Spain takes the pulse of the favorite in a unique match

Current Olympic champion versus current world champion. Little more can be asked of the last test of the Spanish team before the Tokyo Games. The United States-Spain from early morning from Sunday to Monday in Las Vegas (03:00 live on Cuatro and reissued at 12:00) would be the game of the year if it weren’t for the fact that it is a rehearsal prior to the great Olympic event that starts in a few days.

Spain arrives with the loss of Juancho Hernangómez, not ruled out but unlikely for Tokyo, and without Alocen, who stayed in Madrid by Covid protocol. The United States has lost Bradley to the virus Beal and Jerami Grant, replaced by Keldon Johnson and JaVale MacGee. Those last-minute casualties and the fact that they lost the first two preparation games, against Nigeria (87-90) and Australia (83-91), grant some options for the men of Scariolo, which count the four games played so far by victories.

“We want to. It is always special to play against the United States and even more at home, ”the Valencia forward said yesterday. Victor
Claver. “It will serve to see how they and us are. Having a rival with whom we can meet will be motivating, “he added in statements provided by the Spanish Federation.

It will also be necessary to see to what extent the technicians show some possible tactical alternatives in such a match, at the risk of losing the surprise factor in a possible crossing in Tokyo.

Despite the illusion that playing the game awakens in Spanish players, Claver he remembered that the objective is to finish the set-up. “You have to think about us, about the work we are doing, which is good and it was against France. We are not worried about how they are because they need a process of adaptation to FIBA ​​basketball and there are players who have never been in the national team. That does not mean that they have a lot of quality and at any moment they can give you a scare ”.

On the level of preparation of the combined Scariolo, Claver has felt optimistic. “We are assimilating concepts as quickly as possible and we have to be with all five senses so that nothing escapes,” he concluded.

These last days of training should serve the Spanish coach to finish making the decision on discards, a process pending to know the situation of Juancho
Hernangomez, who traveled with the Spanish expedition and had to be evaluated by the doctors on his team, Minnesota
Timberwolves, to determine the level of risk to which it can be subjected.

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