SAO PAULO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Marcelinho Huertas has been among the most dedicated members of Brazil's national team over the years.

The captain, he will very soon experience what could be his biggest thrill in the Brazil shirt when he walks into the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Games. Tens of thousands of fans will be cheering on the athletes that take part.

The 33-year-old point guard, coming off his first season in the NBA, wants to make the most of the opportunity as an Olympic host. He believes he and he teammates have a realistic chance of getting to the podium.

"We have again a competitive team that can go far," he said.

Just how far Brazil end up going may depend on what Huertas is able to offer as the floor general. What sort of player can the fans expect him to be now that he's got a season in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers under his belt? Will he be any different to the Huertas of old? Will he be better?

"Actually, it's more of a matter of status," he said of being an NBA player. "Of course I learned a lot, had contact with exceptional players, had to adapt to another style of play. But I am the same person and the same player, my characteristics are the same."

If anything, Huertas used the NBA as a stage to show how crafty, even sneaky, he can be. One play made the rounds in the social media this year when he hid behind Miami coach Erik Spoelstra as the players ran down the floor. He then snuck in from behind and stole the ball away from Heat point guard Goran Dragic.

What Brazil will have at the Olympics is an experienced team. There will be Huertas, Marquinhos, Anderson Varejao, Alex Garcia, Nene, Raulzinho and Leandro Barbosa.

Each played at the Olympics four years ago in London when Brazil made it to the Quarter-Finals before falling to their nemesis, Argentina. Each played at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup as well and left a good impression.

Raulzinho was a 20-year-old point guard at the London Olympics who was earning a living, like Huertas at the time, in Spain's Liga Endesa. Now he is now a member of the Utah Jazz.

"Some athletes were very young in London and are now more experienced," Huertas said.

Do Brazil have a good shot of making it to the Quarter-Finals, which they did in 2012, or might they go even further? Huertas, who was speaking to veja.com, understands how difficult an Olympic competition can be.

Brazil are going to face very good teams in Group B. They will go up against Argentina, Croatia, Lithuania, Nigeria and Spain.

"We know that fourth place would probably mean playing with the (Group A favorites) US in the next phase," Huertas said. "We are prepared, we are at the same level of the other teams. We are focused on fighting for the top positions."

Huertas is hoping it's going to be a successful Games and that Brazil's basketball team will be at its best.

"The team is coming to fight and will have the advantage and the good fortune of playing at home," he said. "Nothing can be more motivating than this."

FIBA