VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - Every player, and really every team, at the start of 2018 should familiarize himself with the words of the late Charles Dederich.

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life," Dederich, the late New York Times columnist, once said.

That's a great quote, especially for those that have been struggling, the players that have been injured or out of form, and the teams that have been losing.

Don't fret about the bad times, but go out and have some good times. Work hard and play hard. And also "Remember," as my late father used to tell me, "you could be digging ditches." In other words, enjoy the moment. You're playing basketball for a living, for goodness sake. This should be fun. You're living the dream, playing the game you love.

The teams that have a real chance of going 2-0 in February and getting their World Cup European Qualifiers campaign on track?

Croatia

Come on, Croatia - you can do this!

Okay, that could have gone better. You're 0-2 but in a group that includes Romania, the Netherlands and Italy. Think positive because you can and you should be 2-2 after the games in the February window. You are a basketball nation that is loaded with talent. Just do it!

Sweden

What's done is done. Focus on the here and now and just win, Sweden!

Okay, you lost at home to Ukraine and on the road at Latvia, yet Sweden, you were darn competitive in both games and Marcus Eriksson didn't even play. Imagine the possibilities if the sharpshooter is in the lineup next month? If there's one thing about coach Vedran Bosnic I like, it's that he's a master of positive thinking. If these players believe in themselves, they can achieve. Swedes, go all out and beat Turkey (2-0) on February 23 and carry the confidence of that triumph to Ukraine and win that game on February 26, too.

Georgia

Coach Ilias Zouros and Georgia will be tough to beat in February

Two games, two defeats? "Ain't nothing but a thang, Georgia." Don't believe it when people say you are what your record says you are. You are better than 0-2 and with home games in February against Austria and Germany, and the likely returns of George Tsintsadze and Duda Sanadze, you must believe you will be 2-2 heading into the third window.

Great Britain

Just believe, Great Britain!

Forget the fact, Brits, that you should be 2-0 after the November qualifiers. You know you should. You should have beaten Greece at home but lost in overtime after a 3-pointer by Giannis Athinaiou, and you have too much talent to have fallen to Estonia in Tallinn. You know you're good enough, so just go out and prove it. Israel (1-1) are rebuilding under new coach Oded Katash, so that is a must win away from home for you on February 23. As for the February 25 game at Greece? After pushing the European giants to the limit in Leicester, get the job done this time.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

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