[Olé] Argentine interview with Scola

merrrlo · Oct 26, 2010

I don't know if anybody will actually care about this on opening night (!), but an interview with Scola came out today in Argentina's main sports newspaper. Nothing too new here, but I thought some of you might want to check if Scola changes his discourse at all when he's speaking to Argentine media

Due to the birth of Lucas, his fourth son, Luis Scola left the Rockets and flew back to Houston hours after his arrival in China. With his internal clock reset, now he had to leave his family to travel to Los Angeles, where they will face the Lakers this Tuesday and open the season on national television. Things he grew accustomed to in the NBA.

-They say a child comes with a loaf of bread under his arm. What did Lucas bring?
-Happiness. I will enjoy it as much as I can because I’m closing a stage: this will be my last child. I will thus avoid your question about forming a team…
-You can still imagine it though: you plus your four children.
-That is the answer I give everyone. I will play center. Let my kids pass me the ball. I am the dad.

He has done plenty to earn a starring role in the Scolas team. With the Rockets, he has never missed a game since 07/08 and last season he reached his highest scoring average at 16.2ppg, which was good enough to have the Rockets resign his contract until 2015. But he wants more. “I want to improve in everything. I can more up a notch as far as status within the team. As far as the NBA as well. One has to work because each of us gets what they deserve. Nobody gives anything away,” Luis tells Olé before getting on the plane.

-Your teammate Aaron Brooks said you’re like the Energizer bunny. How are you feeling after the World Championships, the trip to China in the offseason and the return to Houston for the birth?
-I am feeling fine. I had to come back from China urgently, without playing in the two friendly matches, but I rested for a couple of days and came out of it stronger. I only see one difference with respect to previous seasons: my age now starts with a 3. But in Europe it was worse because after playing with the National Team I didn’t have any free time, I would finish playing a tournament and then start training in the mountains two days later. The NBA is long, halfway through the year you fall a little and by playoff time you pick yourself up again.
-Last season you played almost 33 minutes per game. Now that will surely decrease, as you guys are getting Yao Ming back and added Brad Miller. Will you be cooler for the end of games?
-I don’t know. Sometimes a rotation is planned that changes drastically later. I like playing long minutes. I enjoy being on the court. I always play better when I play over 25 minutes. But if I play less than that I will be cooler for the important moments.
-Did you not discuss the rotation with Coach Adelman?
-No. Additionally, we have a question mark in Yao. The doctors said he cannot play two days in a row. Now he will be in the season opener against the Lakers but he won’t play Wednesday against Golden State. That will have an influence. There are many things that come up during a season. You can’t plan too much.
-How is it being handled for Yao not to be allowed to play over 24 minutes to rest his foot?
-It’s a challenge we have. Not only the number of minutes. He is a player with special characteristics. We have to have two different playing styles for the same team.
-Without Yao, even though you did not make the Playoffs, you won 42 games and lost 40. Do you now have the obligation to make it?
-We’re coming off of a season that was not bad, with a positive record that would have made us sixth in the East, but we missed the Playoffs. Our hopes ended very soon when we had higher expectations. Now we want to make the Playoffs. That is our goal. And then to compete in the Playoffs. It won’t be easy because Portland, Denver and Oklahoma are looking good.
-You’re opening the season against the Lakers. Are they the candidates once more?
-There are teams that made a lot of noise. I always have respect for teams that are coming off of winning it all. Besides, they have Kobe Bryant, who is the best one without any competition in sight. Miami has to earn the candidate reputation. But there are different opinions, some people might say Boston, others might say Houston…

Boston-Miami, Portland-Phoenix and Lakers-Houston are the three games that open the regular season this Tuesday. Eyes will be set on the first game to see the official debut of LeBron James with the Heat. But for the Argentines there are other interesting points: Fabricio Oberto’s possible debut with Portland and the always-effective Luis Scola visiting Los Angeles.
The rest of them kick off on Wednesday: Nocioni’s Sixers host Miami, Delfino’s Bucks visit New Orleans, and Ginóbili’s Spurs host Indiana. Luifa [Scola] talks about his fellow countrymen: “Manu is always fine. Above the rest of us. It’s hard to be the best… The change was good for Chapu [Nocioni]. His new team wants him and he feels cherished. Carlitos [Delfino] will continue to grow. Fabri [Oberto] could finally find a team. They will play him because they need a player like him. It is a good start of the season for all of us.”
Click to expand...

Link to the interview (in Spanish)

DUHK · Oct 26, 2010

We’re coming off of a season that was not bad, with a positive record that would have made us sixth in the East, but we missed the Playoffs.
Click to expand...

Wow.. I didn't even notice it. The East is TERRIBLE.

rrj_gamz · Oct 26, 2010

Scola will have a monster game tonight...Go Rockets!!!!

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[Olé] Argentine interview with Scola

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