ITA – Belinelli: "I’m happy to get the chance to play"

NEW ORLEANS (EuroBasket 2011) – Italy star guard Marco Belinelli got a change of scenery last summer when he was shipped from Toronto to New Orleans and, as the 2010-2011 NBA season approaches its halfway mark, the sharp shooter has made the most of the move.

After suiting up for the Azzurri in the qualifying round of EuroBasket 2011 – in which they finished third in Group A with a 5-3 mark and gained entry into the Final Round when the field was extended from 16 to 24 teams – Belinelli stood out in training camp with the New Orleans Hornets and got the nod as Team USA guard Chris Paul’s backcourt mate.

The Hornets got off to a franchise-best 8-0 start to the regular season before tailing off in late November and early December.

They have steadied the ship since and, in no small part thanks to Belinelli’s play, to be in the thick of the ever-competitive Western Conference playoff battle.

The native of Bologna has started all 38 games and is averaging 11.3 points in 28 minutes of play while shooting 40 percent from three-point range.

FIBA.com caught up with Belinelli to talk about his increased role, the success of Italian players in the NBA and representing Italy in Lithuania.

FIBA: Marco, congratulations on your solid season in New Orleans so far. Can you tell us how your transition has gone?
Belinelli: Well I’m happy to get a chance to play. Last year in Toronto something happened starting in February after the All-Star break. I don’t know exactly what, but I didn’t play a lot.

FIBA: What were your thoughts when you heard you had been traded?
Belinelli: It was a good job that the trade made me come here. This team wanted me and I have the confidence of the coaching staff, the organisation and my team-mates so I’m just happy to be here.

FIBA: You got off to a great start, winning your first eight games but have dropped off quite a bit since. What do you need to do to get back to your early season form?
Belinelli: We need to be more defensive (minded), play more together. We have eight or nine new faces on the team including me so we need time. But the season is long and we need to be positive and just play hard every time.

FIBA: You are one of three Italian players in the NBA (along with Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors and Danilo Gallinari of the New York Knicks) and you’re all starting for your respective teams. What do you make of that achievement?
Belinelli: We’re so happy about that for ourselves but also for all the people that follow us in Italy. I follow the progress of Andrea and Danilo. We talk on the phone some times and when we play against each other, we’ll have dinner. It’s great to have three Italian guys in the NBA who are in the starting five. We’re friends so we’re happy for each other.

FIBA: How much do you look forward to this summer and playing with them in Lithuania?
Belinelli: I’m very excited about the EuroBasket. This will be a great occasion for Italian basketball.

FIBA: As a team, Italy started slow in last summer’s qualifiers. Do you think you learned your lessons and know how to play at your best?
Belinelli: Last summer was a great experience. It was good to play in Italy with Andrea and the other guys. It was a different team because we had a new coach in Simone Pianigiani.

FIBA: You played with Andrea in Toronto for a while last year. With Chris Bosh now in Miami, do you think he is able to become the new face of the franchise?
Belinelli: Andrea is one of the best offensive players in the league but it’s different now for him, he has to be the leader of the team. It’s an adjustment.

FIBA: Finally, can you tell us what it’s like to play with Chris Paul?
Belinelli: He’s an incredible player. Everyone on the team has been great. Him, David West and then you have Trevor Ariza who has the experience of winning a championship with the Lakers (in 2009). It makes my role easier. I just have to be ready to shoot and look to improve every time I can.

FIBA