FIBA Basketball
ARG - Nocioni cautious ahead of Japan
CHICAGO (FIBA World Championship) - Argentina forward Andres Nocioni is worried soaring expectations of his country's title chances at the FIBA World Championship in Japan could hurt the team's bid for a medal.The Chicago Bulls star helped Argentina win gold at the Olympics in 2004 and the country is among the favourites to win the world title. He accepts that one of several teams could win the gold in Japan, though
CHICAGO (FIBA World Championship) - Argentina forward Andres Nocioni is worried soaring expectations of his country's title chances at the FIBA World Championship in Japan could hurt the team's bid for a medal.
The Chicago Bulls star helped Argentina win gold at the 2004 Olympics and the country is among the favourites to win the world title. He accepts that one of several teams could win the gold in Japan, though.
"We're going to have to work very hard if we want to do well at the championships because we are on a similar level to Spain, France and team USA (United States)," said Nocioni. The South American giants, in fact, will do well to win all of their Group A games.
Argentina will face France, Venezuela, Lebanon, Nigeria and reigning world champions Serbia & Montenegro in the group.
"It's a difficult group because there are so many good teams, but we must make sure we win it to avoid getting a tough tie in the next round," he said.
Nocioni recently met up with national team coach Sergio Hernandez and discussed the build-up to Japan.
"We didn't talk about what position he wants me to play in," he said. "We talked about the forthcoming friendly games and training camps. In the national team, I play in the position he (Hernandez) needs me."
There are concerns about the lack of playing time some of the Argentina players have received in the NBA. Fabricio Oberto and Carlos Delfino, of the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons respectively, spend most of their time on the bench.
Oberto, particularly, was a key part of the gold medal win in Athens.
"As I'm not in their head, I don't know what they're thinking now," Nocioni said. "But I know Fabricio very well and I know he is preparing himself to play for the full 40 minutes.
"We need them very much, because they are almost irreplaceable."
From PA Sport, Buenos Aires Exclusively for FIBA
The Chicago Bulls star helped Argentina win gold at the 2004 Olympics and the country is among the favourites to win the world title. He accepts that one of several teams could win the gold in Japan, though.
"We're going to have to work very hard if we want to do well at the championships because we are on a similar level to Spain, France and team USA (United States)," said Nocioni. The South American giants, in fact, will do well to win all of their Group A games.
Argentina will face France, Venezuela, Lebanon, Nigeria and reigning world champions Serbia & Montenegro in the group.
"It's a difficult group because there are so many good teams, but we must make sure we win it to avoid getting a tough tie in the next round," he said.
Nocioni recently met up with national team coach Sergio Hernandez and discussed the build-up to Japan.
"We didn't talk about what position he wants me to play in," he said. "We talked about the forthcoming friendly games and training camps. In the national team, I play in the position he (Hernandez) needs me."
There are concerns about the lack of playing time some of the Argentina players have received in the NBA. Fabricio Oberto and Carlos Delfino, of the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons respectively, spend most of their time on the bench.
Oberto, particularly, was a key part of the gold medal win in Athens.
"As I'm not in their head, I don't know what they're thinking now," Nocioni said. "But I know Fabricio very well and I know he is preparing himself to play for the full 40 minutes.
"We need them very much, because they are almost irreplaceable."
From PA Sport, Buenos Aires Exclusively for FIBA