If this were America, i’d be searching for hyperbole right now, calling the 2009 edition of Team Spain the greatest Spanish team ever, the greatest European team since dissolution of the Soviet Union, the greatest non-USA squad ever assembled … but instead, BallInEurope humbly offers congratulations to the fantastic Spaniards for finally achieving Eurobasket gold.
“It’s going to be waaaaaaaay closer than people think,” proclaimed this blog yesterday in predicting the outcome of the Spain-Serbia final of last night, but damn was it not. Spain finished off the dynamic and surprisingly polished youngsters of Serbia early — not quite as early as those USSR teams in the 70s and 80s (those guys often had the final wrapped up before the tournament started), mind you, but it was a quick death for Serbia.
How quick? The BiE notebook reads, “7:20.” In the second quarter, that’s when the failed inbounds pass turned into Ivan Paunic desperately fouled a Ricky Rubio threatening to blow past him into the lane yet again. Moments thereafter, Spain had a 20-point lead and showed no intention of giving this one up.
Was anyone else struck by the desperate style of play Serbia employed from the go? After a minute or two (probably right after Serbia relinquished its last believable lead of the game at 5-4) of play, it was clear that this was induced by Spain, who fearlessly jacked up the tempo with total disregard for the youthful advantage of Serbia.
In fact, Spain’s triumph was a reflection of not just experience at the highest levels of basketball, whether that be NBA, ACB or Euroleague, but in transforming that wisdom into a team game. Early on in this tournament, a few sources (ahem) dogged Spain for playing like that nightmare Team USA of 2004 – all flash and no substance. Yet, these old dogs (Rubio excepted here, of course) kept up with the new tricks and incredibly improved throughout the competition. Winning their final half-dozen games by an average of 16 points against the likes of Lithuania, France, and Greece before pummeling Serbia last night earned these guys worldwide respect, even awe, at their mad skills.
And an extra toast to Pau Gasol who, after putting in perhaps the best individual season by a European player in the NBA in 2008-09 with the Los Angeles Lakers, took Eurobasket 2009 MVP honors. Gasol the Elder’s feat of playing on Eurobasket and NBA champions in the same year is unmatched in recent history (if ever). In fact, you’d have to go back to 1991 to even compare Gasol’s personal glory: In that year, Vlade Divac and Team Yugoslavia took the European championship while Divac’s Lakers were vanquished in the NBA finals by those Chicago Bulls.
Kudos, then, to Spanish basketball: You deserve it. Let’s just hope this team sticks together for the 2010 Worlds. BiE can’t wait to see these guys go up against those dudes named LeBron, Kobe, Carmelo, Dwyane…
