Rudy's blog: A long dream and the nightmare of Mills

via elmundo

When I dictate the article -I'm almost talking like the reporters- I'm watching Slovenia-Australian live. No, I have not gone mad. There, on the court is Mills, a teammate of mine in Portland. I saw him at the hotel and promised to come back. But I can't say that my mood had much effect. They're not doing so well, why kid ourselves.

After the game I'll go back to the hotel. I would see France vs Turkey, for the ambiance, but Sergio Scariolo has put up a meeting for us this afternoon. The truth is that it was about time we did something productive today.

Today was a day of rest. Rest days there's great chance that the previous night is free. That means that we can go have some air [outside]. Dinner was quick and then we drank something. Events, places and time belong to privacy, these will kill me... I went to bed early, and nothing of alarm clocks, you have to let the body quench. Turning and turning, I've put up in bed until 12:30 or so. Then I connected to the internet and I've been talking to my family, then food and now I am in the pavilion with Victor Claver and the delegate of the team, Alberto.

These days it is important to unplug a bit, but between Mills and this blog, I have to talk basketball. I begin with Greece, a very hard clash. It seemed like the previous ones and marks a new phase in the team. Do you remember my desire prior to the match? I said we have to step up ahead of the 12, any and all. That's what we did. We finally saw Spain, concentrated, serious. Our experience and value at all times the significance of the match has taken us to the quarters.

 Now it's Serbia, a young team. That's why, that experience that has already helped us with Greece can be a weapon into semi-finals. But above all, that experience should remind us that Serbia won us before in Poland. We always say that Gasol is missing, so, it's not worth going in circles about it. But it should be noted that even with him, although rusty and in the first phase, Serbia beat us. This is an example worth remembering. An emphasize on the rivals is its coordination, because they have known each other for so long. They are a team that looks like us.

By the way, and Mills? He lost by 29. He had a bad day in the triples, but was Australia's top scorer. Now I'll see him in the hotel. All I can say for him: "Take vacations and enjoy, friend."