This week, in the small town of Vasilievo, 40 km from Kazan, on the out-of-town base of the local UNICS, the first training sessions of the Russian basketball team began under the leadership of American mentor David Blatt. Already on July 31, our team will play a match for the Super Bowl of Federations with the Lithuanians. And then, in August-September, take part in the qualifying matches of the European Championship. Izvestia correspondents Andrei Ivantsov and Aleksandra Zheryadina temporarily distracted Blatt to find out his first impressions of working with the Russian team.
Question: Judging by the gathering place, you decided to get acquainted with the national team away from prying eyes ...
answer: I have nothing to hide. Scouts of our future rivals for the European Championship qualifiers are unlikely to discover something for themselves even if they get here. The first collection is the establishment of psychological contact, a set of players of the optimal form after the vacation. Well, a big plus, of course, that the base is in a sincere place - around coniferous forest. Not far here the Volga flows.
Q: You know a lot about Russian basketball players; nevertheless, you worked for a whole year at Dynamo St. Petersburg. Have you received any new information from the first days of your work in Vasiliev?
A: Of course, there are many impressions. Most of the guys who have just arrived at the training camp are young and do not have much experience playing for the national team. Both they and I get used to each other. Someone arrived in better shape, someone needs to be pulled up. The main thing is that from the first hours of work we all understood what we want from each other. For me, it was very easy to understand the soul of a Russian person, which for some reason many consider as darkness. Maybe because among my ancestors were Russians.
Q: You have a reputation as a trainer-democrat, and to some of our guys just give free rein ...
A: We will educate. I am soft only as long as they want to understand and listen to me. On the other hand, the Russian team is not the team in which places are reserved for someone. Who will behave badly will quickly change places with a less talented but more useful person for the team.
Q : There is an opinion that Andrei Kirilenko personally invited you to the team. They even say that you will give him part of your coaching functions ...
A: For the first time I hear about this. Andrei is a great guy, we are familiar with him, but he will not be the national team coach. Moreover, one of the principles of my work is full equality among the players. Those who consider themselves to be stars will have to sacrifice their status for the common good. Another thing is that for players coming from the NBA, under the terms of their American contracts, we are obliged to provide slightly better conditions than for others. Otherwise, the leaders of the league of the same Kirilenko or Khryapa in the national team may simply not let go.
Q : In all interviews, you say that you are trying to promote smart basketball. Can a smart team be made or just put together?
A: Of course, only to collect. Even the most ingenious coach will not be able to do something outstanding with basketball players who do not know how to analyze his words. Therefore, for me it was always in the first place - how much this or that candidate knows how to work his head, and only then - with his legs and arms. And in basketball, thank God, there is no shortage of thinking players.
Q : According to your passport, you are an American, but spent most of your life and career in Israel. Can you compare the two basketball schools, American and European?
A: The future, I think, lies with the Asian school. Too swiftly everything develops there ( laughs ). And at this stage, the European school seems more interesting to me. Americans in their desire to turn everything into a show sometimes go too far. For example, in the NBA, the whole game is built on attack, despite the fact that units can competently play defense. If this continues, nothing but the degradation of American basketball.
Q: You graduated from the literary department of one of the American universities. Did the knowledge gained from reading fiction come in handy in basketball?
A: They taught me to think figuratively and never perceive things only by their name. In sports, this is the most important quality. Only when you see in yourself, your players and opponents something more than you used to think about them, can you achieve what others could not.
Andrey IVANTSOV, Alexandra ZHERDYAEV