Last Rudy interview.

Original in Spanish here

(Someone has to teach me how to put things after the jump, please).

• "You have gone from low to high this season, what is your feeling? 
• "Of course I did not start as I wanted. At first, I was very influenced by all the comments and everything that was said about me. Now I've picked up rythm, a good curve and the only thing I'm not satisfied is because, with so many breaks because my illness (back, flu), I'm not doing as well as I'd like physically. 
• -Explain the change of discourse, from wanting to leave earlier in the season to be so happy now ... 
• "Frankly, I'm more attached to American life and to the city, and I have the luck to be on a team where all members get along well and the key is a good atmosphere. All these things are making my season more bearable and everything is better and because of that my situation has changed radically. 
• "We have also seen you having very good friendship with Patrick Mills... Is it like a Sergio Rodriguez reincarnated? 
• "Yes it is true that he is who I have the closest relationship with, but I've also made friends in Portland and I do not feel alone. I just met a Spanish family, and I they have adopted me. 
• "One example of this is that your agent, Andy Miller, radically opposed to that transfer to Charlotte ... 
• I do not know how the subject came up, but what I have to say is that I prefer to stay in Portland because I'm comfortable and I think we can go far this year in the playoffs. 
• - Is it a bit counterproductive to your image to be known as a controversial player? 
• "Everyone who knows me knows I'm not confrontational, rather the opposite. I´m appreciated in Portland for being a good teammate and a better person, so in this respect I do not think anyone can say any bad about me. Agents always look for the best for you and sometimes they do something aggressive, but this is not my job. My thing is to worry about putting baskets and give my best on court. 
• -Has Rudy been rediscovered this season? We no longer see you only shooting triples ... 
• "Yes, it is certainly an important part of my happiness this year. In the end, my coach has noticed that I can do much more on court than shooting triples, and that for me is a huge step forward. I've also connected very well with LaMarcus Aldridge, who understands very well how I play, and with whom I´ve shared many highlights. 
• -This 'demon', coach Nate McMillan, ... the Blazers extended his contract... How do you evaluate him? 
• "He is a great coach. And I have never said anything bad about him. It is a bit difficult to adapt to his game, but for Portland he is a great choice and it is showing. With all the casualties we've had over the years, to have always gone into the Playoffs has much merit. That is great news. 
• - Where have you set your goals for this season? 
• "The arrival of Gerald Wallace will give us great advantage, and I think we are progressing with him at PF. Of course we want to go as high as possible in the standings and I´m excited about the possibility of moving forward from first round, which is something I have not yet achieved. 
• "Everybody speculates about Brandon Roy's knee, the Portland franchise player. Is it difficult to return to being the player he was before? 
• "It's complicated. When you have two knee operations is always difficult to go back to being the one before. He is looking good in recent games. It is true that he still has to get in rythm. But, where quality was, quality remains.
• - Do you think your team would be more dangerous if it played faster? 
• "Well, we do not exactly walk. It is true that we were a team playing very static, and since the arrival of Wallace we run much more. When Roy is in court we are trying to slow down, because we know that´s best for him, but the good thing is that we have more options, and that is not something easy to deal with for opposing teams. 
• - Do you see the Lakers as the favorites for the title? 
• "Yes, they are the champions and you always have to keep that in mind. They have won it two consecutive years, and perhaps the third is the hardest, because they are less hungry and their rivals have been strengthened greatly. I consider they are favorites, not by having the best team, but because the experience accumulated in such moments. 
• - Is there a lot of pressure knowing that  your team will soon aim to be at that Lakers´ level? 
• "We're a young team and we are learning from good veterans like Andre Miller and Marcus Camby. In a few years we´ll aim to get a ring, and that´s why McMillan´s contract has been extended, because his project is good, and that is also why this team has invested in renewing very good players. 
• - Can we expect you playing for the national team this summer? 
• "Of course, if Scariolo calls me I'll be there. It is a very important year for us, we want to qualify for the Olympics and to improve the image we gave last season. 
• - What do you think about the criticism your friend Ricky Rubio is receiving this season? 
• "I'm not overly familiar. 
• It´s about statistics ... 
• "I only got three points in a game the other day and I am very happy with how I played. It´s not about everybody looking at his points, but about how he is able to help his team play and win games. Everyone should know Ricky has never been a great scorer. He is a great player who can read the tempo of the game, he makes his teammates better and, from what I have seen, he still plays wonderfully. 
• "But you know "numbers matter" and many times his teammate Sada has twice his... 
• "You can´t argue about these things, and for me he remains one of the best PGs in Spain. I do not think people doubt Ricky and I certainly do not. 
• - What do you think about Messina leaving Real Madrid? 
• "In the end Messina did what he wanted. It's basketball, the sport itself and no coach likes losing his job. I know very well most of Real Madrid players and I can say that, besides being great players, they are great people, and that is a reality. Everybody is free to speak, and there are very good people in Real Madrid. Maybe Ettore was wrong with them. 
• - How do you interpret this proximity to Real Madrid? (implying "Rudy´s proximity" and past summer rumors about Rudy going there) Where there was fire are still ashes? 
• "I never want to discuss those comments or rumors, nor options. I prefer not to remember Real Madrid, because I have a contract in Portland and what is certain is that I will be here the remainder of the year and another one, and if the Blazers want to extend my contract I´ll sign the extension. Right now I'm focused on doing my job in Portland. 
• - Did you talk with the franchise to extend your contract? 
• "All that is my agent´s work, and that is quite right now because we can not renew until season ends. 
• - Have you considered another scenario in case of a 'lock-out'? A return to Europe? 
• "Yes, I have thought about it. If there is a  'lock-out', this summer will be quite unusual, in the sense that I should make a decision on whether or not want to play in Europe. But Portland still have my rights, and when that situation ends I would have to return to the United States. When summer comes we will have time to think about this issue. 
• -Scariolo has to choose between Ibaka and Mirotic ... 
• "I'm not the one to give advice. They are two great players and I do not know what would be the most ideal. I know  Ibaka more, and I can say that his performance is having a great impact in this league. If I could I would choose both, but, as that is not possible, that is a concern for Sergio and not for me.