Shaking Off the Jet Lag

Aug. 18, 2010 • Madrid, Spain

Photos • Eric Gordon Audio

Members of the USA Men’s World Championship Team finalists are getting over the change in time zones. Currently in Spain, which is six hours ahead of their previous training camp time zone. If anyone has ever traveled overseas, they’ll tell you it takes a few days to acclimate your body’s clock to the current time. The big mistake comes from the travel rookies who take a nap after arriving in Europe and then can’t sleep that night. But since they practiced last night, the were forced to stay up late enough to kick-start getting over jet lag and this morning’s practice showed. They had legs under them, shots were falling and the 12 guys are really coming together as a team.

But don’t take our word for it, read what they had to say below and listen to Eric Gordon talk about the team, being in Madrid and the upcoming competition against Spain.

Krzyzewski

Mike Krzyzewski, USA Head Coach
Are you happy to be in Spain?
Yes, we’re very happy to be in Spain. Basketball is so loved here.

Do you think your games here will be difficult?
They’ll be very difficult. We’ve only played one game and we’re a very young team so in preparations for the World Championship playing both Lithuania and Spain will be very important, and then we go to Greece from here, so these are important exhibitions for us.

For Spain, which player is most difficult?
There’s not one player. I’ve coached against Spain in the Olympics and they have an outstanding g team.  They’re experienced and their ability to play together, they really pass the ball brilliantly. They’re a magnificent passing team so it’s not one player, they can hurt you from a lot of different positions.

What is your plan for the two matches?
We’re just trying to keep putting in our system.  We’ve only practiced two weeks and have only had one exhibition game so this is still like our training camp. We’re looking at this as training camp and then when we get to Turkey that’s when we have to get to business, when we’re hopefully at our best.

	It’s a beautiful city. It’s like something you see in the movies. I’m happy I’m here, it’s a great experience and something I’m always going to remember. ~ Kevin Durant

Can you give us your five starters?
On Saturday we’ll start Rondo, Billups, Chandler, Iguodala and Durant. But we don’t just have a set starting lineup, Rose can be in there, Lamar Odom, obviously Rudy Gay, Danny Granger, they’ll all be in there.

What is the difference between the players in Beijing and right now?
We have five guys who are 21 so it’s a much younger team. They’re still becoming players, they’re still getting better as players, so they have a lot of development to do. The youth of our team is probably the biggest concern, and then how well we can rebound because we’re not a real big bulky team. So the inexperience and rebounding. But we have great attitudes, excellent speed, I think we can play good defense and we have to use those strengths to overcome a little bit of our weaknesses.

Coach, you are the main favorite for the World Championship…
I don’t know if there is one favorite for the World Championship. I would think with the youth that we have on our team, we think we have a good chance at it, but we know that Spain and Greece are the most experienced teams.  Spain is very talented, you have a lot of NBA players, guys who have played internationally together. They’ve played a lot together as a team and that’s always something that a U.S.  team has to try and overcome when they are playing internationally. They’re usually playing against a team that has played together for a while. And always Argentina is there.  Those four teams will be very strong finishers for a World Championship.

How different is the Spanish team with and without Pau Gasol?
I haven’t watched them yet, I’m trying to learn my own team. But any team with Pau is better, any team without doesn’t mean you’re bad, and they’re (Spain) not, they’re really good. He’s one of the top ten players in the world and I think Kobe Bryant would vote on that too.

They have the rest of their team. They won the (2006) World Championship and Pau got hurt, and in fact they won by 30 I think.  So I think they’re a very good team without him too, but again I love Pau, he’s become a good friend and I think he’s a magnificent player. Spanish basketball is great. What Spain has done with basketball over the years is magnificent and to watch a Spanish National Team play is watching beautiful basketball. They just play so well together.

What about the arena?
It seems like it will be noisy in here with the metal. If that was in the United States people would be stomping on it so we expect it very noisy in here. The facility is fine. Being in Madrid, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and we know that the people here love basketball. We’ve always had great competition against Spain and we expect the same again when we play Sunday.

How was your Trip?
We had a good trip.  It is an adjustment but that’s why we came here on Tuesday instead of a week from Tuesday. The time here is not just to get ready for here, it’s to get ready for Turkey so by the time we leave here we’ll be adjusted well to the environment, time, spending six days here is very important for us. We play two outstanding teams, but also just the facilities are good, the time is only one hour difference (from Turkey) and so that’s part of our plan.

What about the last cut?
It will probably be done in Greece. That’s not what we are thinking about most. Whoever is not selected we will have to not select as really good player. But it will be because of how we feel the final 10 through 12 spots compliment best the rest of the team.

Billups

Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets)
Thoughts on Ricky Rubio?
I haven’t played against him.  I heard he’s a really good player.  I haven’t seen him play but looking forward to playing against him.

On playing Spain in Madrid:
We have a lot of pride being from the US and being able to come outside of our country and compete.  We have a lot of pride and we are going to try to protect what we feel is ours.  We feel like we got the best basketball players in the world.   Obviously, Spain has got some unbelievable basketball players and we got a lot of respect for what they have been able to accomplish basketball-wide.  It’s kind of like you have this competitive, good-natured rivalry that we kind of have with them.

Thoughts on this test for the American team?
This is the first time that our team has been away from home, playing in a game.  We’ll face a good Lithuanian team and the next night, of course, we’ll face Spain who is a great team.  It will be a good challenge for us … a good test.

Does playing without Pau make Spain less of a challenge?
Of course, they are missing their best player and that doesn’t help.  But, at the same time they got so many great players on that team … they’re still a great basketball team.

Chandler

Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks)
Have you been to Spain before?
Yeah, I’ve been to Barcelona.

Is there anything here in Madrid that you’re looking forward to seeing?
Just the city in general. Like I said, I went to Barcelona and I had the chance to go around the city and get a little feel for it. I’m looking forward to just understanding to what makes Madrid special.

Did you get to sleep last night or is the jet lag hitting you yet?
Yeah, it’s hitting me now, actually. I felt like I had some energy in yesterday’s practice. I kind of feel like I went to sleep alright, but in the middle of the night I felt like I was tossing and turning. I kind of was up all night. Hopefully today I’ll be able to adjust a little bit more.

Do you feel that the team is starting to work together more now that you’re down to 13 players?
Yeah. You know what? Not only is it getting better, but it’s going to be better for us here. Now we have the opportunity to condition ourselves better. Get the opportunity to understand each other better. When you have so many guys, you’re pretty much in for two or three minutes and you’re out. That kind of hurts your conditioning because you’re not able to get a full practice in. I’m looking forward to getting into better shape and also come together.

Durant

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
On his brief time in Spain:
It’s been nice.  Practices have been going alright. The city is beautiful, so I am enjoying myself.

Thoughts on Spain:
They’re very good every year. They’ve got a lot of guys from the NBA playing on their team and they got a lot of good role players. They’re a very good team and we’re looking forward to playing them to see how we stack up.

On playing Spain without Pau Gasol:
Guys are going to step up. They’ve got Vasquez, who’s pretty good. Marc Gasol is very good, Navarro, they’ve got a lot of weapons. It’s going to be tough to beat them, but we’re looking forward to the game.

On the possibility of playing outdoors (the Magic Box has a retractable roof, but it won’t be open during the USA’s games)
Outdoors? I’m used to it, I’ve been playing outdoors since I was a kid. It would be fun if they open up this (roof) up here to play outdoors. It would be cool.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the American team?
I think our strengths are our athleticism and the fact that we have a lot of guys who can play multiple positions. I think our weakness right now is rebounding, that’s our main weakness. We could do a lot better at it. I think everybody needs to do a better job of limiting their turnovers and getting open shots. Sometimes we tend to overpass, but that can be a good and a bad thing.

How is the team dealing with the jet lag?
We’re getting better. By tomorrow morning we should be alright. We should be straight by the time we start playing.

Are you feeling more like a group now?
Oh yeah, we feel more like a group now. Our chemistry is great, it’s getting better. Overall I think we’re doing great.

What do you think of Madrid?
It’s a beautiful city. It’s like something you see in the movies. I’m happy I’m here, it’s a great experience and something I’m always going to remember.

Do you have time to see anything?
Oh yeah, we’ll have time after practice to go walk around and see some things. I really don’t know what’s here, so whatever catches my eye I’m looking forward to seeing.

Odom

Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers)
Thoughts on Spain:
Basketball is competitive here.  They have a great team.  They have been playing together for a little bit.  They understand each other.  We’re fortunate to be here.  It’s a beautiful place to live, to visit, to come play basketball.  It’s a blessing to be here.

Thoughts on Spain without Pau Gasol:
They are still a great team.  They’re so deep.  Of course, any team that doesn’t have Paul would miss him.  I should know.  Right?  They still have a really good team, really competitive.

Did Pau give you any tips on playing Spain?
No.  I don’t think Pau will give me any information.  Maybe on every other team but not this team.  Maybe on every NBA team but not this team.

What is Coach K asking you to do?
Just to play my game.  To be aggressive.  Look to make plays.  Look to be a leader.

What’s your biggest concern about the Spanish team?
Honestly, you’re never concerned about competition because competition is fun and it’s kind of what we live for.   Obviously, they’re a great team.  They do so many things well.  But we look forward to the confrontation.  We look forward to the competitiveness.  That’s what makes it fun.  That’s what makes it still a game.  It’s still a game at the end of the day and games are fun.  It’s just a game.  It’s basketball.  It’s what we love to do.

What do you think about possibly playing outdoors?
I think that’s beautiful.  I can’t wait to see that.  I’ve never played in an arena like that.

Who is the favorite between USA and Spain?
This is their home court.  I would imagine that they are going to have home court advantage.  But, playing on the road is something that all of us are used to doing because it’s something we have to do in the NBA.  It’s just going to be a tough game.  It’s going to be very competitive.  Every time the two teams meet each other, it’s always competitive.  Both teams are very prideful.  We can’t wait to play against them.

Rondo

Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics)
Is there a difference playing the Spanish team without Pau Gasol?
It’s definitely a difference but I don’t think it’s a huge difference.  I seen them play last night and it seems like they’ve played together for a long time.  They do a great job of executing on the offensive side of the floor and their break is pretty good as well.

Are you prepared for this test?
Yeah, I think so.  We played a couple of international games.  We played against China and France so we still have a couple more tests to go before we play Spain so we’re looking forward to it.

Are you happy with the Magic Box?
It’s a very beautiful facility.  Very nice.

Are you the director of the team?
You could say that.  I’m one of the directors.  We have a couple.

What can you do to solve the rebounding problem for your team?
We can box out.  Pretty simple.  We’re not going to be everyone athletically to the boards so we have to go back to the fundamentals and box out when the time comes.