BRA - Optimism reigns

SAO PAULO (Olympics) - Ruben Magnano can't walk down any street in Brazil these days without at least someone wishing the coach and his national team good luck.

The men’s tournament at the London Games tips off on 29 July, and the Brazilians will go up against Australia.

It's been 16 years since Brazil played at an Olympics, and that’s a long time for a country that has a rich tradition in basketball.

"Brazilian fans are very enthusiastic," Magnano says.

"People stop me on the street to talk to me and tell me that they will follow the national team at the Games and that for me is a reward that nothing can surpass.

"To recover credibility and confidence in Brazilian basketball is something for me that is huge."

The Brazilians clinched a spot in London by reaching the Final of the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

The fans are weighing up the possibilities.

Magnano, who steered Argentina to the gold medal in 2004, knows that a lot has to go right for a side to leave an Olympics with a medal.

Teams must avoid injuries and demonstrate that they can win close contests.

There is a different game-plan for every opponent that players must execute.

The concentration has to be there each and every day.

Most important, the coaches and players must be on the same page.

They must be unified, and Brazil do appear to be.

The squad launched its preparations on Monday in Sao Paulo.

The upgrade in quality is unmistakable.

NBA players Anderson Varejao (Cleveland Cavaliers), Nene (Washington Wizards) and Leandro Barbosa (Indiana Pacers) are with the national team this year.

Anderson was hurt and couldn't play last summer.

The NBA Lockout, and an injury cost him most of this season.

"I am happy to have returned after a year where I have suffered from injuries," Anderson says.

"It was difficult for me not to be able to play for the national team at the time but that has passed.

"I took advantage and trained in order to feel comfortable again representing my country.

"I am motivated and anxious to know what the preparations and the Olympics are going to be like."

Nene hasn't played for Brazil since 2007, at the FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, for a myriad of reasons.

A cancer survivor, the Wizards center is now healthy and seems to be ready to give his best.

"In a little while," Nene says, "the hard work begins and we must be prepared.

"I am very happy to be able to work again with this group and the coaching staff of Brazil."

The only two players who have yet to join are Tiago Splitter and Marcelinho Huertas.

Splitter’s wife just gave birth, so the veteran center will join on 18 June.

Marcelinho will join the side after the Liga Endesa play-offs in Spain, where he is playing in the finals with Barcelona.

Magnano doesn’t want to look too far ahead, and he especially doesn’t want to be thinking about the team’s medal chances.

"I don't like to talk about medals," he says.

"The possibilities are open for the 12 teams.

"If you have a good preparation and have a competitive team, you have chances (of a medal).

"That requires a lot of discipline during a long spell of time.

"It's very easy to talk about medals but the important thing is to know what we are going to do to get there.

"I personally believe we have chances."

It's Magnano's job to choose the right team, to prepare the players and to leave nothing to chance.

Because of the quality of the national teams that Brazil will face, though, it's a huge ask to think about a podium finish right now.

They are in Group B with Australia, China, Great Britain, Spain and a team that comes out of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

The OQT will be staged in Caracas, Venezuela, from 2-8 July.

"Without a doubt, we have Spain as a big candidate for the title," Magnano says.

"They are favorites alongside the USA, France and Argentina.

"Perhaps these national teams are ahead of the rest.

"Australia is at the level of Brazil and other teams.

"My experience tells me that we have to treat each game with equal importance.

"We have China, then there's Great Britain that play at home and we have to be sufficiently intelligent and respectful with these two rivals."

FIBA