By Aris Barkas
Chris Finch’s unusual basketball story is nearing its improbable pick. A hard working player from NCAA Division III after a professional career in England turns to be a successful coach with championships in England, Belgium and in the NBADL as the boss of Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He is already a member of Houston Rockets coaching stuff but, above all, he is the coach of Great Britain’s national team. His mission this summer is to prove that basketball is not an uncommon word for UK and he talks about it and also about European basketball on Eurohoops.net.
– You have coached teams in England, Belgium, Germany and NBDL, winning championships in three countries. You feel that you had to pay your dues in order to be the coach of team Britain?
“I was fortunate to be enjoying club success in Belgium at the time the the GB Program was being constructed. I certainly feel that I have paid my dues in terms of coaching at the game at all levels but more than that I think I was able to offer European coaching experience with strong ties to the UK having played in coached in the UK for 10 years. I will be forever thankful to Radmila Turner and Keith Mair of England Basketball for giving me the opportunity”.
– You have an impressive pre-selection roster. Can we expect a strong team with every big name from the NBA and specially the illusive until now Ben Gordon?
“I am confident this summer’s roster will be our strongest in our six year history but that alone will not guarantee us success. We have been very pleased with our player commitment each summer even though we have missed player’s due to a variety of circumstances. That’s normal and happens to all countries at some point. The key for us will be our preparation with everyone coming together from day one to and learning each other so we can grow together as a team and establish great chemistry and great character”.
– The bulk of your playing career was spend in England, but you are an American. What’s your perspective about European basketball?
“I feel I have an excellent perspective on the European game. I was coaching in Europe when the game really took off and started producing top players and teams started producing top result at the Olympics, Worlds, European Championships, etc. I have adopted many European tendencies and tactics into my coaching philosophy and I enjoy keeping up with the game even now while back here in the NBA. In some ways, I feel the European game has grown ahead of the American game in creativity, especially offensive creativity. The spacing rules and the skilled post players have been key for this development”.
– In Eurobasket 2011 you started the tournament with great results, but you could not finish strong. What you learned in those games in order to be better in the coming Olympics?
“We learned quite a bit in both 2009 and 2011 while competing at the European Championships. Firstly, we learned that it’s tough to advance when continually being drawn into groups with the likes of Spain, Serbia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Turkey!! But seriously, we learned that we can compete at the highest levels but must learn to be more consistent and learn how to close games in a winning fashion. We learned that to play in these types of tournaments where you are playing every day, or every other day you need depth. We learned that we are not a million miles away from where we want to be and that if we keep going in the right direction we will have our breakthrough. While preparing for Poland in 2009 our Federation kept asking what it is that we need to be successful as they were eager to provide any resource necessary which was much appreciated. However, i kept telling them all that we truly need is the collective experience of going through the fire together. We have done that now and we are hoping it has made us stronger for London”.
– Some players like Ray Allen and Dwayne Wade and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spoke openly about the notion of athletes being paid in order to play in the Olympics. What’s your take on the subject?
“Every country and situation will be different when it comes to providing for their national teams. Ultimately, players are not playing for the money when it comes to paying for their national team but I do not think it’s unrealistic to provide some benefits when and where possible. Regardless of pay or no pay, it’s the Federations responsibility to best take care of the players for their lengthy commitment and sacrifice and I’m confident that the majority of Federations do this to the best of their ability”.
– Basketball is gaining ground all over Europe. Markets like Germany are booming. Can we see the same happening in the UK after the Olympics?
“I am hopeful that the Olympics and the attention our teams may generate will provide a spark to the game in the UK. I know it can be great as I have experienced it first hand a coach and a player. The most important thing we hope to do is leave a legacy with some added facilities, perhaps a National Basketball Center where our teams can be based and we can drive development of players and coaches”.
– Would you consider coaching in Europe again, in the UK, or the Euroleague?
“Absolutely I would consider coaching in Europe again. I loved my time there, have a lot of affinity for the game, the basketball communities, the countries I visited and the lifestyle. My goal while coaching there was to break into the Euroleague before the Rockets offered me the opportunity to move back home and be a part of an NBA set up”.