ARG – “One on one” with Luis Scola

Luis Scola has been one of those rare stories in which the person is destined for success since his early childhood. When he was just 10 years old, everybody was talking about him; no wonder that at 14, he was considered as Argetina’s basketball greatest promise. His debut in Argentina’s National League came shortly after; then he went to Europe: first, with the Gijon in the LEB League, and after with the Tau Ceramica, wherein he became one of the most respected players in both Spain, and in the FIBA World. Today, he’s the most recent member of the Houston Rockets in the NBA, and one of the leaders of Team Argentina, on their quest to grab one of the two spots available for the 2008 Olympic Games, in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007 in Las Vegas.

When was the first time in your life that you said “I’m going to play in the NBA”?

I don’t remember how old I was, but I’m sure I was little; maybe three or four years old. These are things that kids say, some say that they want to be astronauts, others actors; for me, having acquired this crazy love for the game from Dad, it was the NBA. I used to say that I was going to be world champion, so many things. The truth is that I’ve accomplished most of those dreams.

Did you ever doubt your participation in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007?

No, never. Someone asked me right after the end of the World Championship in Japan, and my answer was always the same. They didn’t even question it in Houston. There was an insurance that needed to be pay for, but it was never a problem.

How do you take on the responsibility of being one of the few left from that Olympic Gold Medal team, and your new role as a team leader?

I think that the figure of the leader is a bit overestimated. At the end, there is a team playing inside the lines, with some of the players having more attention than the others, but is the game who decides who is the natural leader. I don’t pay much attention to that.

After making what is probably the most important decision in your sports career, leaving the Tau for Houston, is it easy for you to have your mind present set now with the national team?

Yes, after all it’s still basketball.

How do you imagine the team with all those players absent? 
 
I believe that his will be a competitive team. It’s our responsibility to consciously get ready in order to have a great tournament or not.

Does it bother to hear more about those who are not present than of those who are?

It is possible that because we have a competitive team it is enough to think of it as it is, instead of thinking about those who didn’t make it here. Those who are not coming have their own reasons. I understand, and respect, them. Now this is the National team, and that’s it.

What is the main objective, apart from grabbing one of the spots available for Beijing?

The objective is to beat them all. That may not be a possibility but we will grab one of those two spots. We haven’t lost to anyone because the tournament has yet to start. This is a sport. I’ve played with great teams and we lost some games we didn’t expect to lose. I’ve also play with moderate teams, and we have accomplished some incredible wins. The only thing that matter is how you get ready, and how do you face the tournament. We are definitely going for the qualification, but we will get what we deserve.

At first look, what seems easier for you, considering that everything is difficult, in this FIBA Americas Championship, or the World Pre-Olympic next year?

Nothing is easy, that is for sure. Both tournaments should be hard, with the World Pre-Olympic been the most difficult of the two, because you don’t get another chance if you loose; while in Las Vegas you know that you have another chance. Fácil no es nada, eso está claro. Anyway, this is common situation for all of us, so there is no advantage, or disadvantage, for anyone.

What is the best of this team?

It is hard to say because the teams will get their best characteristics as they train and play together. Each championship that we play in, some good, different, quality always comes up. Nobody notice that, there were teams with best defense, others with more personality, and other with more fire to win. They change progressively, because the players change, having a great tournament, leading the team in that direction. The same happens with thos players who have a bad tournament, taking the team with them. I think that we have enough talent to conform a competitive team.

Is it possible that the fact that some of the players haven’t got that main role in previous competition could turn into a positive aspect?

It may be positive, of course, if they come with the attitude that I think they are going to present.

It’s a fact that Delfino and you are going to get more attention from your rivals. How do you imagine the game is going to be, lots of double team for you?

It’s difficult to do scouting in this kind of competion. You play every day, and it may be complicated to organize a good game scheme. Sometimes, it is possible to achieve that, but I think that this team has lots of resources available to worry about a player been left out.

It is an error to think that the only rival between you and Beijing may be Brazil?

Yes, it will be a rotund mistake. It is possible that we could meet in the final game for the classification. But to think of that today, that is definitely a mistake.