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Prigioni misses good pal Scola |
| Theallined.com |
Tau Ceramica have six wins from eight games in the ACB while in the Euroleague their 3-1 record has them at the top of Group A. But point guard Pablo Prigioni is feeling empty.
That's because the face of the club and top player for many years, Prigioni's Argentina national side team-mate and close friend Scola, left Spanish basketball this season for the NBA's Houston Rockets.
"Fortunately, we've started in good form," the 30-year-old Prigioni told www.ole.com.ar.
"There is something missing though because he (Scola) was a very important player for the team and fans.
"Anyway, we have a very good squad and we're trying to do our best to replace him."
Worryingly for basketball fans of Argentina, Scola didn't play much for Houston at the start but his minutes have increased following an injury to Rockets superstar Tracy McGrady and he has made the most of the opportunity.
He had 20 points in a game against San Antonio when he faced Argentina team-mates Fabricio Oberto and Emanuel Ginobili, and scored the same amount while pulling down 11 rebounds in the next game against Phoenix.
 | | 2006 FIBA World Championship, Japan (<) |
Unfortunately for the Rockets, they lost both of the contests against the elite NBA teams.
"I've seen him in the NBA," Prigioni said. "He is getting used to that league.
"He is a tremendous player and everybody saw that in the last two games - when he was given the ball, he scored 20 points two nights in a row.
"It's not easy for him, as his team also have Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, so maybe there are not too many balls for him."
That was never a problem in Vitoria, where Scola and Prigioni had great chemistry.
"Maybe he is missing me quite a lot," Prigioni joked.
"I'm sure he needs to be passed the ball more often and we understood each other very well here."
In the summer, Scola was voted the MVP of the FIBA Americas Championship after leading Argentina to a second place finish and into the Olympics.
Argentina were missing several key players, like Andres Nocioni, Oberto, Ginobili, Walter Herrmann and Ruben Wolkowisky, but Prigioni saw enough to tag Team USA as favourites.
Sergio Hernandez's side took silver as they were beaten 118-81 by the United States in the title game.
That American team had NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince, Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.
"If they play as they did in Las Vegas, committed and defending toughly, it will be too difficult," Prigioni said.
"However, as it would eventually be just one game and outside the United States, everything is possible.
"We must take the most competitive squad to the Olympics. We'll see how each player is and what happens. The coach will know what he has to do."
Matias Greco, Buenos Aires
FIBA
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| About the Author |
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©2006 All rights reserved
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