While Spain has taken up residence in Malaga where it will face Team USA in a week, Sergio Scariolo spoke about Ricky Rubio’s package, forced to put his basketball career on hold to take care of his mental health.
“He has to deal with a very personal problem” replied the coach of Spain. “We have to be as close as possible to him to encourage and support him. He’s not just a player on this team, he’s like a nephew to me. Now, the important thing is to leave him in his privacy and wait for the moment when he will have the energy to enjoy basketball again. »
A deficit in creation and defense
La Roja captain Rudy Fernandez blames himself for not realizing Rubio needed help. “I should have been with him when he needed it the most. Ricky is working on his well-being, and we have 16 players who are ready to give 100%. »
Scariolo has announced that Rubio will not be replaced in the squad, and Spain will continue their preparation with 16 players. Four will be cut before leaving for Asia in two weeks.
“We have incorporated Juan Nunez and we have other players who can play in this position” concludes Scariolo. “But it’s not so much a question of role, we have to create a bit more play, because we have an obvious deficit in ball management and we have to look for formulas to create advantages. We also need to increase the level of defense to force opponents to lose balls. There is no magic formula. It’s an urgent, complicated situation, and we have to deal with what we have in our hands. »
