By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Sergio Scariolo is happy to see some of his Spanish national team players like Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka joining NBA championship contenders such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers, respectively. But he’s not that pleased when he begins to think how will this affect Spain’s squad for the Tokyo Olympics.
“As a coach, I don’t really like the fact that there are a couple of players like Marc and Serge who can reach the Finals because that would obviously complicate their selection for the Olympics,” Scariolo said to Radio Marca. “But I’m happy that each of them has a team and a role within their team that is promising to be interesting. Having them all joining teams very quickly is a reason for calm for all.”
According to the 2020-21 NBA calendar, the playoffs begin on May 6 and will be finished on July 22. If the Lakers or the Clippers reach the Finals then Gasol and Ibaka won’t be able to make it to Tokyo.
Scariolo, who also coached Gasol and Ibaka as an assistant with the Raptors, will have to compile his Spain frontline without these two big men.
“It’s not “bad – bad” news but the seventh game of the Finals – if there is a Game 7 – will be played one day before the opening of the Olympic Games,” Scariolo said. “So the timing is quite bad, that one of the two teams from Los Angeles, Marc or Serge reach the Finals. We are taking a lot of risk, but it’s just something I have in my mind”