ARG - Lamas and the ‘people’s love for this national team’

BUENOS AIRES (Olympics) - Argentina coach Julio Lamas is no different than any other basketball fan in his country.

He’s full of wonder, even amazement, when considering what the nation’s players have accomplished the past decade.

There is the silver medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis, and the gold at the Athens Games two years later.

In 2006, Argentina came in fourth at the World Championship in Japan and at the Beijing Olympics, they captured bronze.

Manu Ginobili has captured NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs and Luis Scola is a solid power forward with Houston Rockets.

Where Lamas is different to other fans is that he has had two spells of leading the national team.

It’s why he pauses, smiles and becomes nostalgic when asked to look back at Argentina’s incredible run that saw them climb to the top of the FIBA World Rankings.

"When I coached them between 1997 and 1999, I thought they would do better,” he says, “that they were the best that I had ever seen representing our country.

“But I would lie if I said that I imagined that they would achieve the results they did at national level and at club level.”

If you were among the lucky ones and saw the national team before it took off, you will remember Lamas steering an Argentina team that included Fabricio Oberto, Manu Ginobili and Pepe Sanchez into the Quarter-Finals of the 1998 FIBA World Championship in Athens.

That trio, and others like Alejandro Montecchia, Ruben Wolkowisky, Hugo Sconochini, Andres Nocioni, Luis Scola and Carlos Delfino, hit the heights when capturing Olympic gold in Greece.

Lamas’ second stint

By returning to the helm for last year’s FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata, Lamas was able to not only coach the country’s legends to a gold medal and secure a spot in next year’s Olympics.

He was able to reflect on the impact the national team has had on his country.

"People fell in love with this national team,” he says.

“They have transcended the basketball world and are known, accepted, respected and admired.

"They have played together from a young age and the past achievements united them.

“They enjoy playing together, they are very ambitious and have a very strong mentality.”

Argentina is an old national team, now.

The average age in the 12-man group playing last summer was more than 33 years.

Only two players, Delfino (29) and Juan Gutierrez (28), were under 30.

Yet Lamas, whose comments were carried in the Clarin newspaper, insists the players still have lofty aims when looking ahead to London.

"The mentality of these players will make sure that until we are out, we will try to win a medal,” he says.

And how conceivable is that in London, where the United States, Spain, France, Australia, Brazil, China, Tunisia and Great Britain await, with three more teams to clinch spots at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

"It's a plus that in London you play alternate days,” Lamas says.

“But that also is a bonus for our opponents although for us it's especially good.

“In 2004 we didn't need it. Today we do.”

The plan for London

Ginobili, Nocioni, Scola and Delfino are locks to make the team.

Each played at the Athens Games.

But Lamas says fans shouldn’t think about the 2004 Olympic team when assessing the current squad.

"This team is more similar to that of Beijing than Athens," he says.

"We could have eight or nine players who featured at the last Olympics.

"In the shooting guard and forward positions, we have a very high level.

"Our point guard is (Pablo) Prigioni, which gives me a lot confidence.

"In London, I would like Scola to play more as a four (power forward) than five (center) and for Nocioni to play as a three (small forward).

“We have to develop another option in the center role and consolidate our guard that will be a second playmaker.”

Spain 2014

Lamas was brought into the national team set-up in part because his predecessor, Sergio Hernandez, did not want to commit to coaching the team beyond London.

"My part-time contract ends in September and the CABB (Argentina Basketball Confederation) will have to decide whether they extend it full time until after Spain 2014,” he says.

“I want to guide the national team at the FIBA World Championship in 2014.

“I want to be there. It would be a great challenge.

“We can continue to be competitive.

“We can continue to exploit results because this unique and fantastic team can continue to grow."

FIBA