CHN/AUS- Maher’s ‘great ride’ in women’s basketball (Part I)

BEIJING (Olympics) - When Tom Maher leads China's women at next years' Beijing Games, it will be the third national side he has coached an an Olympics.

Maher, 57, led Australia to bronze in 1996 in Atlanta and four years later to silver in Sydney.

He also guided New Zealand on an unexpected run to the quarter-finals of the Athens Games in 2004.

Maher has, not surprisingly, formed some strong opinions about the women's game.

He recently answered some questions from Jeff Taylor on behalf of FIBA.Com. Here is Part I of that interview.

FIBA: Hi Tom. You have been very busy of late. We saw you in Italy at the EuroBasket Women scouting potential opponents for next season's Olympics in Beijing, and you also took your team to Europe and the United States? Who impressed you at the EuroBasket and what can you tell us about your team's travels?

Tom Maher: "Our tours to Europe prior to the USA tour were of great value to us.   Perhaps the players were a little mentally tired by the time we got to the USA and we didn't play with a great deal of enthusiasm. As far as the European Championships were concerned, I thought it was a year of high drama. Some teams overachieved and some teams underachieved. Amaya Valdemoro was sensational for Spain, Gunta Basko and Anete Jekabsone were great for Latvia and the entire Russian team was very impressive."

FIBA: In Chieti, you offered some strong opinions about the length of some domestic leagues in Europe. Since many of the players also compete in other leagues like the WNBA during the close season in Europe, when do you think the domestic leagues in France and Russia, for example, should start and finish and why do you believe this would be good for the game?

Tom Maher: "Absolutely this is one of the major issues in women's basketball.   Women's Basketball is a great product and if the public at large have more opportunity to appreciate that, then I'm sure they will. The fact is, players are now playing 12 months of the year and there is not enough opportunity to promote international test matches. The EuroLeague, the WNBA, international competition and other domestic leagues are all great products that should complement one another, rather than compete for players and scheduling. The WNBA season is only three months long, and international competition fits into gaps, therefore it is the length of the domestic European leagues that have the capacity to change. I think the finals for the EuroLeague should be the culmination of the European season, domestic European play-offs go for too long."

FIBA: Speaking of Europe, have you ever coached a club or national side on the continent and if not, is that something you would like to do?

Tom Maher: "No I've never coached a European team, but of course any coach would love to coach in Europe."

FIBA: When did you take command of the Chinese team and what changes have you been able to bring in that have made a positive impact on the players?

Tom Maher: "I started coaching China in 2005 after the Athens Olympics. Primarily our coaching staff has tried very hard to help the players become more pro-active and dynamic. Lack of these qualities really hampers a team defensively and in winning possession of the ball."

FIBA: Turning the clock back, you coached Australia for a long time and even grabbed the helm of New Zealand. Going to Asia to lead China must have been quite a change. What has this experience been like?

Tom Maher: "It's been a great ride for me. Beijing will be my second home Olympics, my fourth Olympic Games and my third Olympic team."

... the rest of the interview will be available next week on www.fiba.basketball.

FIBA