It will be a World Championship without stars.

"But others who, for now, are only in the eyes of professionals, will emerge, such as Carlos Delfino, who can come out of the shadow of Ginobili and Marc Gasol, who has become something more than the brother of Pau and improved especially in his mental presence after a year in Memphis as a protagonist. "

How is to be back in Spain after a year?

"Like landing on an island where the level of the quality of the players, human and professional relationships are ideal. The respect that athletes with great personality and talent show for my work, their trust is something very personal that enriches me. Last year it was more of a mental challenge, this time is mostly technical. With the United States as favourites, the pressure on us has practically disappeared "

Rubio delights us, but sometimes exaggerates ...

"Almost always because of a pass, not by selfishness. Everybody, himself, FC Barcelona, the national team are working to carry forward the development of his leading skills without destroying his talent, and avoiding that it becomes affected, as sometimes happens. It is a very exciting challenge for a coach: his future is to become a star in the NBA."

The Americans have no veterans from Beijing, In your team only Gasol is missing. Are they still the favourites?

"Honestly, at individual talent level they come from another planet, but then you have to evaluate them under pressure. You need to push them to play as a team, an effort for us, opponents, more offensive than defensive: they must not gain speed from our missed out of balance shots, or lost balls, otherwise they kill you."

In Madrid you lost by one point.

"And it was them who to use a zone defense against us, I wanted to assess our weaknesses to understand what to do if we face them again."

Forecast?

"The United States, then a group with Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Serbia and Greece who are fighting for the medals with a Turkey that has got the home factor. More far from the podium, Australia, Lithuania, Slovenia, France, Croatia and Russia. "

Have you seen our national team? (Referring to the Italian one)

"The first two games."

Can you help us understand?

"I think our future is at stake in the balance between Bargnani and Belinelli and the others. If they will develop their game supporting the growth of their teammates, in a reasonably short time we will find Italy again among the best. However, if the distance between them increases, when the Azzurri will grow their level, we will pay the imbalance. We have the material to complement our "Americans" with 7-8 competitive players. It’s not the presence of foreign players to stop their development, they must win for themselves the right to be on the court in the decisive moments. I have something else to say. "

Please.

"Everybody after the FIFA World Championship won by Spain called me. I did not comparisons with Italy, but pointed out the merits of Spanish sport and the great advantage coming from working in schools and colleges. The President of CONI, Petrucci, intervened saying it is not true that the Spanish results are better and that Italy has nothing to learn from them. As a coach I try to “steal” from the best, Messina, Obradovic. Sport managers must also know how to take advantage of, and not deny, what has led others to success. "