Hi Sergio, I believe that with the new 3-second area it will be a great advantage to plan offensive rebounding after a free-throw. Can you give me some advice, please? Thanks, Luca

YOUR QUESTIONS

• Hi, Sergio. I would like to know how the departure of Calderon and the arrival of Raul will affect the game of the national team? Will something change in the gameplay? Raul is a player who tends to handle the ball more, passing it later, driving the timing of the match and scoring only when he thinks the team needs it. In some ways it will change a lot without Calderon. Greetings and thank you very much. It is great to have the opportunity to contact you this way.
  by Ignacio Rodríguez | August 24, 2010

  The reason is because we cannot have just two players and plan to use one of the two as a guard, because in case Ricky Rubio got injured during the Championship we would not have any pure point gaurd for the rest of the tournament.

• Sergio, no offence but I think that Spain will be the great failure of the world championship. It's a team that has no heart, and won a game against Argentina with the help of the referees. I think that when you name the candidates, you underestimate the level and the heart of Argentina. Spain has no heart. For that reason you have to work a lot on the psychology, because without Pau, Spain is not the same. Good luck and take care, Rafa
  by Rafael Heras | August 24, 2010

  I hope you are wrong, however I never underestimated the heart of Argentina and always including them amongst the main favourites of the World Championship together with the United States, Brazil, Greece and Serbia.

• Do you think that this year will be more difficult to play against Serbia then it was last year?Is their young team improving a lot?
  by Robi | August 24, 2010

  Serbia is certainly at a higher level than in the Eurobasket because all their players have another year of experience, a better chemistry and the silver medal surely has motivated them a lot.

• Hola sergio. I'm a 20 years old basketball coach with a great ambition and desire to work. My greatest ambition is to become a professional coach, though I know it is very difficult and I would like to ask you for a good advice to achieve it.
  by javier | August 24, 2010

  My suggestion is to look at the work of more experienced coaches, or trying to become the assistant of a coach of a higher level, even if just as a volunteer or for free. Good luck!
  

• Could you recommend a book for Dummies on tactics, please, to understand the game better. Good luck for the World Cup!
  by David | August 23, 2010

  I suggest you contact the Fundación Pedro Ferrándiz (http://www.fpferrandiz.org/), which owns a vast library of basketball books: they can definitely help. Good luck!

• Hello Sergio, first let me congratulate you for the preparation of the World Championship. My question is: why Raul Lopez and not Rafa Martinez, when you can have Sergio Llull as a playmaker and Rafa in the 2 position? Regards, and good luck for the world championship.
  by Javi | August 23, 2010

  The reason is because we cannot have just two players and plan to use one of the two as a guard, because in case Ricky Rubio got injured during the Championship we would not have any pure point gaurd for the rest of the tournament. Take care
  

• I had no knowledge of the purpose of the foundation so far. I was very pleasantly surprised, because many times celebrities like Sergio Scariolo are very far or give us the feeling of being on another planet. I am a father of a daughter who has suffered of ALL and president of the AECC (Priego-Cordoba) and I just want to send you a hug for the work you are doing in such a great way, the ones like us who have suffered and understand this same "language", value these actions as a special sensitivity. I encourage you to follow this line and a big hug to Sergio, for the loss of his father and his involvement.
  by Fernando Molina "Rodriguez" | August 20, 2010

  Thank you for your beautiful words. I understand that your daughter is well, something that I am delighted about. We will continue our efforts, trying to improve them even more. Take care and good luck.

• He visto tu pizarra en la tienda de la feb, pero ¿cómo podría adquirir una como la que usas con la selección (con la publicidad y símbolos incluídos)? Un saludo y mucha suerte en el mundial.
  by Antonio | August 18, 2010

  Hola Antonio, tienes que contactar a la FEB: tienda@feb.es un abrazo, Sergio

• Which of Slovenian players do you want in your National team,if that could be hapened? Best regards
  by Aleš | August 12, 2010

  I like quite a few Slovenian players, but I feel that Dragic is is the one who has improved most, taking a greater leap in quality over the course of the last season. I have to say I'm very happy with all my players and it is not about wishing he was playing for my team, but just assessing his improvement.

• Do you think we will miss Pau or his brother will be able to cover his absence? How you rank your opponents? What is harder to maintain compared to last year? Good luck Sergio. We miss you in Malaga. Rafa Nadales
  by rafa nadales | August 11, 2010

  I think any team whose best player is missing should receive an extra effort by all the other players, not necessarily only by Marc, even if he is our starting center and I have great confidence in him. Without talking about the United States, which at individual talent level seem to me superior than the rest of the teams and waiting to see them as a team on the court, I think Brazil is a very strong team, Argentina is a strong team as well, Serbia and Greece still are high level teams, along with Turkey and Croatia, followed by France, Slovenia and Australia. The most difficult aspect of the game to maintain, compared to last year, is obviously defense, which is the one that requires more concentration, effort, preparation and depends less on talent and more on will and hard work. Ciao, Sergio.

• Why are you taking Alex Mumbrú to the national team having much more complete and better players than him? Is it just a matter of creating chemistry, as some people say? Thanks!
  by Luis | August 11, 2010

  Hi Luis, I link this answer to the one over Garbajosa. First, I think these are two players who, for reasons unknown to me, are little valued by many fans perhaps with little knowledge of the game. Playing for a club is not the same thing than playing in the national team and the ability to perform in the national team in a completely different role than the one they have in the club, is a characteristic of these two players, without even taking into consideration their importance in creating a good team atmosphere that many point out as one of the main reasons for the success of the Spanish national team. Regards, Sergio

• Segio, como puedo conseguir el contacto o empresa que te hace las pizarras personalizadas de todos tus equipos, quiero hacerme una propia, un saludo.
  by Antonio | August 10, 2010

  Hola, deberías contactar la Tienda FEB, porque son los que se encargan de la producción de la pizarra: tienda@feb.es. Un saludo.

• Mr. Scariolo, what do you think of Luksa Andric and whom would you compare him with? Regards and good luck for the world championships
  by Antonio Reina | August 09, 2010

  Andric is a very talented player, who can play in two positions, 4 and 5, who can play in the low post, is a good shooter, a great intimidator, in my opinion he is a player that could, if will be able to strengthen his character and become more solid defensively, become a European-class player, even though as a late bloomer. Take care
  

• Are you willing to make a bet and leave Garbajosa out? I don't think he is at the same level of the others...
  by enrique | August 08, 2010

  Hi Enrique, I link this answer to the one over Mumbrú. First, I think these are two players who, for reasons unknown to me, are little valued by many fans perhaps with little knowledge of the game. Playing for a club is not the same thing than playing in the national team and the ability to perform in the national team in a completely different role than the one they have in the club,  are characteristics of these two players, without even taking into consideration their importance in creating a good team atmosphere that many point out as one of the main reasons for the successes of the Spanish national team. Regards, Sergio

• cree que anunciar aqui el cese de un jugador tan emblematico como Carlos Cabeza es correcto? y sobre todo en estas fechas, cuando todos los equi`pos estan ya configurados, me parece una putada para ese gran jugador, aunque no se las circunstancias
  by carmen Morales | August 02, 2010

  Hola Carmen, entiendo perfectamente que desde fuera las cosas puedan aparecer diferentes. Ya he aclarado el tema en una respuesta a otro aficionado. Puedes encontrarla aquí, entre los comentarios: http://www.sergioscariolo.com/index.php/es/blog/14-bc-khimki/68-bc-khimki-is-ready-for-a-new-season.html Un abrazo, Sergio

• Sergio, your national team is known for its physical power, what will you do to keep it at its peak until the end of the world championship? Thanks
  by Cándido Rodríguez | August 01, 2010

  Thank you, Candido. Our physical strength is normal, equal or lower than the one of many other teams. The difference can be rather technical, tactical and mental. Of course about fitness at the moment I can only say that the players have arrive to the training camp in a very good shape thank to the work done during the summer. Take care, Sergio

• Hello Sergio, how's the training camp? My question is about how you have seen Pablo Aguilar during this period: we know that is young and has a great future ... but what is your opinion? Thanks
  by Enrique | July 28, 2010

  Hi Enrique, it's going well, thanks. Pablo has made a good impression, he is an athletically gifted player, with a good hand, still needing to get a bit tougher and acquire more game experience  but he is certainly an important project for the future. Ciao, Sergio

• Hello Sergio, congratulations on the successes and the respect that you are getting daily both as a coach but also as a man. I'd like to have a tip about the step I am taking as a coach, from men to women, I will coach a 4th women division team… what do you think from a technical perspective and about the new areas. Good luck!
  by Maurizio Cattaneo | July 27, 2010

  Hi Maurizio, I've never coached a women's team so frankly it's a bit hard for me to give an opinion. I think defenses will have a tendency to tighten even more in the area, to float more, and they will focus a lot more on not getting penetrations rather than three-point shots from the new distance, also will probably not play low post with the new area. Take care, Sergio

• Por qué has dicho públicamente que no cuentas con Cabezas si nadie del club lo ha publicado? No me parece la mejor manera de enterarse
  by R. Martin | July 27, 2010

  Hola Rodrigo, ya he aclarado el tema en una respuesta a otro aficionado. Puedes encontrarla aquí, entre los comentarios: http://www.sergioscariolo.com/index.php/es/blog/14-bc-khimki/68-bc-khimki-is-ready-for-a-new-season.htmlUn saludo, Sergio

• hello, are you aware of the rumours that FIBA wants to create a stronger league with NBA, ACB and other European players to make a stronger competition? waiting for your opinion igor
  by igor | July 26, 2010

  Hello, I have no news about this rumour, frankly I think it is something a little bizarre. Cheers!