Laying a new, winning foundation

LONDON (Olympics) – Brazil returns to the Olympics after failing for three consecutive Games in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 with the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship runner-up hoping to perform as good as they can before they host the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil won three medals –all of them were Bronze- in 1948, 1960 and 1964. After a fourth place in 1968, Brazil were part of the final eight in six out of the seven games in which the team took part. It was in Los Angeles 1984 when Brazil missed the quarterfinals and ended in the ninth place.

One of the two South American giants will aim to a Semi-Final spot as the minimum goal in London, especially if Coach Rubén Magnano can count on Brazil’s NBA players. Leandrinho Barbosa, Anderson Varejao and Nene Hilario missed the FIBA Americas but the first two are expected to take part of the team that will struggle for the first Olympic medal since Tokyo 1964.

Since the arrival of the new coach, in 2010, Brazil changed their game style. Magnano, who was a Gold medal winner in Athens 2004 with Argentina, decided Marcelinho Huertas would be the leader of the team and that the team would play at his speed.

The change was successful and Brazil ended with an 8-2 record in Mar del Plata.

The team improved the defense and resigned to the classical Brazilian fast shooting. Magnano was also great to take profit from the top stars’ absences to create a united group and a deep team.

Nene is not expected to make it to the team in London since turning down every selection since the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas.

Therefore, every hope that the team will succeed will be put on Barcelona Regal’s point guard Huertas and the three NBA players Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs), Anderson Varejao (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Leandrinho Barbosa (Toronto Raptors).

Without Varejao and Barbosa, the pick and roll became the main option for Huertas and Splitter to start every play in the FIBA Americas. Should the two players come back to the team, Magnano will have to decide whether the team maintain the style or they change. Varejao could adapt easily to Magnano’s style, while the Toronto Raptors’ shooting guard is used to playing in a complete different game style.

Alex Garcia, Marquinhos and Guilherme Giovannoni will also be key for the team’s goals.

Brazil clinched the Olympic spot after beating easily the Dominican Republic in the semifinals of the 2011 FIBA Americas championship but they lost to Argentina in the final.

While Argentina’s days as the top team of the Americas - besides the USA - are numbered due to their players’ age, Brazil’s mix between youth and experience could finally pay off, after having been overshadowed by the golden generation for the better part of a decade.

Whether in London or in the coming summers of international basketball, Brazil will be looking to take Argentina’s place as the top South American team by the time they welcome the Olympics to Rio.

While Brazil will be aiming for an Olympic medal, it will depend on which players travel to London and how Coach Magnano can make them combine on an international basketball national team.