Spain aims to reign again
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Spain's reign as king of the sports world this year can be assured if it retains its title at the FIBA World Championship, which tip off in Turkey.
The country's national soccer team won the World Cup last month, shortly after tennis star Rafael Nadal completed his second French Open-Wimbledon double in three years. Meanwhile, Alberto Contador won his third Tour de France title in four years.
Now, the pressure is on the basketball team, which will have to play without star center Pau Gasol, who has decided to take a break from competition. The tournament starts Saturday in Turkey.
"They're a great team, whoever plays," Gasol said. "They're preparing very well and I hope they can emulate that in the tournament. It'll be tough, but they look prepared to keep winning more titles."
Spain will try to become only the third country to win back-to-back world basketball titles. The then Yugoslavia was the last to do it, in 1998-2002, while Brazil managed it in 1959-63.
The Los Angeles Laker center's absence coupled with strong teams from the United States, Argentina and Greece will not make the task easy for the European champion.
"Spain's got a great team. They're as good as anybody," US coach Mike Krzyzewski said last week. "But any team with Pau is better."
In Turkey, things will be tough without Gasol, but the team has already shown it can survive without him as the big man missed the 70-47 final victory over Greece in Japan four years ago because of injury, when brother Marc filled in.
The bulk of that team will return this time, including Jorge Garbajosa, Felipe Reyes and Rudy Fernandez, while newcomers Ricky Rubio, Sergio Llull and Fran Vazquez have provided further depth to the European champion.
"The core of the group is good, defensively strong, united as always," Gasol said. "Some days better than others, but if we maintain this connection we have, we'll get there."
However, Spain also will be without another NBA player, Jose Manuel Calderon, because the Toronto Raptors point guard tore a muscle in his left leg during an 86-85 exhibition loss to the US on Sunday. Spain had won all eight of its warmup matches, including beating Argentina, Brazil and Lithuania before that.
With Calderon out, Rubio will run the show for Spain. The 19-year-old point guard has been impressive since helping Spain win the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
While there seems little doubt Spain will win the group, France and Lithuania will fight for the runners-up spot to avoid a possible clash with the host, Turkey.
Lithuania is ranked sixth in the world and France is ranked 15th but the latter is considered to have greater chance with a lot of noted NBA players.
San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker and Ronny Turiaf of the New York Knicks chose not to play for the national team, French NBAers Jo-akim Noah, Mikael Pietrus, Kevin Seraphin, Yakhouba Diawara and Johan Petro will not participate either.
However, spearheaded by Nicolas Batum of the Portland Trail Blazers and Boris Diaw of the Charlotte Bobcats, France is expected to beat the Lithuanians, whose best finish at the World Championship was seventh, four years ago in Japan.
While it is a near certainty Spain, France and Lithuania will advance, the fight for the last berth among Canada, New Zealand and Lebanon will be fierce.
As NBA players Steve Nash, Jamaal Magloire and Samuel Dalembert have given up wearing the Maple Leaf on their chests, Canada will lean heavily on Miami Heat center Joel Anthony and Andy Rautins of the New York Knicks for scoring.
New Zealand's roster lacks a real big name but the team has good teamwork and solidarity. Thirty five-year-old veteran Sean Marks of the New Orleans Hornets is expected to turn his experience into victories in Turkey.
Lebanon seems the least likely team to advance from the group. However, its 74-73 victory over France at the last Worlds could encourage the team to make a difference in the group.
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