of both to rush to the guard position opens the option, as well as the clear defensive improvement of Vildoza from the World Cup to this part. Hernández was able to say in the previous one that all the players arrive at these Olympic Games improved, and Luca is one of the main cases. In the middle, he knew how to be champion in Vitoria and MVP of the definition, among other things.
Regardless of how it is used, the feeling is clear: Argentina can sleep easy due to its power in the position.
The form of Gabriel Deck
Another call to take a step forward (beyond having been important in China 2019) is the player from Santiago, who has also evolved in such a way in these two years that managed to make the leap to the NBA, with that closing of 10 games in Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020-2021. The case with him is that he joined the preparation in Las Vegas just a few days ago, since his arrival was delayed after a positive for COVID-19.
The former Real Madrid is working little by little to get in shape, something that he himself is confident that he will not have major problems ahead of his debut in the Games (on 7/26). How big will your step forward be in this 2021 version of the selected one? In the World Cup it was second highest scorer (13.9 per game) and third with the most minutes (24.5) despite leaving mostly from the bank. In Hernández’s proposal for a fast and vertical game, his resources and power in transition are elementary.
The state of Patricio Garino
The silent worker par excellence of the team. The former NBA is one of the defensive pillars, something that he more than demonstrated during the World Cup (8.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 24.3 minutes). Every time he had to put on the National Team jersey, his game took a leap. And his role in the team is vital from every point of view. In theory, the Olympics will see him again as a key piece of Hernández’s structure. The main question? Your physical condition.
After his injury to cruciate ligaments in the right knee in November 2019, he has practically not been able to return to his best form. In fact, some complications allowed him play just 10 games in Zalgiris during 2020-2021 (8.5 minutes on average). In his favor? Tokyo 2020 has been the main motivation for a long time, and he has worked in a special way in the previous one and during the preparation to resume his best form again with the Argentine jersey. Both he and the team need it.
The incorporation of Leandro Bolmaro
A piece of great value is added to the base of the World Cup: Leandro Bolmaro, 23rd of the 2020 Draft (Minnesota acquired its rights) and who comes from a year from youngest to oldest and exciting in Barcelona, where he completed a final stretch being part of Saras Jasikevicius’ rotation on the way to the Euroleague final and consecration in the ACB League (9.0 points, 44% triples, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 19.1 minutes during his last 16 games).
The Cordovan is one of the great jewels of national basketball, a piece with enormous athletic and physical qualities, of great talent and that has been highlighted during the team’s preparation in Las Vegas. It will be a weighty addition to the range of perimeter options that Hernández will have, because you can even carry the base without major problems. Campazzo, Laprovittola, Vildoza, Brussino, Garino and now also Bolmaro. Deluxe.
The fight for the final 12
For this Olympic process, Hernández developed a shortlist with 15 names, 14 of which are in Las Vegas. The 15th is the youth Juan Francisco Fernandez, who is with the U19 in the World Cup in the category in Latvia. How are the 12 finals going to Tokyo going to be defined? Let’s see…
There are eight that, except for physical problems, They are fixed and come from the World Cup: Scola, Campazzo, Laprovittola, Vildoza, Deck, Garino, Brussino and Delía. The logic indicates that Bolmaro should have his place among the 12, so there would be three more places. ¿Máximo Fjellerup and Tayavek Gallizzi, both runners-up in China, are they in? Perhaps they have an advantage because of group knowledge and experience. What would remain or what would be the doubts?
By configuration, if Taya is inside, one more intern would be missing (following the China 2019 mode, where Agustín Cáffaro was). Options? Francisco Cáffaro (Augustine’s brother), Laurato Berra and the young Fernández (for what was done with the U19). Y Juan Pablo Vaulet? He is coming off a solid season in the ACB and can easily go toe-to-toe with Fjellerup for a spot.
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA or its organizations.