WUHAN (China) - Spain have long been one of the best teams in the world, and they have yet to lose at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, dreaming of adding another title to the one they captured in 2006. But this year's team is winning differently and head coach Sergio Scariolo is being forced to pull out his fair share of tricks. 

Their Quarter-Finals opponents Poland best be forewarned that the Spanish will come out with a new wrinkle or two for their matchup on Tuesday in Shanghai, something similar perhaps to Scariolo inserting Pierre Oriola into the starting lineup against Serbia. 

"As coaches, we know when it's time to take something new out - like we did tonight (against Serbia). We know you can't show everything in the first game. You can do that if you are the best team of the competition. Then you don't care," Scariolo said.

"But if you are not...especially physically, you have to hide something and take it out at the right time. and hide something more, even taking a bigger risk - for the following rounds. This is basically what we have done since we won the FIBA EuroBasket in 2009. Most of the time we manage it in the proper way. One time out of six or seven times you fall short. But you got to take a risk."

Sergio Scariolo took the risk and started Pierre Oriola against Serbia

This Spanish team clearly does not have the same offensive firepower as past teams who have won the EuroBasket in 2009, 2011 and 2015 in addition to grabbing the silver medal at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and bronze in 2016. Scariolo instead has his troops locking teams down on defense, allowing just 63.8 points through five games, including giving up only 69 points to a Serbia side which had come into the game averaging 103.3 points.

"We are far away from the offensive talent we had in previous years. So if we want to compete against great teams we have to play not good defense but great defense," Scariolo said. "This is our fate. This is our road map. If we follow it, we can compete. In a single game you have a chance against anybody, but only if you play really, really top defense.”

One advantage that Scariolo has over other teams is that his team features some proven winners who have been doing it for years and years now - such as Rudy Fernandez, Marc Gasol, Sergio Llull and Ricky Rubio. 

Rudy Fernandez knows how to manage his energy level

"The players with more experience know they cannot last at the top level for three weeks - especially if they are 32, 34, 35. That’s impossible. Maybe you can do it if you are 20, 22, 24," the coach said.

"So, they know how to manage their energy level, maintaining a good level - not a great level - at the beginning because it would be impossible to raise it when the real do-or-die games come."

Scariolo at the same time has a number of players appearing at their first World Cup.  And it's been a challenge for the coaching staff to get them fundamentally ready to perform at the highest level. 

"Many of our players have never played a World Cup, so at the beginning it's a little bit tough to adjust and understand this level of pressure and competition," Scariolo said. 

Those players are now fully up to speed and ready to carry Spain back to the podium - thanks also to so some tricks and risks from their coach.

FIBA.